Suck and Chew

This little candy shop off Columbia Road is absolutely adorable. It does have a good selection of sweets and goodies, but what really grabs me about this place is the cute, kisch-​y décor and packaging. Everything visually about this store is just wonderful, the visual merchandising is fantastic.
The candy selection here is quite good as well, with lots of fun, British choices with great packaging and of course a great chocolate assortment as well. There are a lot of great, fun gift items here too. The cards are great as well.
But I’m not going to lie, what sold me on this place is that they sell raw licorice root. Simply ah-​mazing.

I suppose this place appeals to those more familiar with British candies from a by-​gone era, but I still loved the displays and the over-​all style of the storefront. The owner was well-​informed and very helpful. I was able to come away with some unique gifts for friends and family back at home. It was definitely worth a stop.

just started reviewing so i thought i’d start with my favorate places. Columbia Road.
I’d seen photos of suck and chew on blogs and I wasn’t disappointed. there are sweets here I’d never heard of, Coltsfoot rock anyone? and a few old faves I stocked up on. parma violets, sweet peanuts. slabs of toffee. the look of the shop is vintage east end. it compliments the street.
columbia road is a great way to spend a sunday morning

I really really want to love this place. I adore old school sweet shops (and indeed, old school sweeties) but this place just doesn’t ring true for me. It’s all very ‘staged’.
It doesn’t feel like an old sweet shop. Instead, it feels like a brand new sweet shop with a few old school touches. And that just doesn’t do it for me. But, I’m always going to get excited about huge jars of sweets behind a counter. It’s suddenly like being 9 again and spending all of your pocket money on sweeties (always in those paper bags that would disintegrate in your pocket). Rhubarb and custard were my favourites.
But despite this store being rather cute, it’s so expensive. £2.99 for a teensy tiny packet of Jazzies? The very same Jazzies I can buy in Asda? There doesn’t seem much point to me. Sure, some of the more unusual stuff might be worthwhile, but why pay over the odds for something just because there’s some interesting decoration in a shop? Can’t help but feel that you’re paying to cover their Columbia Road rent.

Peddling old-​fashioned candies from a darling shop on Columbia Road… if you haven’t already gathered from its name, this store feels like it’s run by an irreverent Willie Wonka… they seem to delight in innuendos and offering an assortment of more cheeky sweets.
Yet, definitely bring your children here, since all of that will go over their head anyway, and they will practically pop when they see the overflowing baskets filled with delectable morsels sporting colourful vintage wrappers. There a so many great and nostalgia-​inducing things to try here!
Of course they have some more grownup candy available — truffles and such. But the real fun is filling up a paper bag with the sort of sweets a person once bought with mere pocket change.