Beekeeping expert Paul Youthed is holding a series of urban beekeeping workshops this summer at St Ermin's Hotel, Westminster. The hotel is home to over 350,000 Buckfast Honeybees and the popular 2-hour workshops take place around six of the hotels hives.

Paul will outline the complexities of bee society and 'bee-haviour'; highlight the close relationship between bees and flowers and give guidance on what to plant, when and where and how best to site hives in gardens or allotments. Participants also visit London's first 'Bee & Bee' hotel on the hotel's third floor bee terrace to get real hands-on experience handling bees, managing their hives and collecting raw honey.

As well as their continued support for London's growing Urban Beekeeping movement, the St. Ermin's Hotel has its very own Roof Kitchen Garden. Featuring plenty of bee-friendly plants for the colony to utilise, the working area also features greenhouses and space to grow fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs for use in the Hotel's signature restaurant, Caxton Grill. The home-grown produce is used by Executive Head Chef Alexander Boyd and inspires the outstanding seasonal menus, which also feature sweet hints of St. Ermin's Honey throughout. 

11thApril, 25thApril, 9thMay, 23rdMay, 6thJune, 20thJune, 5thSeptember and 12thSeptember 2020.

For further information, visuals or review requests please contact WixHill on + 44 (0) 1483 203992. Jenna McCooey e: jenna@wixhill.co.uk | Tim Fordham – Moss e: tim@wixhill.co.uk 

Notes for Editors:

• The bee terrace is an outdoor terrace planted with indigenous, bee friendly plants, housing four hives and London's only 'Bee & Bee' hotel. Hotel guests are able to view the bees through glass walls on the third floor walkway corridor. All workshop participants are provided with full bee keeping suits and gloves.
• Media reviews are available on request

 St Ermin's Hotel Property Highlights:

• Excellent location– around the corner from St James' Park tube – minutes from Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament
• Interesting history of involvement with the UK intelligence services from WWI to the present day
• Award winning restaurant Caxton Grill on site
• Third floor terrace Bee Hives– home to over 300,000 Buckfast Bees and London's only Bee & Bee hotel, with urban beekeeping workshops available.
• Fantastic family stay packages including 'Budding Bond' spy kits, 'A Bedtime Story' book stays and kids afternoon teas.
• Beautiful selection of Afternoon Teas, served in one of London's prettiest Tea Lounges
• Stunning ballroom and event spaces, showcasing dazzling chandeliers and magnificent plasterwork
• State of the art meetings facilities and private rooms
• Special wedding packages and wedding party events
• Fantastic range of rooms and suites
• Member of the Considerate Hoteliers Association
• Voted a 'Top London Hotel' in Condé Nast Traveller Reader's Choice Awards
• Recent winner of Four AA Red Stars

About Autograph Collection Hotels:

Autograph Collection Hotels celebrates individuality by curating one-of-a-kind travel experiences at more than 90 luxury lifestyle hotels found in the world's most desirable destinations. Exactly like nothing else, each hotel has been hand selected for its distinction as an iconic landmark, for its remarkable design or for its best-in-class resort amenities. For more information please visit www.autographhotels.com, and explore our social media channels to learn more about championing the independent spirit that is #ExactlyLikeNothingElse.  Instagram  Twitter  Facebook.

St. Ermin's Hotel Urban Bee Keeping Workshops, led by expert beekeeper, Paul Youthed, run for approximately 2 hours from 11am-1pm on selected dates and cost £40pp including a honey cocktail at the Caxton Bar or £65pp including seasonal afternoon tea (£75 for the unlimited prosecco afternoon tea) or £70 including seasonal afternoon tea and a glass of Champagne. Full beekeeping suits provided. For further information and to reserve a place, email Gemma Wren on: gwren@sterminshotel.co.uk