It’s a regular Tuesday afternoon in August last year and my phone rings. I prop the phone under my chin to take the call as I continue to mark a queen bee. “The Hive Honey Shop London, how can we help”. The voice on the phone is gruff and to the point. “I am looking to hire some beehives and was told you’re the man”. “Yes we do hire out beekeeping equipment. What is it for?” I ask. “A Miramax film starring Jason Statham, have you heard of him”? I bolt to attention, full of questions, juggling the phone while looking for the queen bee that has escaped in the confusion and now somewhere on me. S ..read more

Seasons Greeting from all our bees working harder than Santa to bring you natures most prized gift! May all your dreams come true in 2024. Best wishes from us beekeepers and our happy bees ..read more

We have a limited number of healthy, honey gathering, calm honeybee Nucs to fit National Hives and Langstroth Hives for sale this year. You need to call us and reserve your nuc slot. We answer your questions and confirm which style hive you want the frames to fit. Available on a first come first serve basis. Nuclei: A small bee family (beekeepers call them a “Nuc”) Locally bred  (Surrey UK) Buckfast strain starter colony. Supplied on either 5 National Frames covered with bees or 5 Langstroth Frames covered with bees- you choose. Contains: 1 x Laying Buckfast Queen Healthy Brood in a ..read more

After 26 years of trading on Northcote Road, SW11 – we have now moved the shop online, so that a wider audience can purchase our products. Visit our products page for our full range ..read more

Seasons Greeting from all our bees working harder than Santa to bring you natures most prized gift! May all your dreams come true in 2018.   Best wishes from us beekeepers and our happy bees.   ..read more

We just heard that our beekeeping blog has been awarded the top 60 beekeeping blogs on the planet! Thank you Anuj and all those who voted. We have been providing free beekeeping advise and tips for over two decades and we our proud that many of our readers have gone on to become professional beekeepers. Our blog hopes to create interest and understanding of the art of beekeeping, making it easier to understand and to take up. As 4th generation hands on beekeepers we are happy to share our knowledge and learn from others as well. Beekeepers since 1924 we still have a lot to learn ourselves. Hi ..read more

Mr Cees de Roij- Master Beekeeper, Master Skep Maker 10 July 1935  –  20 November 2016 As a bee that flew into the light and didn’t come back I desire to that day that I may meet you guys again I just learned that my good friend Cees has pasted away at the age of 81. I first heard about Cees when back in 1995 I was busy collecting beekeeping artefacts from around the world and looking for rare and unusual beehives. I have a passion for collecting all things related to bees and beekeeping and most certainly beehives. I put the word out among the international beekeeping community, as ..read more

Each year the whole gang at The Hive Honey Shop give up some of their personal time to volunteer at Christmas to help various charity organisations. It’s our way of giving back to the community and those in need.   One of the events we will be helping to support this season is St George’s Hospital Charity and Paul’s Cancer Support Centre. We will be on hand at The Royal Albert Hall collecting for this wonderful charity. These retiring collections will benefit the Cancer Department at St George’s Hospital, Tooting and Paul’s Cancer Support Centre, Battersea. So if you are there pleas ..read more

We were at the Wandsworth Business Awards 2016 last night having been nominated for three awards. They were, Best Customer Service, Best Green Business and Best independent Retailer. We won two out of the three! It was a glamorous black tie awards ceremony which made a change from us in our honey covered bee suits. It started with drinks and canapé reception, followed by dinner and the awards. Really well orginised and a pleasure to attend. The icing on the cake was being presented with the two awards. We were awarded the Best Green Business award due to our commitment in r ..read more

Mouse Excluder This time of year your bees will start to cluster tightly together to keep warm. This gives mice the opportunity to crawl inside your hive, undefended, and eat one bee at a time. So to keep your bees safe place a metal Mouse Excluder over the entrance of each hive. Remember to clear away any blockage throughout the winter otherwise your bees will suffer from lack of fresh air and dampness. Woodpecker You may not be aware that woodpeckers are in your area until it’s too late. A woodpecker will peck a hole though the wall of your beehive, typically it will be the narrow cut o ..read more