An award-winning Hampshire chef has swapped the kitchen for the countryside after embarking on a new venture as a beekeeper.
Gordon Stott, who earned prestigious awards such as the 'Pub Chef of the Year' at the Craft Guild of Chefs Awards, has transitioned from running successful pubs to managing an apiary under his new business, Winding Wood, based in Hampshire.
Stott, 33, has been a well-known figure in the local culinary scene since taking over The Sun Inn in North Waltham at just 20 years old, making him one of the youngest chefs to manage both the kitchen and the business of a pub.
He later ran the Purefoy Arms in Preston Candover, where his focus on local and sustainable food earned widespread recognition.
However, in January 2024, Stott decided to step back from the pub industry to pursue his growing passion for beekeeping—a hobby he had nurtured alongside his culinary career.
"While I was running the Purefoy Arms, I had ducks, chickens, herbs, gardens, and I always had bees," Mr Stott said.
"I just kind of fell in love with it."
His new venture, Winding Wood, combines this love for nature with a dedication to producing sustainable, local honey.
Mr Stott now manages apiaries spread across Hampshire, including in Tadley, Alresford, and Petersfield.
Winding Wood offers a range of honey products, including soft set honey, traditional runny honey, and the unique "trunk honey," which features a chunk of honeycomb in each jar.
In addition to honey, the business sells beekeeping equipment and bees to fellow enthusiasts.
Although his primary focus has shifted, Mr Stott still finds time to cook.
"I still cook now—I do private events and catering, mainly during the winter when the bees are less active."
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Reflecting on his transition, Mr Stott said he decided to take up beekeeping during his time away from pub business.
"It was time to move on from the pub scene for a little bit. I’ve always been passionate about working with local produce, and beekeeping felt like a natural extension of that."
Winding Wood honey can be purchased directly from the company's website, with Stott currently seeking partnerships with local shops to expand distribution.
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