Welcome to Bee Local!
Welcome to Bee Local, the UK's premier platform for discovering authentic, independent local businesses. Whether you're looking for artisan food producers, skilled tradespeople, or unique vintage finds, we're here to connect you with the best local businesses in your area.
This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to get started and make the most of our platform.
What is Bee Local?
Bee Local is the UK's free local produce marketplace connecting communities with fresh local produce directly from farms, food artisans, and independent producers. The platform focuses exclusively on local produce businesses.
Local Produce Categories
We specialize in connecting you with authentic local food producers across these categories:
- Butchers: Quality local meat and poultry
- Honey Farms: Fresh honey and bee products
- Farm Shops: Direct from farm produce and products
- Cheese Shops: Artisan cheese specialists
- Greengrocers: Fresh fruit and vegetables
- Sweets & Chocolates: Handmade confectionery
- Gift Shops: Local food gifts and hampers
- Cake Makers: Artisan bakers and cake specialists
Postcode-Based Discovery
Find local produce vendors near you using our postcode discovery system. Enter your postcode to see vendors within a 30-mile radius who deliver to your area. Products are automatically filtered based on vendor delivery zones, ensuring you only see what's available in your location.
Key Features
For Customers
- Postcode Discovery: Enter your postcode to find vendors within 30 miles who deliver to you
- Delivery Zone Filtering: Products automatically filtered by vendor delivery areas
- Companies House Integration: Business listings include verified official data
- Marketplace Shopping: Buy local produce with secure Stripe payments
- Discount Codes: Apply vendor discount codes at checkout
- Order Tracking: Receive email updates as vendors process your orders
- Voice Search: Use voice commands to find businesses quickly
For Business Owners
- Free Companies House Listings: Basic business profile with official data
- Premium Listing (£150/year): AI-generated content, premium search placement, unlimited photos
- Marketplace Vendor (£450/year): Unlimited products, delivery zones, discount codes, order management dashboard
- Order Management: Track orders, update statuses, add tracking numbers - customers get automatic email notifications
- Business Dashboard: Manage listings, products, orders, and view analytics
Your First Search
Let's get you familiar with searching for businesses on Bee Local:
Use the Search Bar
From our homepage, enter what you're looking for in the main search bar. You can search for:
- Business types: "handyman", "honey farm", "antique shop"
- Services: "kitchen renovation", "wedding catering", "appliance repair"
- Products: "organic vegetables", "handmade furniture", "antiques"
- Business names: "Smith's Farm Shop", "Jones Plumbing"
Add Your Location
Enter your postcode, city, or area to find businesses near you:
- Full postcodes: "SW1A 1AA", "M1 4AE"
- Area codes: "SW1", "M1", "B1"
- City names: "Manchester", "Birmingham", "Leeds"
- Use "Near me" if location services are enabled
Browse Results
Review the search results to find businesses that match your needs. Each result shows:
- Business name and category
- Location and distance from you
- Contact information
- Customer ratings and reviews
- Photos and business description
Use Voice Search (Optional)
Press the 'V' key or click the microphone icon to search by voice. Simply say what you're looking for:
- "Find honey farms near Manchester"
- "Show me handyman in Birmingham"
- "Local organic food shops"
Creating Your Account
While you can browse businesses without an account, signing up unlocks additional features:
Account Benefits
- Save favorite businesses for quick access
- Leave reviews and ratings
- Track your search history
- Receive notifications about new businesses
- Shop in our marketplace
- Get personalized recommendations
How to Register
- Click "Join Free" in the top navigation or mobile menu
- Enter your name, email address, and create a secure password
- Verify your email address (check your inbox for our welcome email)
- Complete your profile with location preferences
- Start exploring with your new account!
Registration is completely free and takes less than 2 minutes. We never share your information with third parties.
Exploring Local Produce Categories
Browse our local produce categories to find exactly what you're looking for:
All Local Produce Categories
- Butchers: Traditional butcher shops with quality local meat and poultry
- Honey Farms: Local apiaries, fresh honey, and bee products
- Farm Shops: Fresh, locally-grown produce directly from farms
- Cheese Shops: Local dairies and artisan cheese specialists
- Greengrocers: Fresh fruit, vegetables, and seasonal produce
- Sweets & Chocolates: Handmade confectionery and artisan sweets
- Gift Shops: Local food gifts, hampers, and specialty items
- Cake Makers: Artisan bakers, cake specialists, and custom cakes
Marketplace Shopping
Beyond browsing businesses, you can shop products directly through our marketplace:
- Product Search: Search for specific products across all vendors
- Postcode Filtering: See only products available for delivery to your area
- Category Browse: Browse products by the same local produce categories
- Vendor Discovery: Find vendors within 30 miles of your postcode
- Discount Codes: Apply vendor discount codes at checkout
What's Next?
Now that you understand the basics, here are some suggested next steps:
Continue Learning
For Business Owners
If you own a business and want to get listed:
Get Support
Need help? We're here for you:
- Contact our support team
- Email us directly at support@beelocal.uk
- Browse our complete knowledge base
Ready to Start Exploring?
You now have everything you need to discover amazing local businesses. Start your journey with Bee Local today!