Wasp Control for Pilgrims Hatch Restaurants, Pubs and Commercial Premises

The lunchtime rush leaves a sandwich shop little room to chase insects, so prevention at the counter and a quick fix for the nest are both worth having.

Why lunchtime is the worst time

A sandwich shop is busiest between about noon and two, and so are wasps. The warmth of midday brings them out, and the smell of ham, cheese, coleslaw, fruit pots and drinks gives them a reason to enter. A queue of customers holding open lunchboxes, a counter with exposed fillings and a door that never stays shut are all conditions that favour wasps.

The owner then faces a choice between chasing insects and serving customers. Neither works well. What works is reducing the attraction and removing the nest.

The people hit hardest are often the staff on the sandwich-making line. They stand still, handle food and cannot easily step away, so a wasp near their hands is a real worry. Their comfort and safety are part of the picture.

The counter in a rush

Small adjustments make a big difference when time is short:

• use a sneeze guard or lids on filling trays when not in use
• keep fruit, cake and sweet items in a covered cabinet
• have one open door only, and keep it clear
• wipe the counter after every few customers
• keep a lidded bin within reach so waste does not pile up
• store drinks in a fridge rather than on the counter

If a wasp does land on a filling tray, remove the portion and replace it. Do not wave a cloth over the food.

A short pre-lunch routine can help. Before the rush, wipe the counter, empty the bin, check the door seals and place covers on the fillings you will not use straight away. This takes a couple of minutes and prevents most of the early problems.

During the rush, assign one team member to keep an eye on the door and bin area and to clear plates and wrappers as they appear. Wasps notice neglected food within moments.

Eating in or taking away

If you offer seating, the wasps will visit it too. Lidded cups, wiped tables and quick clearing keep the tables from becoming feeding stations. If you have a bench outside, check beneath it for wasps investigating spilled crumbs.

For customers who take food away, packaging helps. Wrap sandwiches and close bags before they leave the counter, since an open bag on the street invites a wasp.

It also pays to think about where the queue stands. If it stretches towards the nest, ask people to line up on the other side or just inside the door.

Outside signs or A-boards sometimes sit very close to the door, and a nest in a gap near the sign can bother passers-by. Move the board a few steps away if wasps seem to gather around it.

Pinpointing the nest

Staff see the wasps all day, so ask them what they notice. Where do the wasps first appear, and in which direction do they leave? A quiet time before opening or after closing is the safest moment to look, because there is less traffic and the wasps are fewer. Common sites on small commercial premises are the rear wall, gaps under the roof edge, the yard hedge, and the space beside the bins.

Do not approach closely. Take notes and a photograph from a distance, and share them when you book.

If the wasps seem to be coming from inside the building, perhaps from a gap near the ceiling or the extractor, mention that when you ring. Do not poke into the gap or fill it. A nest inside a wall can be reached and treated, but the technician needs to know where to look.

Booking in a way that keeps the shop open

Wasp Nest Removal Essex takes on wasp nests at domestic addresses as well as commercial sites. The work is fully insured, and the business is open seven days a week with same-day service on offer. For a nest, the fixed price is £90 with one visit guaranteed, and another nest at the same property is £35 extra.

To get a quote or book, call 01245 327274 or use the online booking form on the contact page. Say that you run a food shop and that the lunchtime period is the busiest, so that the visit can be arranged around that. If anyone in the shop is allergic to stings, say so when you book so that the visit can be prioritised, and ask whether the empty nest can be taken down.

Sometimes a nest appears on a shared yard or roof. If so, speak to the neighbouring occupiers, since you may be sharing the same nest.

Staff safety and first aid

A sting in a busy shop needs a calm response. For most stings the first steps are simple: wash the area, remove the sting if you can see it and apply a cold pack. Call 999 straight away for wheezing or difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, lips or throat, a widespread rash or dizziness. A person with a known allergy to stings should speak to their GP.

Staff should avoid sprays, which can contaminate food and annoy customers. They also should not squash wasps near the counter. A small notice by the till explaining that you are dealing with wasps can help customers understand.

For a Pilgrims Hatch shop, as elsewhere, a regular check of the outside of the building from late April helps you spot a nest in its early stages.

Plan the busy weeks too. If a regular event or holiday brings extra customers, check the outside of the building a few days beforehand, so that any nest is dealt with before the crowds arrive. Wasps do not reduce their activity because you are busy.

Finally, share what you learn with your team. If one person knows where the nest was last year, everyone should.

Staff turnover in food shops can be high, and new people may not know the routines. A single laminated sheet by the back door covering bins, sprays, stings and who to tell is a cheap and sensible aid.

Frequently asked questions

More wasp advice for Pilgrims Hatch