1 month old This article is more than 1 month old 24-year-old Ben Howie yet to serve his first customers in Pateley Bridge attraction owing to lockdown Jars of sweets in the Oldest Sweet Shop in the World in Pateley Bridge. Photograph: Reuters/Alamy Jars of sweets in the Oldest Sweet Shop in the World in Pateley Bridge. Photograph: Reuters/Alamy Tue 2 Mar 2021 02.00 EST A 24-year-old entrepreneur in the Yorkshire Dales is gearing up to reopen the doors of the worldâs oldest sweet shop after becoming the new owner. Ben Howie has taken over the Oldest Sweet Shop in the World, a Guinness World Record-holding tourist attraction in Pateley Bridge, but is yet to scoop a single pound of pear drops at the counter because of lockdown restrictions.