Morpeth’s Sanderson Arcade welcomes new retail venture courtesy of father and son team

Father and son team Jack and Chris Barnes are embarking on a new retail venture and have opened their first sweet store from the Mr Simms franchise at Sanderson Arcade in Morpeth.

Inspired by the ideas of re-imagining traditional values of service and a “mind-blowing range of products bringing joy to the lives of sweet lovers of all ages”, the first Mr Simms store was launched in 2004.

18 years later, the Mr Simms franchise has 70 plus stores across the UK and this now includes the first store in the North East, which can be found in Sanderson Arcade selling a range of old fashioned sweets, Pick’n’Mix and locally sourced fudge.

Jack said: “We are extremely excited to be opening our first Mr Simms sweet shop in Sanderson Arcade. We feel passionately about this offer which brings a fresh, new perspective to the best of British sweet shops which are so loved by the whole family just as much today and tomorrow as they were in years gone by.”

Chris continued: “We are no strangers to retail having spent almost a decade in the sector, however this will be our first sweet shop and we felt Sanderson Arcade was the perfect location to open due to its fantastic positioning and its high footfall, particularly from the tourism market in the summer months.”

Jack and Chris are transforming the former Morpeth Gin store at the Arcade into an “Aladdin’s cave” of old-fashioned jars of sweets, traditional pocket money favourites and a Pick’n’Mix range of over 50 varieties. As well as this, there will be a vegan, vegetarian and gluten free range ensuring there is something for everyone.

The Mr Simms Sweet Shop will include best sellers including bonbons, liquorice Allsorts, rhubarb and custard sweets, drumstick lollies and a large American range of sweet treats.

Centre manager at Sanderson Arcade, Lottie Thompson, commented: “Mr Simms Sweet Shop is a great addition to our line up here at The Arcade and we’re sure our visitors and shoppers of all ages will really enjoy the new store. We wish Jack and Chris all the very best in their new shop.”

The new shop will create two new jobs and will be open seven days a week.