Our story
Over a Century of Sweet Memories
Four generations, three shops and one much-loved name.
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Est.1894
Where It All Began
Harry Swainston opened the first Swainstons at Laygate in South Shields. It was a tobacconist and a fast favourite, selling loose tobacco weighed out by the ounce, snuff and lighting supplies, and carrying out repairs too.
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Then
Along Came the Sweets
Harry's son Charlie, who was also a PE teacher at Stanhope Road school, slowly introduced confectionery. Charlie became a well-known figure in South Shields, and to this day customers share their memories of him and the shop in Laygate.
Charlie Swainston at Laygate -
1960s
A Second Shop at Whiteleas
When the Whiteleas estate was built, Swainstons opened a second shop. It became known as “Barry’s”, after Charlie's son Barry, who ran it for over 40 years and turned it into a true sweet shop, brimming from floor to ceiling with toffee slabs, cola cubes, Tom Thumb drops and every treat imaginable.
“Children would gaze through the window, like a scene from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.”
Barry & Nan Swainston -
2015
The Shutters Come Down
Barry and his wife Nan, much loved in South Shields, stepped away to retire in 2015. The shop was sold on, but the magic faded, and by 2017 Swainstons had vanished from the town. The memories never did.
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2024
Bringing Back the Name
On New Year's Day 2024, at Beamish Museum, John and Sean decided to bring back an old tradition in a new world, with Barry's blessing. They started on TikTok, going live from a little studio with just 50 jars of sweets… and things went crazy from there.
TikTok beginnings -
May 2024
Westoe Road Opens
After just two months on TikTok, John and Sean signed the lease on a shop on Westoe Road and opened the doors in May 2024 with 150 jars. Knocking down walls to make room, it grew to more than 500 jars, and by December 2025 it had been outgrown.
Our Westoe Road shop -
2026
A New Home on Fowler Street
In April 2026 the doors opened at 128–130 Fowler Street, right opposite the Town Hall, with queues from all over the North East and beyond for almost two weeks. Today there are more than 670 jars, a Pick & Mix counter and our very own Soda Bar.
Opening day on Fowler Street -
On TV
A Deal in the Dragons' Den
We took Swainstons into the Dragons' Den, built a little piece of our sweet shop in front of the Dragons, handed out our sweets and pitched the brand we had poured so much passion into.
We walked out with investment from Jenna Meek, CEO of Refy. It was exciting, nerve-racking and completely surreal – a moment we will never forget.
With Jenna Meek -
Today
The Next Chapter
We have always set out to create a unique shopping experience, and we have so many ideas still to bring to life. Thank you for being part of our story – one sweet at a time.
The next chapter
