Wasp Control for Womenswold Restaurants, Pubs and Commercial Premises
Barn venues are booked a year ahead and used for a few big days, so the quiet weeks between are exactly when a wasp nest can settle in.
A venue that is busy only some of the time
A barn or hall that is used for weddings, parties and corporate days is empty for much of the week. Cleaners, caterers and the owner come and go, but the building is otherwise still. That is the type of setting wasps look for: sheltered, quiet and full of cavities.
For a venue in Womenswold, the calendar is the issue. Nests begin from late April, depending on the weather, and by August a colony may hold from 2,000 to 10,000 wasps or more. The same months are the busiest for weddings. A couple who have planned for a year do not want to hear that guests are being stung in the courtyard during photographs.
The answer is to check the buildings regularly between bookings, and to treat a nest as soon as it is found.
The risk is higher after a wet spring followed by warm weather, when many colonies get off to a good start. Venue managers who walk the grounds in May and June often find nests when they are small, and a small nest is much easier to deal with than one discovered a week before a wedding.
What to check in a barn and its grounds
Barns have beams, thatch-like cavities, wall panels and gaps, as well as outbuildings, stables, courtyards and gardens. Walk the site each week and on the morning of a booking.
- Gaps in the roof edge, gable ends and ridge.
- Tops of walls, beam ends and openings for ventilation.
- Stables, storage barns, outbuildings and the bridal suite or prep rooms.
- Climbing plants, hedges and trees beside the entrance.
- Ground holes in lawns, borders and banks around the courtyard.
- Bin stores, drinks stores and catering tents.
Report anything that looks like steady wasp traffic. Do not poke or block it. Mark the area off and consider whether any part of the day’s plan has to change.
Catering, drinks and the courtyard
The big day is full of the foods and drinks that wasps like. Prosecco, fruit punch, canapés, cake and desserts are all prominent. Tell the caterers about any wasp problems on the site ahead of time. They can cover food, serve drinks in glasses with covers and keep bins away from guests.
Place drinks tables away from the likely nest position, in the shade, and have staff clear glasses promptly. Keep the cake inside until the cutting. If photographs are to be taken in a part of the grounds which might be affected, change the location.
Avoid aerosol sprays around guests and food. They are not suitable, they will not solve the problem and they can ruin the atmosphere. A nest that has been treated beforehand is by far the best option.
Cleaners and housekeepers who are on site between events are well placed to spot trouble. Ask them to report any wasps inside the building, especially in the bridal rooms and the bar, because wasps indoors almost always mean a nest close by.
Treating the nest well before the day
Wasp Exterminator Kent treats nests at barns, venues, hotels, pubs, shops and homes. For one nest the fixed price is £120 per treatment, which includes one visit guaranteed, and a second nest on the same site is £60 additional. You will not be charged a call-out fee, 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, as well as evening and weekend appointments, so a visit can be arranged in the quiet gap between events. Our staff on site are fully insured and qualified, and they carry out safe and effective work.
Give directions, say where to park and tell us if there are historic or protected parts of the building to be treated with care. At the time of booking, ask whether the empty nest can be taken down once it has been dealt with.
Talking to couples and clients
Wedding clients like to know their venue is in control. If you have found a nest, tell them early, say that it is being treated by a professional and explain what will be done on the day to keep guests comfortable. Do not promise that no wasps will appear.
Provide your own staff with a short briefing, covering where the nest was, which areas to avoid and how to respond if a wasp lands on a guest. They should keep calm and guide the guest gently away.
If a guest tells you they have an allergy to wasp stings, note where they are sitting and make sure a first aider knows. Anyone with a known allergy should follow their doctor’s advice.
Booking the visit
Before you call, note the position of the nest, the dates of the next bookings and a contact who can let the technician in. Should anyone on site be allergic to wasp stings, mention it when booking so that we can prioritise the visit.
To book, ring 01622 410 019 or complete the online form on the contact page, with the form available for emergencies when the office is closed.
After treatment, keep checking the barn each week through the summer. A note in the venue diary helps staff to spot any change quickly.
Add the nest position to your venue handbook, so that new managers and seasonal staff know where to look in spring. Over time you will learn which parts of the site are favoured.
After the treatment, ask the technician whether anything on the site should be changed. Sometimes it is a simple matter of sealing a gap in the building, trimming a hedge or moving a stack of logs, but any such advice is best taken from someone who has seen the nest. Make notes while the details are fresh and add them to the handbook before the next season begins.
Wasps on your property in Womenswold?
Fixed price £120 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.