IN the near future we'll no longer be able to get two classic sweets which have been around for decades. And they're both very popular in Bah Humbugs Sweet Shop. Why oh why do the manufacturers have to meddle with things that work?

Earlier on this year we reported that Tangerine Confectionery were stopping the manufacture of Lion's Sports Mixtures (we still have a few left!), well now they're stopping Lion's Fruit Pastilles! These fabulously hard, chewy fruit flavoured gums, deliciously covered in sprinklings of sugar. We're yet to hear exactly why they aren't going to make them any more, but suffice it to say we're fed up about it.

We've stocked up on as many as possible but i'm afraid we're keeping all of them for our Lion's Sweet Hampers as these are one of our most popular gift lines. So if you want a last nibble on these, you'll have to buy one of our fantabulous Lion's Sweet Hamper.

Lion's Sweet Hamper

And the second sweet that we've heard is no longer going to be made is Murray Mints... you can't hurry a Murray Mint. Take a look at this great montage of the Murray Mint adverts from the 1950s.

We don't have many of these iconic British sweets left in stock at the moment, but we will of course snap any up when we visit the various wholesalers around the country. But if you're a fan of these buttery mints and can no longer find them, that's the reason why.  And we have been told that Tangerine Confectionery will be replacing Murray Mints with Taveners Butter Mints.... not sure they'll be the same though.

What do you think? Such a shame isn't it!

Hello all!

If you're planning to come to Masham this Spring Bank Holiday weekend then you're in for a treat.  Masham Market Spring Festival will be on and you will be able to browse the stalls. Check out who'll be here by looking at the Masham Market website. There will also be additional stall holders for the Farmers Market on Sunday 1st May.

In the Town Hall you will find a 'Handmade' fair on Saturday 30th April and Sunday 1st May, and there is a Art, Craft and Design exhibition by Brigantia being held in the Blue Light Gallery at Masham Community Office running from 30th April to 3rd June.

It would be lovely to see you, so pop into Bah Humbugs and browse our sweet selection.  If you've got birthday presents to buy you can check out our hampers and gift buckets.

Bah Humbugs Decade Buckets

Bah Humbugs Hampers

While you're here you can pop into one of our lovely pubs for a drink and a bite to eat, or try the award winning Vennell's restaurant.  A brewery tour makes an interesting diversion so why not visit one of the two Breweries, Black Sheep or Theakstons.  If art is your thing then see some artist's work at The Gallery (Ian Scott Massie), The Nolon Stacey Gallery or The Little Picture House Gallery (Nikki Corker), or make a visit to Uredale Glass.

There is so much more to do while you're here such as taking a look round our beautiful church, going for a walk around the river and visit Marfield Wetlands Nature Reserve.  If you feel there's too much for you to see in one day then why don't you stay for a few? Lots of accommodation in the area, so check out the Visit Masham site for options.

Whatever you're planning on doing this Spring Bank Holiday weekend have a great time, and if you happen to be here then we look forward to seeing you in Bah Humbugs!!

Hi folks

Who's been suffering the very changeable and slightly bizarre weather changes this week?  One minute it's bright sunshine, as it is now in Masham, and the next it's snowing as it did for quite a few hours yesterday?

All this changeability has such an effect on the type of things we sell in the shop.  Earlier this week people were seated at our outside table enjoying our Brymor Ice Cream, but yesterday they would have been covered in snow!  Perhaps our stocks of winter warmers, such as Winter Mixture, Army & Navy or Aniseed Twists are going to continue to sell for a while.

However, this morning the sun is shining! So it could be sweets more reminiscent of summer that draw in the customers.  How about Edinburgh Rock, or Berwick Cockles, both of which remind me of childhood holidays.  The ever popular Sherbet Lemons are a good sunshine sweet, as are our range of chewy bonbons...  I wonder if we could categorise all our sweets by season?  Perhaps too difficult for some of the more 'guilty pleasure' types such as Salted Caramel Fudge or Treacle Toffees.

Whatever the weather, Bah Humbugs has a vast array of sweets for you to choose from so why not pop in, or visit our website?  I for one however, will be hoping for a little more sunshine this summer.

Hello everyone!

Such exciting times for Masham...

For those of you who live in and around Masham, and those others who visit or just follow news of our lovely town, will know that Masham and Lower Wensleydale was 'removed' from the map when work started on the A1 upgrade in 2005.  Now, after years of battling to get a brown sign instated, and having provided our own temporary sign (a story in itself) Masham is finally back on the map.  A hard fought battle, with the sign being funded by local businesses and the Parish Council.  Well done to all those who took up the fight and won!  Follow this link to read more https://www.strayfm.com/news/local-news/1941287/masham-back-on-the-map/

Now that we're back Masham has come great plans coming up...

Masham market is holding special events on three weekends through the year, 30th April, 1st and 2nd May incorporating the Farmers Market, 30th and 31st July, incorporating Yorkshire Day and 1st and 2nd October incorporating the Farmers Market. More details of the Farmers Markets can be found on  https://www.facebook.com/mashamfarmersmarket/

For other events check out the Visit Masham website http://www.visitmasham.com/unmissable-masham/ where you'll find details of Beer Festivals, Steam Engine Rally, Sheep Fair and much more!

Stray FM are helping by 'Waving the Masham Flag' and you can listen to their podcast promising their help in promoting Masham over the next three months (about 5 mins in)  http://www.strayfm.com/businesshub.php

There are many initiatives underway to showcase what a fabulous place Masham is to visit. Great accommodation, fine foods, inspirational and creative arts, a wealth of history and culture together with magnificent scenery, relaxing river walks and so much more!  For the full calendar and list of events check out http://www.visitmasham.com/mco-events/

If all that isn't quite enough for you, check out events at Masham Town Hall who have regular film showings, live music and comedy.  Or take a look at ArtIsOn for some amazing Arts and Creative Workshops.

And after all that... don't forget to visit us at Bah Humbugs for you supply of traditional sweets!

Lets keep the flag flying for Masham and make the most of what looks to be an action packed year.

Bye for now x

Here  at Bah Humbugs Sweet Shop, we've recently learned that Tangerine Confectionery who produce all the Lion's Sweets are stopping the manufacture of their iconic Sports Mixtures sweets. "WHAT!" We hear you shout........We're gutted about this too!

Lion's Sports Mixture - Full of sports-related shaped sweeties.

These sweets are one of our absolute best selling sweets - they contain the proper black liquorice flavoured sweets and come in a selection of sports-related shapes such as cricket bats, tennis rackets, rugby balls, footballs, bicycles and rugby boots. The flavours are the same as Midget Gems.

Lion's Sports Mixtures will be replaced by Lion's Football Mixtures which we don't think will be the same and we've got our fingers crossed that they will continue to include the black liquorice flavoured sweets.

We were so disappointed last year when Tangerine Confectionery stopped making Lion's Butterscotch Gums. We continue to be asked for these sweets on a daily basis and we hope that sometime down the line they might start production of these sweets again.

We've stocked up on as many Lion's Sports Mixtures as possible at the moment. Our stock room is full of boxes of them, so no need to panic just yet. But we're not too sure how long our current stocks will last, so if you're a big fan of proper Sports Mixtures, then please do get your orders in as soon as possible. Sports Mixtures are a key product for us at Christmas and we normally sell tonnes and tonnes of the sweet!

And for those of you who are real fans of all the Lion's gums, did you know that we stock a Lion's Sweet Hamper - which contains over 1.5kg of the iconic chewy, hard, gum sweets - including all seven remaining Lion's Sweets; Lion's Fruit Salads, Lion's Fruit Pastilles, Lion's Midget Gems, Lion's Wine Gums, Lion's Sports Mixtures,  Lion's Poor Bens & Lion's Liquorice Gums.

So don't delay, stock up now on the Lion's Sports Mixtures and put a Lion's Sweet Hamper on your Christmas or Birthday present list!!

Lion's Sweet Hamper

With Mothering Sunday less than a month away, many of us are thinking of what to buy as a gift this year.

Giant Hamper

Why not treat your special mum to a sweet treat from Bah Humbugs? We can make up a hamper containing all her favourites or, if  you're happy to leave the choice to us we can add a selection of sweets that will be a welcome treat for any mum!

If you're looking for suggestions we have a range of chocolate coated peanuts, raisins, brazil nuts, or ginger.  Favourites such as Sherbet Lemons, Pear Drops, Rhubarb and Custards or Strawberries and Creams.  Maybe your mum is a liquorice fan? We have a great range of

Liquorices from Bah Humbugs

English classics including Allsorts, Torpedoes, Cuttings, Comforts and many more, together with a large selection of Dutch or Scandinavian liquorice treats.

Don't forget we have great Decades buckets or Sweet Treat Buckets so check out the selection on our website.

Groovy Seventies Sweets

We can also make up treat bags or hampers to include retro sweets or pick n mix.

Prices will vary depending on what you choose, but why not drop us an email sales@bahhumbugs.com and we can discuss the options?

Well Christmas is nearly here and we know you all love to grab a bargain, so we're launching a 12 Days of Christmas Promotion.

From 1-12 December 2015 you will be able to take advantage of the discount codes, free products to make your Christmas pennies go that bit further.

Check back each day to hear about the Special Promotion that is running that day, or visit our Facebook or Twitter pages to be the first to find out about the specific promotion.

Our elves are mega busy packing up lots and lots of Christmas orders for Father Christmas. They're working SO hard but because of the sheer volume of orders and delivery by Royal Mail your order may take a day or two longer to arrive with you. But fear not, we will make sure all parcels will arrive with you in time for Christmas Day!

DAY 1 -1st December 2015 - Get 15% OFF on all Online Orders at Bah Humbugs Sweet Shop. Just use Offer Code - BAHHUMBUGS on the checkout page. Offer valid for 24 hours.

DAY 2 - 2nd December 2015 - FREE LUCKY DIP BAG WITH ORDERS OVER £10

Day 3 - 3rd December 2015 - GET 10% OFF BEST OF BRITISH SWEET HAMPERS using offer code BOB10 on the checkout page.

Day 4 - 4th December 2015 - 10% OFF SWEET DECADE BUCKETS, OFFERCODE BUCKET10

Day 5 - 5th December 2015 - 10% OFF LIQUORICE SWEET HAMPER, CODE LIQ10

Day 6 - 6th December 2015 - 15% OFF OUR GIANT SWEET HAMPER - CODE GSH15

Day 7 - 7th December 2015 - FREE POSTAGE with orders over £20. Code FREEPOST

Day 8 - 8th December 2015 - FREE BAG FO HARIBO WITH ORDERS OVER £15

Day 9 - 9th December 2015 - 15% OFF LIQUORICE SWEETS WITH CODE LIQ15

Day 10 - 10th December 2015 - FREE BAG OF HUMBUGS WITH ORDERS OVER £20

Day 11 - 11th December 2015

Day 12 - 12th December 2015

Lion's Sports Mixture

Lion's Midget Gems, Lion's Sports Mixtures, Lion's Poor Bens, Lion's Liquorice Gums, Lion's Fruit Pastilles, Lion's Wine Gums & Lion's Fruit Salads...... am I tempting you?

We created the Lion's Sweet Hamper a good few years ago because we realised that there were so many loyal Lion's fans out there who absolutely loved their whole sweet range. We're the only sweet shop to make a lion's hamper..... so don't tell anyone or every other sweet shop will start to copy us!!

This sweet hamper contains each one of the current Lion's Sweet range. Unfortunately this year they've stopped making the Lion's Butterscotch Gums..... we're not happy about this because they used to sell so well for us in our sweet shop. Nevertheless, this hamper contains 1.6kg of all the other Lion's sweets - the traditional, proper, hard, fruity gums which originated in Cleckheaton.

And before you ask, the answer is YES. These are most definitely the PROPER ones. PROPER Lion's Midget Gems and PROPER Lion's Sports Mixtures....... by that I mean that the black sweets in these are liquorice flavoured, NOT blackcurrant. They're hard and chewy, just as they should be - we guarantee that you won't be sold an inferior product because we just don't stock them - Lion's all the way!

So if you know someone who is a real fan of the Lion's sweets then our Lion's Sweet Hamper is an absolute MUST for them this Christmas. And if there is just one particular flavours of the Lion's Sweets which they particularly like, why not get in touch with us and we can customise a lion's hamper for you to include ONLY their favourite Lion's Sweet. Alternatively, we have a fabulous range of Giant Sweet Buckets which may be to their suiting - 1.5kg full of their favourite Lion's Sweet! Midget Gems, Wine Gums, Sports Mixtures.... you name it, we've got it!

Lion's Sweet Hamper

Giant Sweet Hamper - Over 4kg of Sweets!

4kg of Super Scrumptious Sweets

Christmas is just around the corner - have you started thinking about gifts yet?

We've created lots of sweet hampers over the years and we've sold hundreds of these hampers for our corporate clients to send out to their customers or staff over the festive period. This year we've added the GIANT SWEET HAMPER to online sweet shop so that anyone can order one of these fantastic sweet hampers which contains over 4 kg of sweets!

They are the ultimate in sweet hampers - full of all the delicious sweets you would expect to be our best sellers. Rhubarb & Custards, Lemon Sherbets, Bon Bons, Cinder Toffee, Fudge, Pear Drops, Mints, Midget Gems, Jelly Babies, Cola Bottles, Huge Selection of Retro Sweets, Flying Saucers, Toffees, Liquroices and loads more. Far to many to name to be precise!

The Giant Sweet Hampers make wonderful gifts for families to share, for someone who deserves an extra special treat, for customers, clients or staff or just for someone who has a particularly sweet tooth.

If you'd prefer to fill one of our Giant Sweet Hampers with your own choice of sweets then please do just send us  an email or call us at the sweet shop on 01765 688997 and we will gladly fill one direct to your specification,

Here at Bah Humbugs Sweet Shop we specialise in a Sweet Gifts and have a wonderful selection of tasty treats - all of which are guaranteed to have the recipient grinning from ear to ear. For more inspiration, please check out our SWEET GIFT range, and in particular our Sweet Hampers, Sweet Jars and Range of Sweet Buckets.

We hope you like what you see!

Which is your favourite?

Online / Digital Award Winnner Yorkshire & North East 2015

 We were delighted to have been shortlisted in two categories for the Forward Ladies Business Awards 2015 - Yorkshire & North East Region. The regional final was held in Newcastle yesterday (29th September) and we were absolutely thrilled to have won The Digital/Online Award for Yorkshire & The North East. What an accolade!

This means that we're now into the National Finals in Leeds on 20th November 2015, but before that we have to work a little harder to impress the judges at a Live Panel judging session on the 4th of November!!!

Please see below for all the details of the awards from our PR friends at 2B Communications.

Sweet success for confectionery entrepreneur as she storms through to national finals for Forward Ladies Women in Business Awards 2015

A Yorkshire sweet entrepreneur who spearheads a retro sweet business has forged ahead to the national finals in the Forward Ladies Women in Business Awards 2015.

Lucy Scott Paul, owner of Bah Humbugs won the Digital/Online Business of the Year Award 2015 for Yorkshire and the North East region at an awards ceremony yesterday (Tuesday 29 September) in Newcastle upon Tyne,in recognition of her 12 years of experience in confectionery and her success in the digital side of her business.

The 38-year-old who hails from Masham, North Yorkshire where her business is based, started her business with a shop on the market square and has grown the online side of the company with a website which now takes orders from across the globe, and a strong social media presence. The Bah Humbugs website http://www.bahhumbugs.com/has received close to 10,000 new visitors since January this year spread across the UK, USA and Norway.

She specialises in liquorice confectionery and stocks nostalgic sweet hampers whilst she also suppliessweets and hampers for corporate clients, events and weddings.Lucy has strong relationship with her customers and has harnessed her online community’s views to help shape her themed sweet products to mark occasions such as the Queen’s Jubilee. Her latest range of sweets features ‘Decade Buckets themed sweets. .

Lucy now joins start-ups and multi-million pound businesses for the 2015 Forward Ladies Women in Business Awardsfinal which promises to be one of the most closely run finals in its six-year history.

“I am absolutely delighted to have won Digital Business of the Year 2015 for Yorkshire and the North East region and cannot wait for the finals. The digital side of the business has enabled me to expand my client base across the UK and beyond including wining new corporate contracts.

“Running your own business can be isolating at times and making decisions can be hard. I found it really motivating being at the awards ceremony and in the company of such successful women who all have inspiring stories to share.”

The mother-of-two won regional Retail Business of the Year 2012 in the same competition and now joins 142 entrepreneurial female business leaders who are competing in rounds in Newcastle, Manchester, London and Nottingham across 11 categories to reach the finals to be held in Leeds, West Yorkshire in November.

Fellow winners at the Newcastle awards ceremony included Claire Young of BBC’s The Apprentice fame in recognition of her School Speakers business.

Forward Ladies Managing Director Griselda Togobo said the standard of entries this year was one of the highest ever.

“The calibre of entries has been increasing year on year, but this year we have a number of outstanding entries, which have attracted women from all ages, all professions and all walks of life.  We are also delighted to hosting regional heats in Newcastle, Manchester, London and Nottingham for the first time, which means we can showcase some of the best talent from across the whole of England.

“We also have categories to showcase the underrepresented women working in traditionally male dominated fields such as STEM, Digital and Online category, and have received some outstanding entries in this category.  The judges have seriously had their work cut out for them this year.”

This year’s judging panel was made up of leading business personalities and entrepreneurs including Karen Boswell, the managing director of Hitachi Rail Europe and former managing director of East Coast Trains, Ajaz Ahmed, the founder of Freeserve and Debra White, the Regional Director of Small Businesses at HSBC.

Bah Humbugs has over 3,500 twitter followers and over 4,000 facebook page. To follow on twitter visit https://twitter.com/bahhumbugs and to become a facebook fan visit http://www.facebook.com/bahhumbugs. To visit Bah Humbugs You Tube page visit http://www.youtube.com/user/englishsweetshop

For more information visit http://www.bahhumbugs.com/

ENDS

For interviews/photos or more information please contact Audrey Barton at 2B Communications on 07769334877 or email Audrey@2bcommunications.co.uk

All the Regional Winners for Yorkshire & The North East