Sweet deal for former lingerie shop

Sugar rush: Banks Long & Co director James Butcher (left) with Candypops’ manager Tom Stansfield.

A former lingerie shop on Lincoln’s High Street has been transformed into a sweet shop, tempting shoppers going to or from the city centre.

Candypops is a wholesale sweet specialist and the Lincoln store is its first shop. It offers all the typical sweets expected of a sweet shop, plus bigger treats such as locally-produced cupcakes.

Manager Tom Stansfield said: “We have contracts around the country to supply and fill sweet dispensing machines for everything from Pick n’ Mix selections to jelly beans and treats such as Sherbet Blast.

“With that arm of our business established and growing, we decided to make a splash with our first shop and we have chosen a great location, halfway between St Mark’s and the prime part of the High Street [no. 174], which should be brilliant for catching passing trade.

“We’re sure people will love what we have done, but we are hoping to put our own twist on Candypops by increasing our choice of locally-sourced sweets.

“Although we have an amazing selection, we are keen to search out local producers of quality sweets, so that we can represent them in our shop, help Lincolnshire’s economy and keep spending within the county.”

The shop was let by Lincoln commercial agent Banks Long & Co, who believe it shows the High Street doesn’t have to be gloomy despite the economy.

Banks Long & Co director James Butcher said:  “This deal is a good advertisement for Lincoln, because it highlights that, despite the continuing difficult conditions on High Streets around the country, we have a local business with enough confidence in the city to open its first outlet here.

“I think this is a great location for a retailer of this nature, as it can enjoy decent High Street levels of footfall, without paying the prime High Street rents, that often aren’t viable for local retailers.”