Chris Warner and his partner Katie, 48 and 39, moved to Oakham with their kids in March 2020 hardly knowing the area. Little did they know that they were standing face-to-face with a global pandemic and would, eventually, open their very own traditional sweetshop in this unfamiliar town. 

They moved to the area after Katie's sister and mother relocated from Essex. Chris said: "I am ashamed to say that we didn't even know the area. We came to visit family over Christmas 2018 and fell in love."  

Chris has owned and run Warner's Traditional Sweetshop since December 2021, opening up just in time for the late-night shopping event that took place on the 13th of December – the same day that Warner's opened its doors to the general public. 

Prior to that the shop was home to local Estate Agent Newton Fallowell, who frequently feature in the property section of our website. 

Now the shop is a hive of innovation and, with 4 new members joining the team, Chris has had plenty of time to invent and produce some cracking new products. 

Their most recent addition to the selection is Warner's Rutland Rock, coined and created by Chris, and available to purchase in store and at the Osprey Centre in Lyndon, and many other local attractions.

On top of this Chris is selling Rossi's ice-cream: "It's not your normal whippy ice-cream," Chris explained. "It's really creamy and smooth, with cream being the third ingredient. The gent who runs Rossi's is also a business mentor, so I'll be visiting the factory soon to find out even more. My daughter loves the ice cream and has been inventing new ways to eat it. Her newest idea is to fill the ice-cream cone with Millions before you put the ice-cream in."

Rossi's ice-cream at Warner's (image courtesy of Warner's Traditional Sweet Shop)

This combo of real seaside ice-cream and local sticks of rock really shows Chris's roots as a Southend-on-Sea native. 

Chris said: "I don't miss Southend. Rutland is so nice and the people are wonderful. My family and I have really settled in."

Chris's mother visits frequently and stays in the Wisteria, where Chris has previously hosted sweet Carts for weddings and events. He even made the sweet cones for Mayor, Zoë Nealson's wedding last month! 

An example of the cones that Chris and the team lovingly put together in store and for events (image courtesy of Warner's)

Chris and Katie have 5 kids, Finley 12, Stanley 12, and Pippa 14 who all live at home and inspired the leap to purchase and run a sweet shop. 

Chris explained: "Doing this was all Katie's fault - she took the kids back to Essex to visit, and they popped into a sweetshop called Butler's. The kids asked why there wasn't a sweet shop like that in Oakham. I did some research, and 48-hours later I was putting an offer in on the shop." 

Their other two kids are Nadine 19, and Harvey 17. Harvey will be helping Chris design a new website where the public will be able to buy Warner's wares online, and Nadine is running their social media while studying to be a nurse in Colchester.

This isn't the only way that the family team are bringing the traditional sweetshop into the twenty-first century though. They are going to be celebrating Oakham Pride when it arrives by arranging Pride themed sweet cones, as well as designing "Willy Wonka" themed window displays and arranging delivery across Rutland. Watch this space for these exciting updates!  

Some of the sweet cones available in store (image courtesy of Warner's Traditional Sweet Shop)

In the meantime, Chris and the team have achieved a 5 star food hygiene rating, added a personal touch by hand-stamping their sweet bags and begun including dietary requirements on their displays. They cater for vegans and vegetarians, as well as providing sugar and gluten free sweets – so there really is something for everyone! 

Chris said: "I've got to try new things taking this on too, from the work to the sweets themselves. I tried liquorish torpedoes the other day and they were lovely." 

Warner's also offer slushies, which have had some great feedback (image courtesy of Warner's Traditional Sweet Shop)

To round off the interview, I asked Chris to add any personal titbits that people might find charming. "Me!" he laughed. "No, I think the charm will be added as the shop grows and we develop the place into an experience. The shop is five months old this month and we're already improving it and its products, so we're looking forward to what comes next."

Warner's Traditional Sweetshop opens 7 days a week, from 10am until 5pm on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, from 10am until 6pm on Tuesday and Thursday and from 10am until 4pm on Sunday. 

Chris and the team look forward to seeing you there.

Get in touch about including your business in an 'Up Close' feature with us at Oakham Nub News by emailing [email protected].