SUCCESS STORY

Cutting energy costs and improving resilience: Hive at 52

The Hive at 52 is a family-run bed and breakfast operating from a Victorian property in Cheshire. They needed to reduce heat loss and lower reliance on gas and grid electricity.

Impact at a glance

• Improved insulation and invested in solar generation and an air source heat pump
• Reduced exposure to volatile energy prices and reduced energy costs by approximately £1,600 a year

The business

The Hive at 52 is an independent, family-run B&B. The building dates from 1876 and functioned as a private home before opening as a hospitality business in 2015.

Sector: Hospitality (bed and breakfast)

Location: Cheshire

Size: 2-10 employees

Why they took action

The owners were initially motivated by a desire to operate responsibly and improve the long-term sustainability of the property. When energy prices rose sharply, this values-led approach aligned with a clear commercial case for action.

Operating from an older solid-wall building created high heating demand, particularly in a hospitality setting where guest comfort is essential. Reducing heat loss and lowering reliance on gas and grid electricity became central to improving resilience and managing energy costs.

What they did

No cost to low cost actions

Introduced incremental operational improvements, including recycling and waste reduction measures where practical.

Medium cost actions

Installed an air source heat pump, supported by grant funding, to replace most gas heating. Gas use is now limited to cooking.

Significant capital investment

Improved the building fabric over approximately five years, insulating solid external walls and floors, upgrading roof insulation, and installing double glazing. This phased approach spread costs over time.

Installed rooftop solar panels to generate electricity on site and reduce reliance on grid power.

What difference it made

The combined effect of insulation, solar generation and the air source heat pump has reduced energy costs by approximately £1,600/year.

How were the changes funded?

Major building improvements and solar installation were funded by the business over time, with the phased installation spreading the costs and protecting cash flow. Grant funding supported the installation of the air source heat pump, reducing upfront costs and bringing forward the return on investment.

Lessons for other businesses

The Hive at 52 shows that for small hospitality businesses operating from older buildings, improving insulation and reducing energy demand should come before investing in new technology. Phased building upgrades, supported where possible by grant funding, can lower operating costs, reduce exposure to energy price volatility, and strengthen long-term business resilience.

Find out more about Hive at 52