Calm queens, delivered with care
Choosing the right queen can feel overwhelming. We get it. That’s why we’ve made this as straightforward as possible.
- Our bees are selected for calmness, productivity, and disease resistance
- Our queens are bred to thrive in UK conditions
- Unlimited support after your purchase
Live Arrival guarantee.
We guarantee your queens arrive alive and underwrite them in their first season against drone laying
We stand behind every queen we sell
Our queens
All our queens, regardless of line, are rated 10 out of 10 for beginner beekeepers. Calmness and temperament are our top priority across every variety.
Signature
Recommended
The queens most of our customers choose and come back for year after year. These represent the typical Black Mountain Honey experience: proven performance, calm temperament, and strong productivity.
UK queens
Bred and mated in secluded UK breeding stations by trusted family producers we’ve worked with for years. Fully acclimated to British weather, proven to thrive through wet summers and cold winters. The natural choice if you want locally raised bees.
VSH
Bred for Varroa Sensitive Hygiene. These bees actively detect and remove Varroa-infested brood. A smart choice if you want bees that help manage mite pressure naturally, without relying solely on treatments.
Obsidian
Our darkest line, and a favourite for anyone who loves a bit of character in the hive. They fly in cooler conditions, produce huge amounts of wonderfully fragrant propolis, and stay lovely and calm to work. A brilliant pick for an apitherapy setup.
Why beekeepers trust us
Family-run, with partners we’ve worked with for years. Black Mountain Honey is built on multiple family units working together.
We’re proud to support multiple UK families through our work. We handpick every supplier and maintain the same partnerships year after year. No rotating vendors. No shortcuts.
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What to expect
STILL UNSURE? Read our guides on Which queen is right for My Setup or just ask us
Many customers start with one queen and come back year after year. That’s the kind of relationship we’re after.
Before you buy
We’ll tell you exactly when queens are available. Most are seasonal (spring through late summer), and popular varieties do sell out, especially the Premium and VSH lines.
After you buy
We don’t disappear after the sale. You get detailed introduction instructions with every queen, and our team is always on hand. Ask us as many questions as you like, for as long as you need. There are no silly questions.
Reliability you can count on
When you request a dispatch date, we hit it. No excuses, no last-minute surprises. We know your beekeeping plans depend on timing, and we take that seriously.
Helpful guides
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Are My Bees Queenless?
Worrying about whether your colony is queenless is one of the most common anxieties in beekeeping. The good news is there’s a simple, reliable test that gives you a definitive answer, no guesswork required. -
Calm bees. Happier beekeeping.
Aggressive bees make every inspection feel like a battle. If you’re dreading your next visit to the hive, you’re not alone, and it doesn’t have to stay that way. -
Which Queen is Right for My Setup
Not sure which queen to buy? Here’s a simple, no-nonsense guide to the queens we sell, what each one is good at, and how to pick the right one for your hive. -
How to requeen a beehive
The reliable slow-release method we use to swap a failing or aggressive queen for a calm, well-bred one, explained step by step.
