Our Story

The Bee Emporium began as a quiet little hobby—just one hive, one beekeeper (my husband Will), and a whole lot of curiosity. But as anyone who’s ever met a bee knows… things tend to buzz out of control.

What started in our back garden in Overseal quickly grew into a full-blown family affair. Now with over 9 hives in Overseal (and even more in nearby villages), we’ve all been well and truly recruited—me (Rach), our two boys, James and Max, and of course, the stars of the show: the bees.

What we didn’t expect? Falling head over heels for the bees, the process, and the joy of sharing something truly local and handmade. And so, The Bee Emporium was born.

Our Mission

To bring pure, local honey and bee-themed joy to the community—while doing our bit to protect and support our incredible pollinators. Whether you’re here for the honey or just a honey-lover at heart, we’re here to share the buzz.

Our Values

🐝 Sustainability : We put the bees first, always.

🧑‍🌾 Local First : From hive to jar, it’s all proudly local.

👨‍👩‍👦 Family Run : Every jar has a bit of love (and chaos) in it.

🌼 Eco-Friendly : We aim for minimal waste and maximum good.

💛 Bee Education : We believe in spreading awareness about the vital role bees play.

📚 Learning from the Hive

Beekeeping isn’t just a business for us — it’s part of our children’s home education journey. 🐝✨

Looking after the bees, helping to harvest honey, and running our little family business teaches them so many valuable skills — from science and nature, to responsibility, patience, creativity, and teamwork.

Every hive inspection, every batch of honey, and every market day becomes a lesson in its own right — showing that learning doesn’t just happen in books, but in the world around us. 🌸🍯

It’s hands-on, meaningful, and a little sticky sometimes — but that’s exactly how we like it! 💛

Meet the team.

Rach - Queen Bee (aka multitasker-in-chief)

Wears all the hats: jar labeller, market day pro, and the one who turns “just one more hive” into a colour-coded spreadsheet.

Will - The Beekeeper

Started it all with one hive and now claims he can “hear when they’re moody.” We believe him (mostly).

James (13) - Hive Inspector in Training

Always on the lookout for the queen, quick with a bee fact,the first to spot a rogue wasp sneaking in and chief Delivery Bee

Max (11) - Honey Quality Control Specialist

Takes his taste-testing role very seriously. Also excels at bee spotting and snack sneaking.

🌼 Nanny & Grandad

Beekeeping truly is a family affair here at The Bee Emporium!

Over in Normanton le Heath, Nanny and Grandad lovingly care for one of our hives.

Grandad enjoys watching the bees from his office window — it’s his favourite view of the day! 🐝✨

Meanwhile, Nanny helps sell the delicious honey their hardworking little colony produces 🍯💛

Together, they’re an important part of our buzzing family team!

🩷 Our New Beekeeper – Ginnie

Meet Ginnie, our newest beekeeper and all-around bee enthusiast!

She’s joined the team in style with her very own pink bee suit — just like mine! 🩷🐝

Ginnie’s already proving to be a natural around the hives, helping to care for our colonies and learning all about the bees’ amazing world.

We’re so excited to have her as part of our growing bee-loving family! 🌸