<aside>
Home | Queens | Starter Colonies | Honey | Advice | Why Us? | My Account | Basket |
</aside>
<aside>
Choosing the right queen can feel overwhelming. There are so many options, and the stakes feel high. We get it. That's why we've made this as straightforward as possible.
Proven credentials
As featured in
BBC · ITV · The Guardian · The Independent · The Times · New York Times · James Martin
<aside>
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.
</aside>
All our queens are F1 Buckfast Mated Queens — bred for calm temperament, high honey production, and natural disease resistance.
<aside>
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.
</aside>
<aside>
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.
</aside>
<aside>
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.
</aside>
<aside>
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.
</aside>
Not sure which to choose? 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. Laurence's top pick for beginners? Our best-value F1 Buckfast queens — proven, reliable, and a great place to start.
Still unsure? Read our guide on Which Queen is Right for My Setup or just ask us. We're happy to help you choose.
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.
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.