Creating sweet memories - Warwick's iconic sweet shop gets new owners

Warwick's iconic sweet shop has reopened with new owners.

Traditional sweet shop Mary's Sweet Memories in Market Place has been in the town for many years.

The shop has a special place in many residents' hearts - not just because it is a popular- but because it was the legacy of the town's very own Willy Wonka, Nigel Ackroyd.

Nigel, who lived in Burbage, Leicestershire, with his wife Mary, was a big character in Warwick and ran the sweet shop for seven years.

He took a step back from the shop when his health deteriorated towards the end of 2018. In February 2019 Nigel was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer and died in May 2019 aged 56.

Stacey said: "We knew the previous owner Nigel Ackroyd and his wife Mary well and were devastated when Nigel sadly passed away last year and the world lost a creative fun genius.

"We had felt for many months that the Lord was putting on our hearts a desire to buy the sweet shop.

"But buying anything without the money is somewhat a problem.

"We would pray about it and even though we still had a strong God given desire to take ownership of the shop we still didn’t have the money to buy it.

"The plan for the shop, was to carry it on as a sweet shop, in much the same way Nigel did with oodles of nostalgia, imagination and creativity, creating the opportunity of having that ‘being a kid in a sweet shop’ feeling.

"In addition to this we also saw the shop was a means of promoting ‘Your Farmer Meals’ because for every organically produced frozen meal or frozen meat hamper we sell it enables our church (New Life Church) to gain a free meal or hamper to give to someone in need."

Linz added:"Mary knew that Nigel would have loved us to have the shop, he knew myself and Stacey worked a lot with children and knew many families in the town through our work at the church and he knew we had the passion for serving the town of Warwick and also how much we love it - we live right above the sweet shop in fact."

When asked about how the new venture came about Linz said: "One morning as I was praying I was asking the Lord for a sign to reveal how we could take ownership of the shop.

"That same morning 15 minutes or so after I prayed Mary rang to say she would like to offer it free of charge, stock and everything and signed over the business to us.

"To be honest it blew us away.

"It will always be Mary’s Sweet Memories because Mary helped to bring about the sweetest of memories for us, we feel so blessed of God, and she has also played her part in helping us provide not only the fine things of life like ‘sweets and chocolates’ to the people of Warwick but essential top-quality food for those that need it."

The shop officially reopened last weekend after being closed since March.

Stacey said: "We had a great first day on Saturday with everyone being so kind and patient as we learnt the ropes and adhered to the Covid safety requirements - people even queued patiently in the horrible rain we had.

"The shop has been closed since march and you could see just what it means to people that we have re-opened again and how much they have missed it.

"You can see how much Nigel and the special place he has created meant to people and I am I sure he’ll be looking down on us and be just as pleased we are open again.

"We’d love to see you and bring a smile to your face in these difficult times with our great selection of sweets and amazing milkshakes."

"We are open Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 5pm or with our exclusive ‘Be a Kid in a Sweet Shop’ visits from 5pm to 7pm on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays you can book a half hour slot via our Facebook page maryssweetmemorieswarwick or call/text 07950 157701 to have non-rushed visit with your household or bubble."