Nothing stirs up nostalgia quite like the thought of retro sweets. They were more than just sugary treats—they were a ritual, a reward, and a ticket to a simpler, happier time. Some were designed to make your mouth water, others seemed destined to knock your teeth out. But whether you loved them for their unique flavors or their quirky packaging, one thing is certain: these sweets were a huge part of growing up. Now, long gone from our corner shops, they live on in our hearts (and our fillings). Let’s take a stroll down memory lane and remember some of Britain’s most iconic retro sweets.
Pink Panther Bars
You couldn’t escape the Pink Panther in the 70s, whether it was on the telly or in the cinema, and this beloved pink cat even managed to secure his own candy bar. The Pink Panther Bar wasn’t just any ordinary chocolate—this was the pinkest chocolate you’ve ever seen. It was strawberry-flavoured, and tasted like the strawberries you imagined existed in a magical world of endless summer holidays. But just as quickly as it appeared, it vanished in the 80s, replaced by the ill-fated Contessa bar. Though many have forgotten Contessa, the Pink Panther Bar lives on in our hearts.
Opal Fruits
Before “five-a-day” became a health mantra, many a schoolkid’s idea of fruit came wrapped in an Opal Fruits packet. With their famous slogan—“Made to make your mouth water”—these chewy, juicy squares of sugary goodness became a lunchtime staple. Bursting with flavors like lemon, lime, orange, and strawberry, Opal Fruits were bright, bold, and packed with real fruit juice—or so the packaging claimed! But in 1998, disaster struck: the brand was renamed Starburst to align with its global identity. There was a brief, bittersweet comeback in 2008, but the Opal Fruits legacy endures.
Assorted Toffos
You knew you were in for a challenge when you unwrapped a Toffo. Tough, chewy, and thoroughly satisfying, Toffos were the ultimate test of dental resilience. While the classic toffee version is still around, it’s the Assorted Toffos—with their strawberry, banana, and chocolate flavours—that we truly miss. The struggle to chew was real, but the reward was worth it. Like a badge of honour, if you managed to make it through an Assorted Toffo, you’d earned your stripes.
Aztec Bar
The Aztec Bar launched in 1967 with great fanfare. This nougatine and caramel-filled chocolate bar came with a side of theatrics—cardboard Aztec warriors in shops, exotic TV ads, and a sense of grandeur. It had all the makings of a sweet sensation, but despite its popularity, the Aztec Bar disappeared in the mid-70s. It made a brief return in 2000 but didn’t last long enough to truly reignite the flame. Still, it remains a fond memory for those lucky enough to have experienced its glory.
Fry’s Five Centres
Before the days of variety chocolate boxes, Fry’s Five Centres was a dream come true. For the price of one bar, you got not one, but five different fondant fillings—orange, lime, raspberry, strawberry, and pineapple—wrapped in decadent dark chocolate. It was like playing a game of chance with every bite. Was there anything better than guessing which centre you’d hit next? Sadly, this sweet roulette ended in 1992, but its uniqueness has yet to be replicated.
Bazooka Joe
Chew, blow, read, repeat. The Bazooka Joe bubblegum wasn’t just about the gum—it was about the tiny comic strip inside. These chewy, brick-like pieces were hard work, but they paid off with one of the coolest rewards in the sweet aisle: a funny, collectible comic. Even better, you could save up your wrappers to claim prizes, with X-ray specs being the ultimate trophy for any hopeful prankster. Though the gum was far from soft, the memories are as sweet as ever.
Texan Bar
“A man’s gotta chew what a man’s gotta chew!” The Texan Bar was known for its incredibly chewy texture. TV ads showed a cowboy escaping death, not by bravery, but by spending so long chewing his Texan Bar that the bandits fell asleep. It was the ultimate endurance test in a sweet—nougat and toffee wrapped in chocolate, each bite took minutes to conquer. Despite its legendary status, it disappeared in the 80s, only to reappear briefly in 2005 before vanishing again.
Marathon Bar
Do you remember a time before the Snickers? In Britain, the same peanut, caramel, and nougat combo went by the name Marathon. With its cheeky ad campaign—”Comes up peanuts slice after slice”—it quickly became a favourite. But in 1990, the powers that be decided to align the brand globally, and thus the Marathon became the Snickers. Despite claims that the recipe didn’t change, many insisted the bar had shrunk and lost some of its crunch.
Pacers
Sister sweet to Opal Fruits, Pacers were minty, refreshing, and utterly unique. These soft, chewy sweets started as Opal Mints before rebranding as Pacers, and their green and white stripes became iconic in their own right. For a short time in the late 70s, the green stripes even became a source of football fandom, with Celtic FC adopting the nickname “The Pacers.” These spearmint-flavoured chews were an acquired taste, but for those who loved them, no substitute has ever come close.
Gorgo Bars
Everyone remembers the mighty Wham Bar, but its lesser-known sister, the Gorgo Bar, deserves its own place in sweet history. This monstrous slab of sour, lime-green chewy toffee, laced with explosive black fizzy bits, was a force to be reckoned with. Its packaging featured a giant lizard, hinting at the tooth-breaking challenge that lay within. You’d start your Gorgo at morning break, and by the end of the day, you still hadn’t defeated it. Alas, the Gorgo Bar is now extinct, but it remains in the memories of those brave enough to tackle it.
Space Dust (aka Pop Rocks)
For those who liked their sweets with a bit of drama, Space Dust (also known as Pop Rocks) was an experience like no other. Pour a packet of these tiny crystals onto your tongue, and you were greeted with an explosion of crackling, fizzing, and popping. The sensation was almost otherworldly. Many a schoolyard rumour suggested they’d make your stomach explode if eaten with fizzy drinks, but thankfully, most of us survived unscathed.
Sherbet Fountains
No childhood was complete without a Sherbet Fountain. With a cardboard tube of tangy sherbet and a liquorice stick for dipping, this was one of the messiest, most delicious ways to get your sugar fix. The fun part was figuring out how to get the liquorice stick wet enough to coat it with sherbet but dry enough to still be chewy. It was chaotic, but that was half the fun!
Whether you preferred the toffee challenge of Toffos or the fizzy fun of Space Dust, these retro sweets hold a special place in Britain’s collective memory. They remind us of a time when a trip to the corner shop could make your whole day. Though many of these beloved treats are now gone, their sweet legacy lives on. Here’s to the sweets that defined our childhood—and may we always remember them fondly.
