Wasp Control for Alkham Restaurants, Pubs and Commercial Premises
A pub that welcomes walkers and cyclists has benches, bike racks and a car park, all places where a wasp nest can go unnoticed until someone sits down next to it.
Muddy boots, bike racks and a bench in the sun
Some rural pubs and cafés do much of their summer trade with people who have arrived on foot or by bike. They sit at benches near the door, with a drink and a packed lunch, perhaps a dog at their feet. They are not in a hurry. That makes them the perfect target for a wasp, and a nest nearby makes the bench a risky place to relax.
For a business at Alkham, the surroundings matter. Hedgerows, banks, old walls and verges can all hide nests. The colony begins from late April and builds through the summer, reaching its peak in August, when it might hold between 2,000 and 10,000 wasps or more. Walkers carrying sandwiches, flapjacks and sweet drinks bring their own sugar with them.
A friendly, calm approach is the best way to handle it: tidy the benches, find the nest and arrange treatment.
Bike riders deserve a mention. A cyclist arriving at speed and leaning a bike against a bank can disturb an entrance without realising. A sign at the rack, or a sensible position for the rack itself, keeps riders away from any bank, post or wall where wasps are seen.
A walk round the car park and the bike racks
The outer edges of the site are often overlooked. Take a stroll round them with a cup of tea.
- Bike racks, shelters and the wall behind them.
- Verge banks, ditches and the base of the hedge.
- Gate posts, fence posts and timber rails.
- The walls of outbuildings and the bin store.
- Gaps in the stone or brick close to benches.
- Boot-cleaning stations, water taps and dog bowls.
Dog bowls with water or meat scraps can draw wasps, so empty and rinse them. If you see a stream of wasps entering a bank or gap, put a bench or a sign in front of it, from a distance, and keep customers back.
Looking after walkers who stop for lunch
Walkers often eat food they have brought. Put a notice on the benches asking people to keep food covered, take their rubbish with them or use the lidded bin. Wipe benches regularly, and clear glasses and plates quickly. Keep sweet drinks covered with a lid or a beer mat.
If a nest is close to the benches, move them or turn them to face a different way. Keep bikes and dogs away from the area. A dog that barks at a hedge or digs at a bank can provoke a colony.
Avoid sprays near food and drinks. They do not deal with the nest and they spoil the atmosphere. Customers who know you are dealing with it professionally will be more relaxed.
Mention it to your regular walking groups. Clubs that stop every month often have a leader who can pass the message on to members, and a quick note by email before a visit saves people from sitting down in the wrong place.
Treatment for rural pubs and cafés
Wasp Exterminator Kent treats nests at pubs, cafés, farms, shops, offices and homes. The charge for one nest is £120 flat, with one visit guaranteed as standard, and any additional nest on the same property is £60 each. There is nothing to pay for the call-out, and the figure stays the same at any time of day and in any location.
We are open seven days a week and offer same-day service, with evening and weekend appointments, so the technician can come when the benches are empty. The people who carry out the work are fully insured and qualified, and they deliver safe and effective treatment.
Tell us about narrow lanes, gates or steep ground, as it helps the technician plan. It is worth asking when you book whether the empty nest can be taken down when the work is finished.
Dogs, children and the unexpected sting
Dogs and children are most likely to disturb a hidden nest. Remind customers by a gentle sign, near the benches: please keep dogs and children away from the hedge. If the nest is in the ground, rope off a wide area.
If a person is stung, wash the area, remove the sting if visible and use a cold pack. Anyone with swelling of the face, lips or throat needs a 999 call, or if the person is wheezing, struggling to breathe, dizzy or covered in a widespread rash. A person with a known allergy should speak to their GP.
If a dog is stung, contact a vet for advice. We deal only with wasp nests and cannot advise on animal health.
How to book
Before you call, note the position of the wasps, the busiest times and your closing time. If anyone you work with is allergic to wasp stings, mention it when booking so that we can prioritise the visit.
Ring 01622 410 019, or book online through the contact page, with the form available for emergencies when the office is closed.
After the treatment, keep the benches and car park tidy, and check them again each morning for a few days.
It is worth keeping a note of the date and location of any nest. Over a few seasons it shows you which parts of the site wasps prefer, and helps the first walk-round in spring.
Check the toilets and the outdoor sink too, since wasps like damp, shaded spots, and a dripping tap near a wall can be a draw for them in dry weather.
Staff who go out to collect glasses from benches should look before they pick up, since a wasp sitting inside a glass can sting when disturbed. Tip glasses out away from the face and place them in a tray carefully.
When you take down the bench notice at the end of the season, keep it for next April.
Wasps on your property in Alkham?
Fixed price £120 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.