The SBKA Honey Show
The SBKA Surrey Honey Show is held each year in Autumn and, as well as the various cups and trophies to be won in the individual classes, it is the opportunity for our divisions to prove their beecraft and attain the Vincent Challenge Cup.
The 2025 Surrey Honey Show
Now is the time to start getting your honey and exhibits ready for the 2025 Surrey Honey Show.
See the list of classes below, now with on-line entry. There is also the full schedule, with rules and recipes, for download.
There are a couple of new classes which we’re looking forward to seeing the entries, mead and honey wines in particular!
There are classes suitable for the whole family to enter, plus 3 new junior classes, and there will be certificates and prize money awarded in all classes. Plus, the hotly contested Vincent Challenge Cup, which Reigate division won last year, with Kingston and Croydon hot on their heels. Every entry gets a point….
We are lucky to have the fabulous Claire O’Brien judging the entries, and Tim Lovett, past president of BBKA, will present the trophies at the end of the day, plus a glass or two of Denbies’ splendid fizz.
We need volunteer stewards please! If anyone would like to volunteer to help out, that would be great, it’s also a good insight to the workings of how a show is run – click here to send us an email.
There is plenty to do at Denbies Wine Estate while we wait for the judge’s decision:
- With 265 acres under vine and 7 miles of footpaths around the vineyard, there are plenty of routes to explore.
- The Chimney Fire Coffee Company, where you can sample their high quality coffee roasted at the vineyard.
- Just Pedal, available for rent are a selection of off road mountain, gravel and e-bikes, located at the foot of Box Hill.
- The Surrey Hill Brewery is now in the winery, brewing a selection of their specialist beers, always worth a sip.
- The Village Greens Farm Shop, a small family-run shop specialising in local produce.
Why not book a tour in advance for the indoor wine tasting or one of the wine trains?
SBKA are also organising a Pollinators Trail through the vines, with prizes to be won.
We’re looking forward to meeting old friends and new. What better way to spend a Sunday talking bees and tasting English wine? Start preparing and get your entries in!
Many thanks,
Mike Axford
Show Secretary
SURREY HONEY SHOW
Denbies Wine Estate
Dorking RH5 6AA
Sunday 14th September 2025
CLASSES
1 Two identical 454g (1lb) jars of Light honey.
2 Two identical 454g (1lb) jars of Medium honey.
3 Two identical 454g (1lb) jars of Dark honey.
4 Two identical 454g (1lb) jars of Crystallised or Soft-set honey.
5 Two pieces of Cut comb, each weighing at least 170g/6oz, in similar half-pound containers with transparent lids.
6 Three 1oz pieces of Beeswax, weighing between 27g and 29g each and matching in all respects
7 Single piece of Beeswax, weighing between 425g and 482g/15oz and 17oz and at least 2.54cm/1inch thick.
8 Two matching Beeswax candles, to be displayed erect; one to be lit by judge.
9 One Frame of honey, any size, suitable for extracting. To be presented in a showcase and both sides of the frame must be visible.
10 One bottle of Sweet Mead, Metheglin, Melomel or Cyser.
11 One bottle of Dry Mead, Metheglin, Melomel or Cyser.
12 Lemon honey cake made to the recipe shown in the schedule.
13 Honey cake made to the recipe shown in the schedule.
14 Six Honey biscuits made to the recipe shown in the schedule.
15 Composite class: a display, staged for effect, of any four of the following:
- a) 2 identical jars of Light, Medium or Dark honey,
- b) 2 identical jars of Chunk honey,
- c) 2 identical jars of Crystallised or Soft Set honey,
- d) 2 identical jars of Heather or Heather blend honey,
- e) 2 containers of Cut comb,
- f) 1 Frame of honey suitable for extracting,
- g) Single piece of Beeswax not less than 198g/7oz and not more than 255g/9oz.
16 Honey and Beeswax products: a display of home-made products containing honey and/or beeswax. See rule 5.
17 Interesting or instructive exhibit: directly related to bees or beekeeping, but not including live bees, to be displayed within a maximum table space of 75cm/2.5ft deep by 90cm/3ft wide. Please provide a descriptive label on white card.
18 Sale display: six jars of honey matching in all respects, labelled to comply with current legislation for retail sale. Rule 8 does not apply in this class.
19 Novice: one jar of any honey, open only to those who have not previously won a first prize in a ‘honey in the jar’ class at any previous Surrey Honey Show.
20 A pair of hexagonal jars, one to be set honey, one to be liquid.
21 A black and white photograph. Mounted on card.
22 A colour photograph (not close up). Mounted on card.
23 A colour photograph (close up/macro). Where main subject matter is at least approximately 30% of the print. Mounted on card.
JUNIOR CLASSES
Entrants must be under 18 on the day of the show.
24 A matching pair of decorative Beeswax candles, made by rolling, colouring permitted. Minimum height 100mm. One to be lit by the judge.
25 A photograph of bees or beekeeping, accompanied by a short explanation of the subject. Mounted on card.
26 Two matching jars of clear, soft set, or naturally crystallised honey. Jars have to be uniform in size and shape, Judge’s comments will be made.
NOTE: Candle stands will be provided for all candle classes.
Click here for the full schedule, with rules and recipes, for download as a PDF file.
ENTRIES
Enter online, either scan the QR code
or visit https://forms.gle/e7XzaqFmJW2fqSwUA