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Proper pick and mix, like what Woolworths used to have. Does it still exist?

25 replies

DuIcieDomum · 25/03/2024 21:17

And if so, where?

I know Wilko and some supermarkets have a stand but it's rank, just some samey waxy chocolate and soapy fudge and a few sad gummy sweets. I want good pick and mix. Chocolates in shiny wrappers and pear drops and things that didn't all taste of palm oil or citric acid. Like I used to get in 1993 on a Saturday afternoon!

Is it still a thing?

OP posts:
mnahmnah · 25/03/2024 21:20

Independent sweet shops tend to

Ohthere · 25/03/2024 21:21

Well I know of a place with the best pick and mix ever, exactly what you are looking for, but it’s in a wee town on the east coast of Scotland so may not be convenient!

DuIcieDomum · 25/03/2024 21:23

Ohthere · 25/03/2024 21:21

Well I know of a place with the best pick and mix ever, exactly what you are looking for, but it’s in a wee town on the east coast of Scotland so may not be convenient!

Opposite end of the country. But...where is it exactly? Perhaps I can persuade my family it's a good holiday destination 🤣

OP posts:

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PinkMildred · 25/03/2024 21:24

Cinemas have a good selection usually.

AutumnFroglets · 25/03/2024 21:24

I know Wilko and some supermarkets have a stand.
Nope, Wilkos have gone. Ceased to exist 😭

(Also place marking as I miss pear drops and banana toffees).

667TheNeighbourOfTheBeast · 25/03/2024 21:26

One of the larger hospitals near me in south west England has a small traditional sweet shop run by volunteers. Sweets are in jars though you have to ask. We also used to have one locally that closed down, I think they just can’t compete with supermarkets etc. Littlewoods high street stores used to do pick and mix in 70s and 80s.
It’s sad and I still miss Woolworths not just for the sweets but you could buy a huge variety of things there

MsAdoraBelleDearheartVonLipwig · 25/03/2024 21:26

Vue cinemas have pick and mix. I’ll never forget letting the young dcs pick some and then being so aghast at the price that I wouldn’t let them have it. That memory still haunts me to this day, I can’t believe I was so mean. They learnt a lesson in not grabbing all the sweets at the time but I still feel really, really shit about being so mean. I bought something else for them instead, and according to my eldest she can’t even remember it happening but god it’s a horrible memory.

Sorry, that probably wasn’t the direction you intended for the thread. 😄

DuIcieDomum · 25/03/2024 21:27

PinkMildred · 25/03/2024 21:24

Cinemas have a good selection usually.

Oooh no, it's the same vile waxy chocolate and fizzy blue foam sweets in my experience, but for 3x the price of anywhere else!

OP posts:
BobGalaxy · 25/03/2024 21:28

Are you near a Mr Simms? mrsimms.co/pages/store-locator

CluelessPadme · 25/03/2024 21:28

Those chocolate limes. I dream about them every now and then

Northernsouloldies · 25/03/2024 21:30

Keep an eye on the cost per 100 gr before you start shoveling them into a bag.

Pieceofpurplesky · 25/03/2024 21:30

Mollie's Sweet Shop has them - chocolate eclairs, mint toffees, raspberry sherbets etc - they are in the north (and one in London)

JobMatch3000 · 25/03/2024 21:31

If you are in London, Hanzel&Gretel at Covent Garden.

TheShellBeach · 25/03/2024 21:32

Inveraray in Argyll has a wonderful old sweetie shop.

NC03 · 25/03/2024 21:34

Not in person but there's a few good online ones where you can pick your sweets and it turns up in a big bag

strawberrybarn · 25/03/2024 21:35

Ohthere · 25/03/2024 21:21

Well I know of a place with the best pick and mix ever, exactly what you are looking for, but it’s in a wee town on the east coast of Scotland so may not be convenient!

I'd love to know this too! I live on the east coast of Scotland.

VanillaImpulse · 25/03/2024 21:37

667TheNeighbourOfTheBeast · 25/03/2024 21:26

One of the larger hospitals near me in south west England has a small traditional sweet shop run by volunteers. Sweets are in jars though you have to ask. We also used to have one locally that closed down, I think they just can’t compete with supermarkets etc. Littlewoods high street stores used to do pick and mix in 70s and 80s.
It’s sad and I still miss Woolworths not just for the sweets but you could buy a huge variety of things there

Ooh which hospital is this @667TheNeighbourOfTheBeast? I'm in the SW!!

NC03 · 25/03/2024 21:37

Or for anyone Lancashire based

lolipopslancashire.co.uk/our-shop/

YourNimblePeachTraybake · 25/03/2024 21:37

Pieceofpurplesky · 25/03/2024 21:30

Mollie's Sweet Shop has them - chocolate eclairs, mint toffees, raspberry sherbets etc - they are in the north (and one in London)

We have one in West Wales. 😃

Ohthere · 25/03/2024 21:46

DuIcieDomum · 25/03/2024 21:23

Opposite end of the country. But...where is it exactly? Perhaps I can persuade my family it's a good holiday destination 🤣

It's called the Sweetie Bank in Dunbar (have a look on instagram for some photos, it's on Facebook too but the photos there make it look dead classy), it is worth the trip if you ask me and I'm further away than you!

EnjoyingTheSilence · 25/03/2024 21:47

Littlewoods pick and mix had these amazing fruit shaped sweets. Unfortunately I’m the only one who seems to remember them.

Ohthere · 25/03/2024 21:54

@strawberrybarn going by your username I would have presumed you knew it already!

strawberrybarn · 25/03/2024 22:09

Ohthere · 25/03/2024 21:54

@strawberrybarn going by your username I would have presumed you knew it already!

Yes, very very local!

Thank you @Ohthere!

667TheNeighbourOfTheBeast · 27/03/2024 22:31

VanillaImpulse · 25/03/2024 21:37

Ooh which hospital is this @667TheNeighbourOfTheBeast? I'm in the SW!!

It’s Salisbury hospital, but I know S West covers huge area so bit of a trek if you’re in Cornwall ! I’ve also used Giant Bradley’s sweet shop online for “retro” sweets, not the same as physically going into a shop I know. Also I’ve ordered favourites from Etsy, my daughter loves the big blue jelly dolphins 🐬 you get at the Cinema but we don’t have one near by.

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