Once kids bought gobstoppers, lemon sherbets and humbugs over the shop counter. Today this chocolate box 17th century thatched cottage in Minehead is a luxury holiday let, with each of the four bedrooms named after a favourite sweet, sugar almond pastel paintwork and a wall of confectionery ads. And you’ll find a jar of sweets and homemade cake on arrival. Yummy!

Packed with character and completely refurbed, The Old Sweet Shop has all the oak beams, thick stone walls, mullion windows you can handle but it’s not all ye olde worlde, with HD TV/Sky/Netflix/Blu-ray, duel-fuel range, high-end kitchen appliances, crisp bedlinen and fluffy towels alongside the wood-burning stove and antique furniture – and a private chef, too if you fancy.

The cottage sleeps eight in four bedrooms, each with their own bathroom: Marshmallow (king), Lemon Drop (twin), Strawberry Sherbet (double) and Refresher (four poster king); great for families with kids, groups of friends or couples. Dogs on request.

Outside in the pretty garden, there’s a summer house, two terraces, two off-road parking spaces and a hot tub (nice).

The cottage is in the oldest, prettiest part of Minehead on the west Somerset coast, with a sandy beach and trad seaside prom, the spectacular South West Coast Path, pretty villages, castles, a steam railway and the wild moors of Exmoor National Park all there for the taking.

The area’s gorgeous at any time of year, including the Autumn and winter, when the starry night skies are breathtaking (and the cottage is super cosy!). They run a series of cookery and craft workshops out of season, too.

This is just one of four rather fabulous holiday lets run by Exmoor Character Cottages.

All bookings made direct are covered by Protected Bookings Guarantee. If you can’t travel due to COVID-19 restrictions, your money will be refunded in full.