Red Carnation Hotels Welcomes New Rooftop Beehives to The Rubens at the Palace & 100 Princes Street

Ahead of World Bee Day on Wednesday 20th May, Red Carnation Hotels is delighted to announce the arrival of new rooftop beehives at The Rubens at the Palace and 100 Princes Street, as part of its ongoing sustainability partnership with Plan Bee Ltd.

Set against some of the most iconic city views in the UK, the new rooftop residents may well be among the best-located bees in Britain, with sweeping views across royal London and Edinburgh’s historic skyline.

The new hives form part of Red Carnation Hotels’ wider commitment to biodiversity and responsible hospitality, creating thriving urban habitats for pollinators while strengthening the connection between nature and the guest experience. Managed by specialist urban beekeepers from Plan Bee Ltd, the hives are expected to produce house honey that guests can enjoy throughout selected dining experiences, from cocktails and desserts to afternoon teas and seasonal dishes.

The rooftop hives at The Rubens at the Palace and 100 Princes Street also build upon Red Carnation Hotels’ wider biodiversity initiatives across the collection. Existing beehives can already be found at several Red Carnation properties, including The Montague on the Gardens in partnership with The Bedford Estates, Ashford Castle in Ireland, and the South African properties Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve & Wellness Retreat, The Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa, and The Oyster Box. Across the collection, these initiatives help support local ecosystems, encourage pollinator populations, and strengthen the connection between nature, sustainability, and the guest experience.

Sustainability remains a key pillar of Red Carnation Hotels’ ethos, with all properties across the collection proudly holding EarthCheck Bronze Certification and progressing towards Silver accreditation this summer. This internationally recognised certification reflects the collection’s continued commitment to reducing environmental impact, supporting biodiversity, and operating more responsibly across every aspect of the guest experience.

Why bees matter

Bees are fundamental to healthy ecosystems and play a vital role in maintaining biodiversity. As pollinators, they help plants, flowers, fruits, and vegetables reproduce, supporting entire food chains and natural habitats. It is estimated that around one third of the food we consume depends on pollination, making bees essential not only to the environment, but also to global food production.

In urban environments such as London and Edinburgh, bees are increasingly important. Green rooftops, gardens, parks, and floral planting schemes can provide valuable forage and habitats for pollinators throughout the year. By introducing carefully managed rooftop hives, Red Carnation Hotels hopes to contribute positively to urban biodiversity while raising awareness of the critical role bees play within our ecosystems.

The initiative also creates a direct and tangible link between the rooftop environment and the hotels’ culinary offerings. Guests can enjoy house honey harvested from the hives across a range of dining experiences throughout both properties.

Meet the beekeeper

The hives will be tended by experienced urban beekeepers from Plan Bee Ltd, including beekeeper Adam Maullin, whose passion for beekeeping stems from both environmental stewardship and personal wellbeing.

Adam shared: “I enjoy beekeeping because it offers a unique combination of mindfulness, a connection with nature, and a constant learning curve. There is always something new to discover about bee behaviour, hive dynamics, and the intricate workings of the natural world. As if that wasn’t enough, it also provides a great sense of accomplishment knowing you are helping the environment too.”

About Plan Bee Ltd

Plan Bee Ltd is a UK-wide beehive management service company dedicated to helping organisations support biodiversity and strengthen their environmental commitments through fully managed beehive installations.

As an ethical and sustainable eco-innovation business, Plan Bee helps companies improve their green credentials while actively demonstrating a commitment to the environment and local communities in an engaging and impactful way.

The company also creates outward-facing initiatives that celebrate the importance of honey bees, helping businesses foster awareness, education, and community engagement around pollinator protection.

By partnering with organisations that are equally passionate about helping the planet, Plan Bee installs and maintains beehives for businesses looking to support these vital pollinators and contribute positively to urban biodiversity.

Supporting bee welfare responsibly

The wellbeing of the bees remains central to the programme. All hives are managed by experienced professional beekeepers using carefully considered swarm mitigation and colony welfare practices.

These measures include regular hive health inspections throughout the active season, allowing beekeepers to monitor colony wellbeing and identify any early signs of swarming behaviour. Where colonies are expanding quickly, additional space may be introduced within the hive to reduce overcrowding and help maintain calm, healthy conditions.

In some cases, trained professionals may also carry out gentle queen clipping, a standard and carefully managed beekeeping practice. This involves trimming a very small section of one wing of the queen bee, which does not cause harm or distress. The measure helps ensure that if a swarm attempt occurs, the colony settles nearby where it can be safely managed and protected.

All practices are designed with bee welfare at their core, helping colonies remain healthy, stable, and thriving within an urban environment.

A closer connection to nature

The arrival of rooftop beehives at The Rubens at the Palace and 100 Princes Street marks another step in Red Carnation Hotels’ wider sustainability journey, reinforcing the importance of protecting biodiversity within cities while creating more conscious and connected luxury experiences.

Guests can enjoy house honey harvested directly from the rooftops across selected dining experiences throughout our hotels, offering a meaningful taste of the ecosystems thriving above the city skyline.