Nottingham Goose Fair: New owner for famous cock-on-a-stick stall

Ray Brooks, 92, had run the stall for more than 70 years

A famous stall dating back more than 100 years that sells cockerel-shaped treats has changed hands.

The cock-on-a-stick stall and its owner Ray Brooks have been a staple of Nottingham's Goose Fair for decades.

After working the stall for more than 70 years, Mr Brooks, 92, has decided to sell the business to 33-year-old fair worker Tom Smith.

Mr Smith said he wanted to keep the history and tradition of the celebrated stall alive.

"I do get grandparents come up and they don't even ask. They know exactly what a cock on a stick is," Mr Smith said.

"They buy multiples because they give them to friends that have moved away.

"I had some people last night [say] 'this is going to Australia'. They're worldwide."

Cocks on sticks have been a staple of Goose Fair for years

Mr Brooks' decision to step down was partly due to the decision to extend Goose Fair's duration from five days to 10 days, according to his successor.

"When it went to a 10-day fair, I just think it was too much for Ray," Mr Smith said.

"He used to sell out then go home and make again in the evening.

"You'd see him come the next morning, he's still got the dye from the colours in the rock on his hands, so you'd know he goes home, has a couple of hours, makes another 50 cocks then sells them the next day."

'Slow process'

Mr Smith said he approached Mr Brooks in 2019 to buy the business but they only completed the deal last year.

After agreeing to the sale, Mr Brooks demonstrated how he made the brightly-coloured sweets in his garage.

"I don't want to disrespect Ray because it was so famous and he did it for such a long time but I was a bit gobsmacked when I actually went there last year and I saw what I was actually getting myself into," he said.

Tom Smith said he wanted to retain the business' character

Speaking to the BBC in 2003, Mr Brooks said making the cocks was a "slow process", which started four months before Goose Fair took place.

He added his family had been making cocks on sticks for more than 100 years, a process which involved boiling sugar and glucose to 93C (199F).

"We then add the colour. We pull the toffee and it turns white," he said.

"Lay it in stripes and pull portions off, cut each piece and shape it and add a flourish to the tail."

Nottingham's Goose Fair is one of Europe's largest fairs

Mr Brooks' son Robin said his father was "very happy" the stall would continue.

After completing his first stint running the stall, Mr Smith said he wanted to retain the business' character.

While the old stall has now been replaced with a sturdier structure, Mr Smith hopes the original can find a new home in the city.

"It's something that I would like to donate somewhere in Nottingham to keep that bit of heritage going," he said.