The Leader is putting the spotlight on local independent traders and high street heroes across Wrexham and Flintshire.

If you know of or are a business that goes above and beyond, we want to hear from you, and celebrate our local independent traders and high street heroes. Email claire.pierce@newsquest.co.uk for more details.

SPAVENS, Mold

When my son was little and would receive an invite for a party at Spavens, I'm not sure who was more excited, him or me.

For children it's like being in a real life Willy Wonka world, and for us big kids, it's a nostalgic trip our own childhoods.

With shelf after shelf filled with seemingly endless rows of retro sweets - I'm looking at you kola cubes, flying saucers and traffic light lollies - it was always inevitable the little guy wasn't going to be only one heading home with a bag of goodies.

But it doesn't end at candy. There are fancy chocolates for the grown ups, fudge in all manner of flavours and dozens of types of liquorice from around the world to name just few other tempting treats.

And if you don't have a sweet tooth, you can get creative with their crafts.

A few years back, I got my own invite to a party at the shop (I was more excited than I had any right to be), when my friend chose to have her 30th birthday celebrations there. I still have the snake I painted for my son.

I caught up with owner Alan Spaven to find out a little bit more...

Tell us about the business:

The business has been running for almost 40 years. I originally bought the shop in 1980 with my parents and we ran it as newsagents until 2005 when they retired.

We are now a sweet shop and party venue, which also has a craft area and an ice cream parlour.

Here we sell a vast range of sweets, including over 50 types of liquorice. We also make our own fudge on the premises.

In the ice cream parlour we make fresh pancakes to go with our Cheshire Farm ice cream.

What is your most memorable or proudest moment in business?

Hopefully our proudest moment will be making 40 years in business on November 23 this year.

We have adapted and changed our business model several times to survive over the past 39 years.

Any strange requests or stories from customers?

We started our parties by having our niece's here as a birthday present from us.

We then had one of the mums asking if we could do her daughter's party.

We then thought there is an idea here for a new party concept.

Anything else we should know?

Like most people, we have adapted our business over the last six months to cope with covid.

We immediately started with a delivery service to provide pottery painting sets and also sweet gifts to the local and surrounding areas.

This took off really well and helped us through the first three months.

We have then had to adapt our shop to provide a safe area to shop and also sit in for painting or pancakes.

We have been very lucky that we have a business that can change to adapt to an ever changing trading climate.

• Spavens

King Street

Mold

01352 752695

www.spavens.co.uk