Bexhill drummer launches family hangover relief drink

Will Wilkinson decided to take his Genoese great, great grandfather’s drink to market after a particularly heavy night after a gig.

Now Overhang is on sale in Holland & Barrett stores across the UK, including Hastings and Bexhill, as well as Mr Bean’s cafe in Priory Meadow.

Propellers drummer said he had a eureka moment after searching for something to ease his hangover after their 2013 tour after-party.

“We went on tour in 2013 and finished up 200 miles from home in Bristol and with five guys and nothing to do you can imagine what we did,” he said.

“But it was when we were being kicked out of the Travelodge the following morning, I went to the shop and wished I had some of the family recipe drink and that was a bit of a light bulb moment for me.”

The drink came with Will’s ancestor when he migrated from Italy to Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.

Will said his great, great grandfather became a quite successful businessman but never thought to make money from his hangover relief drink.

The recipe was passed down the generations, with no one thinking to bottle it and take it to market.

“My family have all had very traditional careers as my grandad was a carpenter, my nan was an accountant and on my mum’s side, they’re all architects,” Will said.

“I just think it never crossed anyone’s mind.”

The 24-year-old moved to Bexhill 15 years ago and now he and his father Steve are taking the family recipe to the next level.

The drink includes orange, ginger, lime but the main ingredient is milk thistle – a new addition to the family recipe.

“It’s been difficult as none of us had any experience in drinks, but I just wanted to have a business with my dad,” Will said.

“So we had to learn the hard way. We launched in September but we’ve been working on it since April, 2014, as it took a while to get it right.

“We launched at a trade show in Islington which is where we met the Holland & Barrett team and agreed a national listing.

As well as a burgeoning businessman, Will Wilkinson is one fifth of Propellers.

The up-and-coming rock band have made two albums and have also supported the Rolling Stones.

They went through a bit of transition in 2015 but are back recording.

Will is now looking forward and aims to get Overhang into more shops after positive feedback.

“The feedback’s been brilliant and we’ve had repeat orders from Holland & Barrett,” he said.

“The really important thing were the sales over Christmas which surprised everyone. We’re a very small team of five but it’s really great to see the product selling so well with minimal advertising behind it.”

For more information on the band visit www.propellersofficial.com.

To find out more about Overhang, visit www.overhangdrinks.com.

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