30. Penrith Fudge

The Toffee Shop opened in Penrith, Cumbria, just after the First World War by the Furnass family. It has remained under the ownership of three different families and is today owned by Neil and Pat Boustead.

Once inside the shop, you can't miss the rich sweet aroma of melting butter and boiling sugar from the toffee shop kitchen.

The same recipe has been used for over 90 years and has never been changed.

Fudge is made from butter, sugar and milk to a simple recipe and in small batches, so that it cooks evenly and thoroughly. There are always plenty of people to fuss over the 8 brass pans - stirring it when it needs stirring, and checking that it never boils over or catches in the pan. Once cooked, the fudge is poured into cooling trays and then cut by hand into slabs. As their name would suggest, they also make toffee although we will leave that for another time.

If you are passing Penrith - just off the M6 in Cumbria - be sure to drop in on this family business. The shop is a great survivor in an ever changing town and shows that the production of consistent quality is a simple and effective formula for success.