South Coast Secrets

July 2015

One of Steve’s most wonderful and picturesque bee sites is down on the South Coast about 2 hours from London, near Hastings. This beautiful place feels like another world with nothing for miles but beach huts. There’s something about the place that just gives you a calm and peaceful feeling, I think Steve enjoys escaping to this wild west like land away from the stresses of London life. 

However, Steve’s not just there for the views, there’s a more important reason for the drive down to the South Coast, the harvesting of the honey from the wild wood sage - an unusual and complex honey with woody forest notes! The hives are located by a series of fishing ponds which are great for cooling off in after a hard days work of beekeeping in the sun. This year the wood sage crop hasn’t been as good due to strong winds, resulting in less honey being harvested. 

Whatever the results of the day’s beekeeping Steve, Nic and Hannah are always cheered by the local snack bar, one of Steve’s all time favourites. The menu changes daily depending on what the fisherman have caught that day, so Steve always allows time for a fish sarnie before his drive back to London. 

Don't Drink and Drive!

June 2015

We are very excited to announce after years of development the London Honey Company’s very own mead. The mead launched exclusively at Piccadilly's Fortnum and Mason earlier this month. The mead is made from Steve’s bitter sweet ling heather honey from the Shropshire moors which is beautifully balanced by the apple acidity of Kentish Cox, Bramley and Russets to produce a clean  contemporary palate.The mead has been made in collaboration with the award winning British wine maker Owen Elias who has won UKVA wine maker of the year 4 times so is perfect for the job when it comes to capturing the aromatic qualities of Steve’s ling heather honey. 

The mead is perfect as an aperitif, or can be enjoyed with smoked almonds, roast pork or even cheese. Don’t miss out on this unique blend of mead, get yours now from the Fortnum and Mason website for £16.50 at: 

https://www.fortnumandmason.com/products/the-london-honey-company-mead

So what else is new? 

The new bee-mobile is here and it’s bigger and better than before! We won’t bore you with too much car talk but it’s a Toyota Hilux active single cab, 4 wheel drive, hopefully reducing Steve’s likelihood of getting stuck in the mud, fitted with a commercial body and canopy. The back was purpose built and designed specifically for bee boxes and camping overnight in the moors when Steve has honey boxes to move up in Shropshire.

However, not everyone’s pleased with the new truck, Teal, Steve’s dog and the London Honey Company mascot, is less than happy with the trade in. The new van doesn’t have a long bench in the back for him to stretch out on and have a sleep whilst Steve’s out beekeeping. And with only 2 seats Teal is on the floor if Steve has a guest. Also, there seems to be less space in the footwells for Teal to take cover from an incoming invasion of bees. 

Earlier this month Steve and Teal tested the new bee truck for the first time and found it to be rather comfortable! Teal even got in to the bottom of the sleeping bag where he stayed whilst Steve went beekeeping!