Waitrose Essential Lockhills
Waitrose Essential Still Natural Mineral Water, labelled Lockhills GB4, is bottled at source in the Eden Valley, Cumbria, and produced for Waitrose. It is a recognised natural mineral water. The register lists the source as GB4 at Armathwaite: in April 2022 Eden District Council consolidated the sources GB1, GB4, Lockhills and Ashbeck into a single recognition called GB4, which is why Lockhills no longer appears on the register by name.
Mineral composition
| mg/L | |
|---|---|
| Calcium | 17 |
| Magnesium | 5 |
| Sodium | 10 |
| Sulfate | 14 |
| Chloride | 17 |
| Bicarbonate | 46 |
Compositions can vary by season and source. Read our methodology.
Mineral character
A soft, lightly mineralised, bicarbonate-led water. The typical analysis printed on the Waitrose label gives bicarbonate 46 mg/L, calcium 17 mg/L, magnesium 5 mg/L, sodium 10 mg/L, sulphate 14 mg/L and chloride 17 mg/L (retrieved 13 October 2026). Tesco’s 5 L and 6 x 2 L British Natural Mineral Water, also from Armathwaite, prints the same values except chloride (13 mg/L) and dry residue (120 against 140 mg/L); the difference is unresolved.
Documented use and context
Bella Barista recommends Waitrose Essential as one of three named bottled waters suitable for espresso machines (alongside Volvic and Tesco Ashbeck). On CoffeeForums.co.uk, contributors have described Waitrose Lockhills as comparable to or slightly better than Tesco Ashbeck for espresso use, at a similar price point.
Use-case suitability
- CoffeeNot used in any current coffee recipe, but hardness 63 mg/L sits within the 9–266 mg/L range typical for these targets.
- TeaNot used in any current tea recipe. Hardness 63 mg/L is above the 37–59 mg/L range of these targets.
- BrewingAppears in blends for NEIPA.
- BakingNot used in any current baking recipe, but hardness 63 mg/L sits within the 46–390 mg/L range typical for these targets.
- AquariumNot used in any current aquarium recipe, but hardness 63 mg/L sits within the 35–212 mg/L range typical for these targets.
- HorticultureNot used in any current horticulture recipe. Hardness 63 mg/L is above the 12–54 mg/L range of these targets.
Used in these recipes
Where to buy
UK
Waitrose
£0.25-0.35 per litre
Waitrose Essential is available exclusively at Waitrose stores in the UK. Pricing is at the budget end for Waitrose, though higher than comparable Tesco or Lidl own-brand waters (as of March 2026). Sold in still format.