A SWEET-loving couple who traded in ballet and history to live the dream of owning their own sweet shop have celebrated their first-year anniversary on the city’s High Street.

Mark and Michelle Rasdall took early retirement to run Mr Simms Olde Sweet Shoppe, located between the city’s Guildhall and Cathedral Square, helped by a £1,000 business start-up grant from Worcester City Council.

The couple, who have been together for 32 years, researched a number of potential locations in the Cotswolds as a home for their new business, but fell in love with Worcester after stopping off for a spur-of-the-moment meal there.

Mark Rasdall, who was a writer and historian, said: “The city was also affordable – we were able to get a prime High Street location for the shop. The city is also a welcoming place for independents.”

Michelle Rasdall, who previously ran a ballet school in Cambridge, said: “Worcester just had this feeling that it was on the up.

“We were immediately struck by how friendly the people were. It just had a really nice feel to the place.

“Our first year of trading has been a lot of fun, but really hard work. The shop is open seven days a week so we were initially working 70-hour weeks each.

“We now have five part-time staff and are looking forward to offering work experience to a wider range of people in the future. We are loving running the business and our new life in Worcester.

“If you haven’t visited us yet, come on down and give your taste buds a treat they’ll never forget.”

The couple, who had previously sold sweets part-time during the summer at concerts and National Trust properties, applied to the city council for a £1,000 business start-up grant, which was match-funded from their own reserves.

The grant helped cover plumbing and refurbishment costs to the grade II-listed shop, which had no running water or toilets when they took it over.

Councillor Adrian Gregson, vice chairman of the council’s place and economic development subcommittee, said: “Our business start-up grants are there to help people just like Michelle and Mark, who have a clear business proposition and the drive to make it a reality.

“They are there to help take some financial pressure off the owners during the intensive start-up phase.

“I’m delighted that Michelle and Mark decided Worcester was the ideal location for their new business – I’m sure their business will go from strength to strength in the future.”

The Victorian-style sweet shop offers a range of sweets and chocolates – including vegan, sugar-free, gluten-free and dairy free products – all of which are made in the UK as well as pick ‘n’ mix sweets for weddings and business meetings and ‘lock in’ sessions.

The couple have also offered work experience placements and tasting sessions for blind and partially-sighted students at New College Worcester.

The shop also receives regular visits from people living with dementia to help with recalling childhood memories of buying their favourite sweets.

For more information on the city council's start-up grants of £1,000 and growth grants of up to £3,000 visit worcester.gov.uk/business or call 01905 722106.