Leamington is set to welcome a new meadery this weekend.

The Hive Meadery and Taproom, which is named to reflect the connection between mead and the honey used to make it, will celebrate its opening weekend under the arches on 10 and 11 October.

Founded by two friends, Simon and Colin both from Coventry, The Hive was a passion project for the pair.

Colin shared: "We both retired early and found ourselves sat around, not doing a heck of a lot and we decided to do something we were both passionate about - brewing mead."

Discussing the location, Colin highlighted the arches was a perfect venue for The Hive, given its existing brewery culture, with Windmill Hill Brewery a few doors away and other existing businesses close by.

"We got to know some of the owners here, including some of the brewers. And, it's a fantastic community and we decided, if we are going to start a brewery anywhere, we would like it to be here."

Circling back to the brewery's name (The Hive), Colin further touched on the importance of community and social interaction, with bee hives being a collective space for gathering together.

He went on to express the importance of tackling the topic of male isolation, which he shared strongly resonates with both him and Simon.

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"We are very big on the idea of people gathering around and forming a collective and the issue of male isolation, because we were both retired and sat at home doing nothing and we really felt that sense of isolation ourselves. So, as well as being a meadery, The Hive will also be a space for social sessions, and talking groups to "bring people out and try and reduce social isolation amongst groups of people in the local area" said Colin.

In terms of its produce, The Hive will focus on bringing locally sourced mead to the area, with several partnerships in place, including one with a local beekeeper.

Colin noted the business will not be wholesaling to begin with either, and the products will be exclusively available at The Hive initially.

With the Leamington Beer Festival just around the corner (15 to 18 October,) The Hive's opening comes at an ideal time, and provides an addition to an already buzzing community, under the arches.