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News and Features
Fizz, Minehead Put some sparkle into your life! This new sweet-shop in Minehead is a time travel machine: the tastes and flavours of your favourite childhood sweeties will transport you back to more innocent times. Blending ultra modern decor with retro confectionery, Fizz is the brainchild of Rebecca and her Italian partner Fausto. “In times of recession and hardship,” says Rebecca, “people often reach for their comforts, and the sweets we ate as children allow us to forget our troubles for a time, and just enjoy being five, or nine, or twelve again.” Do you remember sherbet dips, flying saucers, blackjacks, pineapple cubes, space dust? What was your favourite? For me it’s the unique taste of Anglo bubblegum: I loved it! Bright pink and perfectly chewy, I could blow huge bubbles with it that would burst and cover half my face. Ah, those were the days... now, where was I? Oh yes: this tiny sparkly shop is very smartly turned-out: black walls, a glitter ball, bright colours, and rows of traditional jars containing childhood treasures. Staff serve you properly, attending to your order with cheery courtesy, weighing out your goodies from the jewelled contents of those big jars while music from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s drifts around you. Remember the sense of anticipation as you were handed that paper bag filled with promise? The pleasure of that initial burst of flavour and sweetness as you popped the first one into your mouth? This simple, childish experience really does take you to a happy place – maybe that’s why there are often queues out of the door at Fizz. “It’s been really amazing,” says Rebecca, “we’ve been so busy right from the start. There’s a belief that it’s not a good time to start a new business right now, but we’ve found that people really want something fun and lighthearted: they come in and reminisce about things like the first time they had a fruit-salad, when you could buy eight for a penny.” And that’s the secret of success for Fizz: it makes people feel good. Not just for your inner child, Fizz does party favours and goodie bags for weddings, office parties, Christmas do’s and retirement celebrations. Mexican style piñatas (papier maché animals filled with sweets that hang up on a string while blindfolded people try to hit them with a stick) are great for parties. There are also grown-up treats such as Italian chocolates and hemp pastilles (non hallucinogenic!). For those of you who need it, there’s a sugar-free selection available too. Rebecca is currently working on her new website, so all these goodies will soon be available to buy online. From nippers to nanas, there’s something for everyone in this yummy little shop: get yourself along there for some Christmas gifts that include a big smile for free!
Fizz 3 The Avenue Minehead Somerset Tel: 01643 703623 Open: 10am to 5.30pm Mon-Sat; 10.30am to 4.30pm Sunday Coming soon: www.fizzsweets.co.uk
By Annie Vickerstaff
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