The Local Honey Promise
Every beekeeper listed on LocalHoney.uk has made five simple commitments about where their honey comes from and how it's produced. Here's what they are, and why we ask.
Buying honey?
The promise tells you the honey came from UK hives, was jarred here, and that the beekeeper has put their name to it.
Browse listed beekeepers →Keep bees?
Signing up costs nothing. If you already do things properly, you're making the promise already. This just says so out loud.
Add your listing →Spotted a problem?
If you think a listed beekeeper isn't keeping to the promise, tell us. Every concern is looked into.
Contact us →A label doesn't always tell you enough
Plenty of honey on sale in Britain has travelled a long way, been blended from several countries, or been processed so heavily there's little left of what the bees made. Some of it isn't honey at all. The label can be perfectly legal and still tell you almost nothing.
Local honey should be different. You ought to be able to ask where it came from and get a straight answer from the person who made it. The promise is how we make sure every beekeeper here is happy to give you one.
Read about honey adulteration
Five commitments, in plain English
By listing on Local Honey UK, every beekeeper confirms that:
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The honey comes from UK hives
All honey they sell or give away comes from colonies kept here in the United Kingdom. No imported honey, and no blending with it.
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It's extracted and jarred in the UK
Extraction, processing and jarring all happen in the UK, so the whole journey from hive to jar stays close to home.
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The bees come first
They keep bees responsibly, putting colony welfare first and doing nothing that would harm the good name of British honey.
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The label is honest
They'll describe their honey accurately, including where it came from, which batch it's from and what's on the label. If you ask, they'll tell you.
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They'll stand behind it
They accept that Local Honey UK can ask for evidence at any time, and can remove a listing that doesn't meet these standards.
What the promise is, and what it isn't
The promise is a commitment each beekeeper makes in good faith when they list. It isn't a lab test, and we don't inspect apiaries. What it does mean is that someone real has put their name to their honey, and knows they can be asked to back it up.
Show your promise
Put the badge on your own website so customers can see you've signed up. It links back here, so anyone curious can read exactly what you've committed to. Copy the code below and paste it into your site.
The badge is for beekeepers with a live listing on Local Honey UK. Selling at markets? Ask us about a printable version for your stall.
Common questions about the promise
Is this a certification?
No. It's a public commitment rather than an audit. We think that matters, because a beekeeper who has signed their name to something is a beekeeper you can hold to it.
Does it cost anything?
Nothing at all. Listing on Local Honey UK is free, and the promise is part of listing. It's a community project, not a business.
What if a beekeeper breaks it?
Let us know through the contact page. We'll look into it, ask the beekeeper for evidence where needed, and remove the listing if the promise isn't being kept.
I'm a hobby beekeeper with two hives. Can I join?
Of course. The promise is about how you keep bees and sell honey, not how many hives you have. Some of the best local honey comes from the smallest apiaries.
Make the promise
If you keep bees in the UK and sell your own honey, we'd love to have you. Add your listing, make the promise, and help people find honey they can trust.