Wasp Control for Tankerton Restaurants, Pubs and Commercial Premises
A seasonal unit that has been shut all winter is the sort of quiet, sheltered spot a wasp likes, so the opening-day check is worth doing properly.
The unit that has been shut since autumn
Seasonal businesses reopen with a long to-do list. Clean the counter, check the fridges, restock the shelves, paint the signs, test the coffee machine. A wasp check rarely makes the list, yet a building left closed for months is the kind of sheltered place that a wasp may choose in spring.
For a seasonal café or kiosk in Tankerton, next to Whitstable, that is an important point. Nests are started from late April, depending on the weather, just as owners are getting ready to open. A nest founded in a roof void, under a shutter or behind a panel in April is only the size of a walnut for the first few weeks, but it grows through the summer and by August it may hold between 2,000 and 10,000 wasps or more.
Finding it in the first weeks of the season is much easier than finding it when the hatch is queued three deep.
If you employ the same team each year, ask them what they saw last summer. A comment such as “they always seemed to come from the corner by the shutter” is worth following up on opening day.
The opening-day checklist
Add a wasp walk-round to your reopening routine. Do it before you unlock the front, and again after a few days of warm weather.
- Look at the roof edge, the fascia and any overhang above the serving area.
- Check around the shutter box, door frame and window shutters.
- Examine the bin store, gas cage and storage lean-to.
- Look inside cupboards, under counters and in the storage area for papery material.
- Check the ground around the base of the unit and the posts of any decking.
- Listen for buzzing or scratching inside walls.
If you find wasps entering a gap, do not seal it. Leave the opening alone, stay clear and take a note. If you find the nest inside the unit, close the room and do not open it again.
Early season trading
In the first weeks, wasps tend to be hunters, taking protein for the developing colony. Later in the summer they turn to sugar. That means a seasonal unit may see wasps at the bins and the food prep area before it sees any at the ice cream hatch.
Keep bins closed and well away from the serving area. Clean the preparation surfaces after every session, particularly if you handle meat, fish or cheese. Cover food during service and clear plates swiftly. Put cold drinks into cups with lids.
Do not try to deal with a nest by yourself with a can from the hardware shop. The risk of multiple stings is real and the spray will not solve the problem. If the nest is inside the building, leave the door shut and call us.
Staff should wear closed shoes during the first clean-out, since stock rooms and storage areas that have not been opened for months may have gathered debris. Open cupboards slowly, look before putting a hand in, and step back if you hear a buzzing from inside.
Treating a nest before the season gets busy
Wasp Exterminator Kent treats nests at beach cafés, kiosks, shops, restaurants, offices and homes. A single nest is priced at £120 in total, which includes one visit guaranteed, and each further nest on the property is £60 more. We do not add a call-out charge, and no extras are added for where the nest is or when we attend.
Appointments run seven days a week and offer same-day service. Evening and weekend appointments are available, so a visit can fit in before opening day or after the first weekend. The people who carry out the work are fully insured and qualified, and they carry out safe and effective work.
If the unit is locked, leased or shared, arrange for someone to give access. When you book, ask whether the empty nest can be taken down once it has been dealt with.
If you have a quiet period before the season starts, that is the perfect time to book. There is no queue at the hatch and the technician can work without interruption.
Staff, licences and landlords
Seasonal businesses often rely on young or temporary staff who may be new to the site. Brief them on day one: where the nest was, what to do if they see wasps and who to tell. A short laminated note by the till is sufficient.
If your unit is leased, check the agreement for responsibility for pest treatment. We are unable to advise on the legal position or on any licence conditions, so please read your paperwork or ask the landlord.
Keep a log from the first day of the season. If wasps are seen at the same spot each week, the entry helps you spot a trend quickly.
Booking from the unit
Before you call, note where the wasps are, how many you see at a time and when the unit is quiet. Mention any allergy among staff, so the visit can be prioritised.
Ring 01622 410 019, or book online through the contact page, and either route works for an urgent job outside office hours.
After the treatment, continue with the daily checks until the end of September. A quick look each morning takes a minute and can prevent a repeat.
Take a photograph of any activity you spot, and record the date. The technician can then see how the nest has changed since you first noticed it.
Neighbouring seasonal traders may have noticed the same wasps, so a quick word over the fence is a good idea.
When the treatment has been completed, walk round the unit once more to check that nothing has been missed.
Wasps on your property in Tankerton?
Fixed price £120 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.