Wild Box: the Kent cocktail bar that started with a horse box and a mission to celebrate local

Wild Box, the Kent cocktail bar and mobile events specialist founded by Laura Taylor, has one of the most distinctive origin stories in the county's food and drink scene. It starts with working on mobile bars for Shepherd Neame - Britain's oldest brewery - and ends with a horse box in her parents' yard, a vision for something better, and a business that not only survived a global pandemic, but made it out the other side better than ever, and evolved into its current state – a permanent bar in one of Canterbury's most-loved retail spaces. This is the Wild Box story:

Whilst working on mobile bars for Shepherd Neame as a bit of extra income, Laura noticed a gap in the market, no shortage of bars but it had very little that truly celebrated the exceptional spirits, wines, and ingredients being produced right here in the county. The idea for Wild Box began to form.

The catalyst was a visit home. Walking around her grandparents' yard, Laura spotted the old horse box that had taken her and her two sisters to horse shows all over Kent when they were children. Dilapidated, neglected, full of potential. Over the next year, that horse box was stripped back and rebuilt into a beautiful mobile bar - and in 2019, Wild Box was born, with a mission to champion Kent-produced beers, wines, and spirits at events across the South East.

The first year was a success. And then, like every event business, Wild Box hit Covid. Bookings evaporated. Rather than wait it out, Laura pivoted. Wild Box home delivery was born: cocktail boxes shipped across the country, virtual masterclasses for private and corporate clients, a whole new arm of the business built in the most challenging possible conditions. It worked. The brand grew. The audience grew with it.

As restrictions lifted, Wild Box returned to events - and then went further with pop ups across the county and now a permanent bar at Fenwick Canterbury. Situated on the second floor of one of the city's best-known department stores, Wild Box has a home between events: a place to serve cocktails made from local spirits and Kent produce, run bottomless brunches, host masterclasses, and reach an entirely new audience of city centre visitors. Joe Taylor, Laura's partner, came on board full time in 2022 as Operations Manager, and the business has been building steadily ever since.

Next time you’re in Canterbury, make sure you stop in for one of their fantastic Kentish cocktails. Find out more at wildboxevents.co.uk.