Long history of 'lovely' Liverpool shop once famous across the city

108 London Road in Liverpool, the former Noblett's toffee shop
-Credit: (Image: Liverpool ECHO)


A "lovely" Liverpool shop whose famous name was known across the city once sold a variety of sweets to the masses. Earlier today, the ECHO reported how the former Noblett’s shop on London Road, which sold the sweets well into the 20th century, has been shuttered by Liverpool Council after being left vacant for weeks in its current guise.

While the Blues are well known for their historic nickname, the Toffees, they have long been associated with the Everton mint - a mint with a toffee centre and distinctive black and white stripes. Their history is said to date back to the 1700s where a Molly Bushell first made them in the city.

And the treats were said to be stocked in Noblett's London Road as part of a bid to lure early fans towards them, rather than the toffee shop set up by Old Ma Bushell when the club was located at Anfield up until 1892. It is thought the black and white appearance was designed to replicate the early strips worn by the team after its name changed from St Domingo’s.

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Through the generations, the mints have also been made on Merseyside by the likes of Barker & Dobson and Taverners. Located at 108 London Road, the former Noblett’s shop constructed in 1899 for the Liverpool Furnishing Company by W. Hesketh & Co.

In later years, the shop became known as a deli, but it retained some details from how the shop had used to look, including how it had been painted with the old Mother Noblett’s designs at the top of the building. Now, the former sweet shop has been seized by the local authority after running into disrepair.

Fans walk past Everton Mints for sale inside the club shop before the Barclays Premier League match between Everton and West Ham at Goodison Park on March 1, 2014 in Liverpool
Everton Mints for sale inside the club shop -Credit:Photo by Paul Thomas/Getty Images

Many generations will have fond memories of visiting Noblett's on London Road through the years, as well as other Noblett's sites. Back in March 1997, the ECHO spoke to two women who had worked in local sweet shops where the toffee was a top seller.

At the time, the ECHO reported: "Now aged 84, Kathleen Moran of Aigburth and her friend Winifred Cliffe, 82, who lives in Formby, recall those youthful days with pleasure but insist that the family who made and sold it then were called Noblett. And that's despite the fact that, historically, Molly Bushell has always been credited with the original Everton toffee which she first made in her shop somewhere near Shaw Brow, Everton, around 1862.

"Kathleen said: "I went to work at Noblett's when I was about fifteen. There were quite a few branches of Noblett's but I was in the Houghton Street branch near the Playhouse, where they made the toffee.

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"There were Noblett sweet shops all over the place. Roe Street, Moorfields, Birkenhead, New Brighton and London Road. Two in Southport and three in Dublin. A wonderful smell of sweet-making pervaded the Houghton Street factory, when I joined the firm.

"They made all sorts of sweets apart from Everton toffee; mint rock, pear drops, Everton mints and chocolate almonds. The rock had the name Noblett running right through it."

Kathleen and Winifred first got to know each other when Winifred went to work in the London Road shop. Winifred previously told the ECHO: "All the shops were lovely. There were brass fittings which you had to clean with a special acid based preparation.

108 London Road in Liverpool
The former Noblett's toffee shop, 108 London Road in Liverpool -Credit:Liverpool Echo

"The jars in which the sweets were displayed were known as dignity jars – those with pointed glass stoppers and ribbons tied round the neck. There were small iron tables with chairs, where lemonade was served.

"London Road was a thriving shopping area in those days, bustling with people, the shops open until ten o'clock at night. I remember that you could buy a quarter of chocolate almonds for 1/3d which was a lot of money in those days."

Winifred continued: "No-one seems to know what the connection is between Molly and Mother Noblett but it was Mother Noblett who was the emblem in my day. We did not earn much. I think my wages were 8/4d, around the year 1935.

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"In the shops you worked long hours; half eight in the morning to nine o'clock at night. But it was a lovely world and the Noblett's a lovely family. They lived in a big house in Grassendale."

Now, the former Noblett’s shop on London Road, which sold the sweets well into the 20th century, has been shuttered by Liverpool Council after being left vacant for weeks in its current guise, the ECHO recently reported. A letter has been issued by the local authority and displayed outside the property, which has previously operated as a deli, by the council’s property management team leader confirming the locks had been changed and an appointment can be arranged to collect any items left inside.

The text said: "Take notice that I, Amy Crompton, on behalf of Liverpool Council as landlord have attended the above premises and found them to be unoccupied. In addition, the rent is more than 21 days overdue. I have, on behalf of the landlord, taken possession of the premises and changed the locks and the above lease is determined absolutely.

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“Also take notice that any attempt by yourselves or any other person(s) to re-enter the premises may render you/them liable to criminal prosecution.” It is located next door to another historic building that the city council put up for sale last year.

A 125-year lease was offered for 104-106 London Road in February 2023. It had previously been the subject of attempts to renovate the site for the purpose of use as a multi-purpose centre for social enterprises and charities based in the city.

The seizure of the site on the outskirts of the city centre is the second property the council has taken hold of in the past few weeks. For the past 19 years, 7 Beaconsfield Street has been left empty and has run into disrepair since 2012. After fielding years of complaints and an inability to locate the owner, Liverpool Council has stepped in to take over the house to prevent further issues.