The Traditional Sweet Shop

Aw man. You have to check out this shop — ’tis a thing of beauty! It’s one of those places that any adult could not help but get a little giddy at the thought of entering. Truly, there are other shops that might claim to have that traditional vibe, but I’ve yet to discover a more traditional-​willy-​wonka-​oliver-​old-​school kind of sweet shop.
As you got in you are surrounded by shelves literally packed with sweets in jars — barley sugars, aniseed balls, chocolate pennies, sugar mice, licorice buttons — I could go on endlessly. I think it was the nostalgia that made it so exciting. There were two counters where both shop assistants had scales and aprons and measured out portions of delight to the happy waiting customers. Prices were pretty reasonable considering, I’d guess, they have the monopoly on the market — certainly in Otley at least!
I left with a quarter of aniseed balls and a quarter of shrimps. One very happy camper.

When I have a bad day I don’t turn to the Vino, I don’t turn to the takeaway, I don’t even turn to the Galaxy Caramel. I run quickly for bons bons, lollipops and cola cubes. Sorts me out in a second!
The Traditional Sweet Shop has been my sugary saving grace while living in Leeds. My combined love for retro and vintage themes and sugar is 100% fulfilled by this shop.
Imagine an old fashioned sweet shop from the films, the tubs of every sweetie you can think of behind the counter and old fashioned weighing scales, little white bags for your sweets and an old fashioned till. Got it… well there you have Otley’s Traditional Sweet Shop.
I understand some people don’t get as excited about sweets as I do, however If you are reading this and empathize, I suggest you take a little drive here for some sweetie treats! Just don’t think of the calories, shove it in your mouth and munch away!

This shop always reminds me of the story of Hansel and Gretel, it might as well be made out of sweets. I am usually not much of a sweet toothed eater but this place always lures me in. It has very cleverly stocked a mammoth range of sweets that most people will remember from their childhood. It means that most end up purchasing a paper bag of treats, purely down to the nostalgic sugary buzz it brings with it. They have all the retro style sweets such as bon bons of all varieties, rainbow puffs, dib dabs, cola bottles, fizz whizz popping candy, flying saucers, drum sticks etc etc etc… and they also stock some classier goodies such as stem ginger (my grandma’s absolute favorite). The staff are very friendly, with their wide eyed sugary stares and massive grins that you imagine to be sticky to the touch. Willy Wonka eat your heart out.
They also have a website and the option to purchase from their wide selection online, although I wouldn’t suggest that you make a habit of it!