Most traditional sweet shops are full of character by their products alone; jars of sugary goodness to bring back memories, either actual or imagined. I've reviewed some good candy emporiums before, but the range here is astounding. As well as having hundreds of jars of traditional sweets, they have imported sweets and cereals from the States like Tootsie Rolls and Lucky Charms, and more modern sour/tangy sweets like Millions and Nerds. If you don't get on well with sugar, Mary's even sell around ten jars of sugar-free sweets.
Top marks go to Mary's for being the only place I've seen to stock Barratt's licorice selection boxes, with licorice watches, sparklers and catherine wheels. They also have balls of mystical goodness with a Harry Potter/Willy Wonka vibe: Invisible gobstoppers. ('You don't see them anywhere else' quips the shop owner.)
Talking of the shop owner, he's a joy to talk to and is very much from the same mould as Roald Dahl's aforementioned hero. A previous venture was a Beatles-themes sub-sandwich shop in Solihull called The Yellow Submachine, all kitted out in authentic decking with pieces of machinery adorning the walls! Though sadly the success of that shop was put paid to by Subway, you can count on Mary's to bring you sweet memories for years to come. read more