Brits abroad can buy Ulster rain for £20 a bottle

It may have the ring of a belated April Fool’s story, but a company based in Northern Ireland genuinely plan to ship rainwater to Brits abroad who need a reminder of home.
By Graeme Cousins
Published 26th Apr 2021, 11:22 BST
Updated 26th Apr 2021, 11:34 BST
The bottled rainwater is being sold for £20 on the My Baggage websiteThe bottled rainwater is being sold for £20 on the My Baggage website
The bottled rainwater is being sold for £20 on the My Baggage website

Belfast based travel company My Baggage are selling £20 bottles of rain to British people living in hotter climates such as Australia and Spain.

The bottles of water, with special nozzles to give the effect of rain, are advertised on their website for preorder. When you attempt to purchase a bottle a note pops up to say the item will not being shipped until July.

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The site claims each 500ml bottle makes a perfect gift for homesick ex-pats living overseas in hotter locations who find themselves missing the UK’s wet weather.

Each bottle of rain comes with a label urging customers to “pour over your head for an authentic feel of British weather”.

Paul Stewart, MD at My Baggage, said: “Many Britons dream of living in the sun but when they get there it’s surprising how many actually miss the UK’s wet weather.

“We thought it would be fun to create a homemade rain shower to help ex-pats connect with home by pouring a bottle of rain over their heads. The unique bottle has a special showerhead to allow the rainwater to flow out like a British rain shower.

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“The product is also appropriate for tourists who had planned to visit the UK this summer, but due to the ongoing pandemic, will struggle to visit. Our bottled British rainwater, now means that they can experience our renowned British weather at their own leisure.

“We’ve been collecting the rainwater from the roof of our office building in Belfast for the past couple of months and had several hundred litres in storage.”

Last year My Baggage made headlines after selling bottled air to ex-pats overseas with customers in Australia and New Zealand paying £25 a bottle plus shipping costs.

On that occasion, they offered customers a choice of air from England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland But the bottled British weather features just one variety – rain harvested from the roof of the company’s HQ in Belfast.

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Paul said: “Our fresh air campaign last winter was a big success with orders flooding in from the USA, Argentina and South Africa as well as Australia and New Zealand.

“This year we wanted to do something a little different and we know that one of the things ex-pats miss the most when they emigrate from the UK or Ireland is the weather.

“Understandably airlines and couriers have rules and restrictions in place when it comes to shipping fluids. So whilst we navigate these export restrictions, the bottles are available as a ‘pre-order’ and we will be looking to fulfil orders in July and August.”

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Related topics:Northern IrelandUlsterSpain