On the surface, Lyme Rocks is exactly what you'd expect from a traditional seaside sweet shop.
What many visitors don't realise is that the people behind the counter once built careers in banking and financial services, while one of them spent his younger years playing professional football alongside some of the biggest names in the game.
As Lyme Rocks celebrates its eighth birthday, owners Leo Markham and Heather Larcombe tell the story behind one of Lyme's most-loved independent businesses.
Before Lyme Rocks, Leo was a financial adviser and partner at a top wealth management company, while Heather enjoyed a successful banking career.
Armed with little more than a till, some scales and a mountain of sweets, they opened Lyme Rocks during the October half term in 2018.
The building itself has a history stretching back much further.
Believed to date from the Elizabethan period, part of the premises was once used as a fishmonger. Fish landed behind the building would have been carried upstairs and sold through large windows overlooking Bridge Street, which originally featured wooden shutters.
Creating a friendly atmosphere, Leo and Heather believe, has been just as important to the business's success as what's on the shelves.
While traditional favourites remain popular, it is often the memories attached to those sweets that keep customers returning.
One of the biggest challenges, Heather explains, is keeping up with the latest crazes among younger customers.
Where the shelves were once dedicated almost entirely to confectionery, soft toys and novelty items now account for around a fifth of the business.
If Leo's journey from financial services to sweet shop owner sounds unusual, his earlier career is even more unexpected, because long before Lyme Rocks he was making a living as a professional footballer.
Spotted by Chelsea scouts at 16, Leo signed for the club and played alongside future England captain Ray Wilkins. He later moved to Derby County under legendary manager Brian Clough.
After returning south, he joined Watford during the Elton John era, a connection that occasionally brought him into contact with stars including Rod Stewart, Kiki Dee and members of The Rolling Stones.
On the pitch, he earned the nicknames ‘Axe’ and ‘Animal’ and even now, football fans occasionally recognise him in the most unlikely places.
Recently, a family wearing Watford shirts arrived after being told a former player was working behind the counter.
Although injuries eventually ended his playing career, his competitive streak survives.
Back at Lyme Rocks, he and Heather maintain an ongoing contest to see who can take the most money during a shift, and neither has any intention of losing.
For Heather, life behind the counter could hardly be more different from her previous career.
After years in banking, redundancy left her wondering what came next, but joining Leo's business created one opportunity and Lyme Rocks opened another.
What began as a professional working relationship has evolved into a close friendship and together they have navigated rising costs, changing shopping habits, new regulations and the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Like many independent businesses, Lyme Rocks relies heavily on visitors returning throughout the year, particularly during the holiday seasons.
Christmas brings seasonal favourites but the shop has never tried to compete with supermarkets. Instead, the focus remains on what they do best: offering an extensive selection of sweets while making every customer feel welcome.
They are also supporters of the town council's Gateway Scheme, offering discounts to local residents and encouraging people to continue backing independent businesses.
Heather and Leo have watched trends come and go, welcomed generations of returning holidaymakers and discovered that running a successful sweet shop involves far more than filling jars with sweets.