Man turns love for brewing mead into Saxnot Meadery business

Neil Patten, from Kempshott, has always had a taste for the drink, which is made by fermenting honey with water.

Over the past 40 years, Neil has enjoyed making batches of the drink, taking inspiration from historic recipes for personal consumption and sharing with his friends.

His passion for the beverage inspired him to start his own business, Saxnot Meadery, in August 2022.

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Neil showcasing Saxnot at The Holly Blue pub (Image: Newsquest)

He told the Gazette: "I had always made it for myself and friends, it's something I enjoyed doing, I'm passionate about it.

"I used to do reenactments in my teenage years and used to play D&D (Dungeons and Dragons) so it was always a good drink to have too accompany it."

Neil explained how he has been brewing his signature drink for decades.

He said: "I've been making Fægerdrōm for 40-odd years now, it's my classic."

Some of the products Neil sells (Image: Newsquest)

Based on a Norse small mead recipe, Fægerdrōm is a lightly spiced, sweet mead, with it's name translating as 'fair dream' - fæger meaning fair or beautiful - and drōm meaning dream.

Steve explained how after spending "countless" years doing manual work, he wanted to give his passion a try, and see if he could monetise it.

He said: "I was fed up working in factories and getting shouted at by management, so I started doing this.

"I do the brewing and my wife does anything involving intelligence."

A joint operation with his wife, Donna, the couple obtained a premises licence at their home in Kempshott in order to brew the beverage.

Neil uses locally-sourced honey from Basingstoke Honey, and gets his chillis from Plot 34A Chillis.

He said: "This year's honey is banging, it's brewing at the moment and will be ready in time for March and April next year."

Saxnot is brewed in macro batches of six gallons, with "no electronics and gizmos, just hydro testing."

Neil, who currently holds a part-time position working for the council, explained how he aims to take his business full-time eventually.

He said: "Hopefully in the very, very near future, I want to do it full time. I love it, How can you possibly go wrong?"

When asked why readers should try his mead, Neil said: "Because I'm good. It's a small, local business, and it's really good."

Readers can find out more by visiting https://www.saxnotmeadery.co.uk/