Ah, pick ‘n’ mix – that glorious, sugar-filled wonderland where you could be a kid in a sweet shop… literally. Whether it was scooping Flying Saucers, sneaking a cola bottle (don’t lie – we all did it), or carefully crafting the perfect combo of fizzy, chewy and chocolatey, pick ‘n’ mix has been a beloved British tradition for well over a century.
It all kicked off back in 1909, when Frank Woolworth brought his American retail magic to Liverpool and opened the UK’s very first Woolies. His brilliant idea? Let people choose their own sweets and pay by weight. Revolutionary stuff at the time, up until then sweets were typically pre-packed or sold in set quantities. But Woolies gave us sweet freedom.
By the 1930s, Woolworths was the king of the high street, and their pick ‘n’ mix counters were legendary – crammed with colourful jars of Jelly Babies, sherbet lemons, toffees and those little pink and white mice no one can quite explain.
Then came the golden age – the ’50s and ’60s. Sweet shops were booming, the options were endless, and kids up and down the country were living their best sugar-fuelled lives. It wasn’t just about the sweets; it was the ritual – the tiny paper bag, the little metal scoop, the strategic selection. Bliss.
Sadly, it wasn’t all smooth sailing. Woolworths went under in 2008, and with it, many feared the end of pick ‘n’ mix. But fear not! The tradition lived on. Here at Hatty’s Sweet Shop we’ve kept the tradition going and the magic alive, not only selling traditional pick ‘n’ mix in our shop but also online here.
More than just sweets, pick ‘n’ mix is a slice of British nostalgia. It’s memories of Saturday shopping trips, trips to the cinema, or raiding your nan’s sweet cupboard. It’s proof that sometimes, happiness can be bought…and it comes by the quarter (and the gram).
Love
Hattys x
