The Beehive pub
At first glance, the Beehive could be any other mock Tudor boozer. The characteristic whitewashed exterior, dark wood beams and high-slated roof looks like so many dotted around the country.
But step inside, and it’s a little bit different.
Whether you’re on the hunt for cask ales or cocktails, football on a big screen or a garden to lounge inn, this local boozer really does seem to have something for everyone – right down to a bouncy castle (which we’re reliably informed, well-behaved adults are allowed on when the kids have gone home).
It is this range of options that maintains the Beehive’s appeal to all local residents old and new.
“The mistake some people make is they buy a pub with history of its own, and then stamp over that history,” says Rose Dennen, the manager of the Beehive. “It’s important not to forget it’s the locals who make your business. Teachers, families, people who want to dance: we make sure they are all looked after.”
The bouncy castle for summer fun
Dennen knows a thing or two about pubs, having managed several in the north and east London areas. Just over two months into her new role managing the Beehive, she wants to carry on creating an atmosphere that caters to everyone.
It helps that the Beehive is a beautiful pub. The dark wood bar, shiny tap handles, leather chesterfields and fairy-lit garden makes it feel inviting. And – unlike so many locals – the staff don’t hesitate to break their ongoing chatter with regulars to ask what you’ll be having.
In some ways, the Beehive seems like a pub with several different personalities. A Tuesday visit means £5 burgers, Wednesdays are for quizzes, DJs will spin on most Saturday nights, and on Sunday the garden will be full of kids thanks to the aforementioned bouncy castle. There’s even a film club night every first Monday of the month.
The beautiful bar
But instead of making it feel disjointed, it’s those different personalities that make the pub feel like a place that has something for everyone. “I don’t want anyone to come in here and feel an ‘I’m not welcome’ vibe,” adds Dennen.
Light flooding through the stained glass skylight windows
The upcoming bank holiday is a good example. On the Friday, there is a ‘Creatures from Cornwall’ seafood festival and followed be a live DJ set from Telegram in the evening. Saturday, Tottenham’s first home game of the season, will see a Southwark Brewery takeover of the pub, complete with a Beehive special brew, and special guest DJ. On Sunday they play host to a marketplace of local traders selling everything from cupcakes to jewellery, with face painting for the kids, and Angie Ganon of the Magic Numbers on the decks. “Monday we will rest!”, Dennen jokes.
Along with the feeling of inclusivity, Dennen says her focus is to build on the relationships the pub already has in the community. “The function room is really the hub,” she says. “We host everything from weekly live-drawing classes to christenings and wakes.” Another area Dennen wants to work on is the Beehive’s appeal to women. Fresh flowers on the tables and a lovely garden: these little touches will help elevate the general appeal and draw in a female crowd, which also doesn’t hurt if trying to get more men through the door.
The Beehive has become popular based on good service and word of mouth. So while there’s always ways to improve, Dennen applies an ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ ’attitude when it comes to the future of the pub. “There’s no such thing as finished, and there will be ways to make things better. But for the foreseeable future, we will be going as we have been: listening to people and keeping them happy.”
Words Nicole Val
Images André Ainsworth