Sweet success: The beekeeper bringing Salford honey to the masses
He's been keeping bees from the age of eight - now Dan Cook has turned a passion into a business as the only commercial beekeeper in Salford.
In this week’s newsletter, we speak to a 27-year-old beekeeper who has gained more than 20 years of experience in the honey industry.
Also, the secret inside of Salford’s underground crypt and the £600,000 transformation of a 220 year old church that has become a coffee shop.
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“When you have a passion for something like this it doesn’t go away ” - A 20-year journey into beekeeping in Salford
As children we often have a variety of interests that capture our hearts, but as we grow older most people change their interests or move on from the hobbies and experiences they once loved. But not for Dan Cook.
Dan is 27-year-old Salfordian who has been able to turn his love for bees into a new and rapidly growing business - Dan and the Bees - with over 60 colonies spread across hives at his home, Boothstown, Worsley and Buile Park.
He recalls: “I was about seven years old and I’d always had a fascination with insects and specifically bees.
“I remember going to Heaton Park with my Dad to play and we were right next to the Manchester District beekeepers and I saw them getting ready and going to the hives.
“We were invited in and allowed to try on the suits - which encouraged me to join the society and save up for my very first beehive.”
At seven-years-old Dan began training to become licensed; by the age of eight he was not only a qualified beekeeper, he was teaching others.
At an age when other kids would have been saving their pocket money for comics and sweets, Dan bought his own beehive. But life as an apiraist was not without its challenges. “It was one thing looking after somebody else's bees, but then when you're doing it for yourself you come some problems!”
Luckily Dan’s Dad was able to help him through the stickier moments. “We failed and succeeded together,” he remembers.
“Half of my friends thought I was mad as many in our generation didn’t know what beekeeping was.
After 11 years as a beekeeper, Dan would move to Nottingham, where he trained to become a barrister. But Dan’s need for bees continued to play on his mind.
Finishing university, and moving back to Salford at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, Dan decided to make the move back to Salford to be close to his family and brother Martin. But making a living keeping bees was not a straightforward career choice.
“Since the age of seven I had always wanted to be a beekeeper but never saw it as a viable career option, especially not in Salford.”
“But my passion grew as people were passing off artificial honey. Young people haven't grown up in a culture of honey like our grandparents did.”
Dan And The Bees started just over a year ago - and already Dan is filling between 100-400 jars of honey a week. And with honey from each colony tasting different, due to the different flowers the bees feed on, he’s delighted to see that people can instantly tell the difference between shop-bought artificial syrups and his own, homegrown Salford honey.
“We've had to basically start from scratch and use all those years worth of experience to create something in an area where it's not a traditional location.”
With many residents already making the connection to the worker bee that adorns Greater Manchester, Dan says the connection has helped when it comes to selling across markets thoughtout the area.
He continued: “We go to one or two markets a week, and even more in the build up to Christmas. And it helps to help build relationships with people as they are able to build a connection to the real product.”
“There is a disconnect between the food and people, and we are trying to bridge that gap.”
To help educate punters Dan includes a QR code on his honey that indicates from where it originates.
“I believe we are the first only company in the UK to do it; we want people to know where they are getting their honey from.”
Dan says he always knew he would go back to beekeeping - and credits his family for supporting him through his unlikely journey.
“When you have a passion for something like this and it doesn’t go away my parents were always prepared, and have been fully on board.
“They’re fully supportive and have helped me achieve my goals, as well as my partner Martha, she does so much work in the background, and when people see my name on the label it’s never a one person job.”
But this support from his family has allowed him to live his dream, and continue to pursue his 20-year-old passion. And it doesn’t look as though anything is going to change for him.
“I have been asked a few times if I have any regrets from switching from a lawyer to a beekeeper. And I can honestly say I have no regrets. At the end of the day it’s what I love.”
Pengy Church: Inside Salford’s secret underground crypt
On Broad Street, in the heart of Salford, is the historic St Thomas’ Church, Pendleton – locally known as Pendleton church – constructed between 1829 and 1831.
The church, one of two has been a key location in the area for nearly 200 years, hosting both religious and community events for Salfordians.
What most don’t know, however, is that nearly two centuries of Salford history lies directly beneath the church- the Pendleton Church Crypt. Read more here.
220-year-old Worsley church undergoes £600,000 transformation into coffee shop
A 220-year-old Worsley church has been transformed into a coffee shop and house.
The former Worsley Methodist Church on Barton Road was founded in 1801 and operated as a functioning church until its doors closed back in 2011.
Renovation work began in 2022 and was completed earlier this year. Read more here.
“I didn’t anticipate how much of my life was going to become about badges” – The Salford badge club building a community
They might never have intended it to become a club, but two local lads’ passion for badges has become a haven for different people from all over the city. Read more here
Salford Red Devils’ Darcey Price captains Jamaica at World Cup Qualifiers
Salford Red Devils player Darcey Price has captained Jamaica women’s rugby league team for their World Cup Qualifiers.
The 24-year-old made her debut for Jamaica as captain in only her second season playing for the international team.
From Oldham, the Red Devils player was left in ‘utter shock’ when asked to lead the team through their World Cup Qualifiers. Read more here.
Salford’s newest coffee hot spot is a must stop destination
As the winter months start to take over we decided to visited Salford’s newest coffee hot spot – Chorley Road Coffee House.
The newest coffee hot spot, Chorley Road Coffee House has recently opened its doors, and has happily been serving residents breakfast and brunch options all day and brunch from 11am. Read more here.
What’s On in Salford this week
🎵 The return of the record fair with The Brudenell Record Fair at the iconic Salford Lads Club on Saturday, November 23. The event is free to enter and all profits will go directly to our appeal to keep the club open. Read more here.
🦇 Salford Park Rangers will be leading a dedicated Bat Walk this Friday at Kersal Park - as they encourage residents to explore and learn about the city’s night time wildlife. Read more here.
⚽️ Salford City FC host 20th position Bromley this weekend, as the Ammies look to continue regain their winning and goal scoring form and continue to climb further up the league table. Read more here.
Our photo of the week: Ralli Building, River Irwell, Salford
According to John J Parkinson, writing in his "Manchester - An Architectural History" the Ralli Building was one of the first buildings to actually face the River Irwell rather than turning its back to it.
Built between 1913 and 1914 it was used by the business of Ralli Brothers, a Manchester cotton goods exporters, and merchant traders who had their Manchester headquarters in Harvester House on Peter Street.
The brothers traded in a wide variety of cargo shipping it to and from bases in Constantinople, Romania, Egypt, Russia, London, Trieste, Marseilles and Vienna. The Ralli family had a talent for foreseeing problems in world trade.
It is the first instance of a leading firm of cotton merchants crossing the Irwell and putting up large premises in Salford.
The current Ralli Quays development is set to be replaced with a a 16-storey hotel and commercial office space.
Thank you for reading
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