YOU might get stung in lesser bars, but don't worry, it won't happen in here. 

Copied but never bettered, the Kazimier Garden is more than Liverpool's finest outdoor drinking space. It is a hive of activity - and now in more ways than one.

A colony of bees has taken up residence over the entrance. No, it's not the latest innovation in Saturday night door security - rather it's a bid to bring a taste of honey to the ever-popular Seel Street bar.

And already there are around 15,000 of them, but give it a yearor so and that number is set to quadruple.

"It's great that the Garden has been so successful as a venue for socialising, but we want it to continuously evolve, to have other uses and attractions," Kazimier co-owner Laura Brownhill says. "It was either a water feature or bees. I'm glad that the bees won."

Bees Kazimier Garden %288%29Bees knees: Frances, Laura, Andreas, Thomas and Clarrie

Not wanting to bumble into what is a specialist area, Laura and other members of the Kazimier Garden team, Chloe, Rory and Tom, enrolled on a beekeeping course at Blackburne House. With the help of local apiary experts Beeshack things got moving.

Laura tells Liverpool Confidential: "We got the hive installed two weeks ago with what is known as a 'nuc' of 6,000 bees, including a queen.  We estimate that there are now around 15,000 bees. They never come down into the garden, they live in their own world up there, so customers shouldn't worry whatsoever."

Nevertheless, the curious can take a safe peek from down below.

Bees Kazimier Garden %283%29Bee movies"What is exciting is that we have a camera inside the hive and a video screen in the Garden," she said. "We are going to get this live feed online in the next few weeks, so anyone can see what they are up to."

To celebrate, the Kazimier Garden is staging a Bee Ball on August 17 so people can learn all about the creatures.

There will be a strict dress code of black, yellow and gold outfits, music will be bee-themed and expect honeyed food and drink - home-mead of course.

Beeshack, who installed the hive, estimate that by the end of next summer there will be "at least 60,000 residents" up in the tower.

Beeshack
Typically bees forage flora up to three miles away, so these won't be fussy about whether their nectar comes from the buddleia of derelict docks warehouses, roadside rosebay willowherbs and poppies or the manicured rhododendrons of south Liverpool parks. 

The only clanger that's been dropped is a deliberate one:  the bell that has sat in the tower since the Garden opened in 2012 has been removed to accomodate the swarm. 

Laura says that as well as changing barrels, Kazimier bar workers will eventually be dealing with the other sort of workers in the Garden:  "We will be sending staff on beekeeping courses as time goes on.

"Hopefully this time next year,we will be producing our own honey. We'll be selling it in jars as well as working with the Liverpool Craft Brewery to make special beers and the like."

A glass of Côtes du Drone anyone?

Oh do beehive yourself.

*Bee Ball, Kazimier Garden, Seel Street, Sunday, August 17. 8pm till late. £2 donation on the door. Dress code black, brown, yellow and gold.


Further reading: Bar Essentials: Kazimier Garden

Kazimier Garden