
70s and 80s Retro Sweets in the UK
This is the page hated by dentists but loved by the rest of us, and it's guaranteed to bring back some fond childhood memories.
Do you remember those old-fashioned penny sweets such as Black Jack's, Fruit Salads and Anglo Bubbly? All of those retro favourites are right here. Of course, some were available to buy long before this - some are centuries old - but it was during this time that I personally remember enjoying them in my childhood.
Many sweets are still available to buy, although others are just sadly missed. It's all now labelled as "junk food", of course, and we are forever being preached at to stop eating what we enjoy. But who can resist when it tastes so wonderful!
Alphabet Letters
Anglo Bubbly
Aniseed Balls
Barley Sugars
Black Jacks
These are certainly one of the most well-known classic British sweets. They're aniseed flavoured, chewy and black with a unique taste, and they make your tongue go black! The original labels from the 1920s pictured a grinning golly and this caused increasing controversy as the decades passed. By the late 80s, Trebor had decided to delete the golly logo and it was replaced by a pirate with a black beard. In the early 1990s, the pirate logo was replaced by a rather boring black and white swirl design - yawn - and now the wrapper just says "Barratt BlackJack".
Candy Ice Cream Cones
Candy Lipstick
Candy Necklaces
Candy Sticks
Candy Whistles

Chewits
Chewits were launched before the 1980s in Southport, England, in 1965 to be precise. They are cube-shaped, soft and chewy sweets that originally came in four fruit flavours; strawberry, blackcurrant, orange and banana.
The TV ad featured a Godzilla-like creature (named Chewy) that was threatening New York, and proved to be extremely popular. In fact, it was so popular that Leaf International delayed the launch of the sequel.
An ice cream flavour was introduced briefly in 1989, and since then there have been sour, fizzy and hot flavours, many of which were limited edition. Sadly, like many manufacturing companies in the UK, the factory closed in 2006 and production moved to Slovakia where Chewits are still being produced.
Chocolate Coins
A net of these delights could always be found hanging on the Christmas Tree in our household, but by Christmas Day there were never any left - the temptation was just too much!
Now they also come with a pirate theme and are ideal for kids parties to use in a treasure hunt or as a party bag filler.
Chocolate Footballs
Chocolate Jazzies
Chocolate Limes
Chupa Chups
Coconut Mushrooms
Dip Dab
Dolly Mixture
Double Lollies
I used to absolutely adore Swizzels Double Lollies as a young child in the 70s. Not only did I love the two different flavours on a stick, but I also got quite excited by the different colours, as would many young children today, I suspect.
This very retro lollipop is still popular and ideal for a party bag filler.
Drumstick Lolly
Fizzers
Fizzy Cola Bottles

Fizzy Bubblegum Bottles
Flying Saucers
Fried Eggs
Fruit Jellies
Fruit Salad Sweets
Jelly Babies
I suppose it was Tom Baker's fault for getting me hooked on these! As the fourth Doctor back in the 80s, his catchphrase used to be "would you like a jelly baby?". Fresh and fruity, these sweets are firm on the outside with a jelly on the inside, and the originals are made by Maynard Bassett.
Jelly Beans
Liquorice Allsorts
Liquorice Catherine Wheels
Liquorice Pipes
Liquorice Torpedoes/Comfits
Love Hearts
These traditional mini sweets with feature sentiments printed within a 'love heart'. Back at primary school in the 70s, the girls used to hand these out to any boy they might fancy in the hope that they might get the message! Judging by the reviews on Amazon, I believe that people buy these for their wedding reception as favours - a sweet idea!
Milk Bottles
Milk Teeth
Parma Violets
Refreshers
Refreshers Chews
Sherbert Fountain
Sherbert Dust Straws
Sugared Almonds
Super Shrimps
Sweet Bananas / Foam Bananas
Sweet Peanuts
Traffic Light Lollies
White Chocolate Snowies / Jazzles
Retro Sweets and that are no longer being made

Pacers

Spangles