A 23-year-old entrepreneur has fulfilled a childhood dream by purchasing the world's oldest sweet shop in Pateley Bridge, North Yorkshire. Ben Howie, who grew up in nearby Knaresborough, is now the custodian of the Guinness World Record-holding store, which has been selling sweets since 1827.
Mr Howie described the business as a lifelong fascination. 'The history and heritage inside this shop is so interesting, everything from the floorboards upwards has history to it,' he said. He emphasised his role as a custodian rather than an owner, keen to continue the tradition of sweet making.
Despite the challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic, Mr Howie expressed confidence in the shop's future. 'Yes, the pandemic is an added risk, but this business was very successful before – and that success outweighs the possible risk I saw,' he explained.
The previous owner, Keith Tordoff, ran the shop for 25 years before selling it to pursue a career as North Yorkshire's Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner. He noted that the sale attracted interest from Australia, the US and South Korea, but felt Mr Howie was the right person for the job. 'There's a certain amount of sadness obviously and I've been having withdrawal symptoms as I've not been eating as many sweets,' Mr Tordoff said. 'It's been a fantastic chapter in our lives. Let's see what the next chapter brings.'
