Wasp Control for Rothley Restaurants, Pubs and Commercial Premises
A function room with doors open onto a garden is a lovely thing in summer, until wasps arrive. Here is what venue managers can do before the day.
Why events attract wasps in particular
Food and drink laid out for dozens of people, sparkling wine, dessert tables and children running between tables are a perfect match for a wasp colony at its peak. The guests expect a relaxed afternoon outside. A couple of wasps on the cake can ruin the photographs and the mood, and a sting to a guest turns a pleasant day into a difficult one.
Rothley is in Leicestershire, and a venue with a garden or a terrace has the same exposure as any other: the nest might be in the building, in the grounds or next door, and wasps will forage across the whole site.
For a venue manager, the best time to deal with wasps is well before the event, when there is no pressure and nobody is waiting on the lawn.
Where a venue has accommodation, such as guest rooms above a bar or a cottage in the grounds, a nest in the roof can send wasps into bedrooms, which guests rarely forgive. Keep a note of any report from a guest, however minor, because it may be the first sign of a nest.
Walking the site before a booking
Make a habit of walking the grounds a week or two before a large event, in the warm part of the afternoon. Look, from a distance, for wasps going into the same spot again and again. Cover the following:
- Eaves, roof edges and chimneys of the main building and any outbuildings.
- Trees, hedges and garden walls near where tables or a marquee will stand.
- Banks, lawns and flower beds, for small holes with wasps passing in and out.
- Stored furniture, parasols and canopies, which can shelter a small nest if left undisturbed.
- Bins, compost areas and the catering yard behind the kitchen.
If you find a likely nest, note the position, keep people away and arrange treatment straight away, rather than hoping the wasps will be gone by the day. A colony that is active in July will still be active in August.
Take someone with you when you walk the grounds, and agree a signal in case either of you notices a nest. Never walk through long grass or rough ground near a hedge when wasps are active, since a ground nest is easy to step on without seeing.
If your event includes a marquee, look at the poles, the base of the canvas and the frame before it goes up. A wasp queen can find shelter in a rolled-up tent that has been in a store since last year.
Catering and layout on the day
Even once the nest is dealt with, a few stray wasps may visit. Simple changes to the layout reduce the chance of a guest being stung.
- Cover food until it is time to serve, and use domes or nets on dessert tables.
- Keep sweet drinks in jugs with lids, or serve from the bar rather than leaving them on tables.
- Clear glasses and plates promptly, and keep a closed bin with a lid near the catering area, not the guests.
- Position the dessert table and the bar away from any area where wasps have been seen.
- Tell the staff to move slowly and not to swat if a wasp lands on a plate.
If a guest is known to be allergic, it is sensible to tell the venue and the caterer before the day. A guest who feels unwell after a sting, with swelling of the face or throat, breathing difficulty, dizziness or a widespread rash, needs a 999 call straight away.
A written plan for wasps in the event brief, covering who is responsible for checking food cover and who calls for help, takes ten minutes to write and can save a very unpleasant afternoon.
Consider the layout of the children's area too, because sweet drinks and ice cream gather wasps in numbers wherever young guests sit.
The treatment visit
The price is a fixed £95 per nest, and an additional nest on the same property is £35 per extra nest. There is no call-out charge. We confirm the price by phone before the technician visits and we do nothing until you agree. Our technicians are trained and the work is fully insured. We are open seven days a week and can offer same-day service for domestic and commercial customers.
At the time of booking, tell us about the grounds, the position of the nest and anyone in your team who is allergic to stings. If you would like the empty nest taken down afterwards, ask at the time of booking and the technician can advise.
Where a nest is in an awkward spot, such as a high gable or a roof void, describe it as best you can and the technician will look at the access on arrival.
After treatment and before the next event
Treatment deals with the nest that was found, but the grounds should still be checked from time to time through to October. A new nest is not likely in the same spot that year, though neighbouring ones can still send foragers. Keep the walk-round routine in the diary and share it with whoever opens the venue on busy days.
If you manage several buildings on one site, such as a barn and a house, give each a place in your checklist so nothing is missed.
Keep the checks going through the school-holiday weeks, when functions are at their busiest and the colony is at its largest.
Booking for a venue
Phone 0116 214 9259 or complete the booking form on the contact page, and mention the date of your next event so we understand the time you have. We cover Rothley and the surrounding villages.
Wasps on your property in Rothley?
Fixed price £95 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.