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The Manc - 10th May 2020

News

Chester Zoo named UK’s best zoo for second year running after more than 11,000 ‘excellent’ ratings

Emily Sergeant

Chester Zoo has been named to best zoo in the UK for 2025.

While everyone in and around Greater Manchester and the North West may already be familiar with just how brilliant the UK’s biggest charity zoo is, you may remember that last year it was officially named the UK’s best zoo thanks to tens of thousands of positive TripAdvisor reviews… and now, the zoo has managed to retain that respectable title.

The world’s biggest travel guidance platform has, once again, named Chester Zoo as the best-rated zoo to visit in the UK this year.

This is the second year running that the zoo has got more than 11,000 ‘excellent’ ratings.

Chester Zoo has been named the best zoo in the UK for 2025 / Credit: Chester Zoo

Based on millions of online reviews, the updated ranking puts the beloved Cheshire-based attraction ahead of the country’s other zoos after earning consistently good feedback from its visitors.

Not only has the zoo’s strong focus on conservation and unforgettable visitor experiences made it the best in our country, but this has also earned it a place among Europe’s elite too – with the new listings placing it as the third best zoo or aquarium in the continent.

“We’re absolutely delighted to be named the UK’s top zoo,” commented Jamie Christon, who is the CEO of Chester Zoo.

“This recognition, based on thousands upon thousands of genuine visitor reviews, is a huge testament to our incredible team and everything they do to make Chester Zoo such a special place.

Guess who’s just been named the BEST zoo in the UK? 🎉⁰Hint: It’s us… but we couldn’t have done it without you! Your incredible Tripadvisor reviews made this possible 🙌

Even more exciting? We’ve climbed the ranks to become #3 in all of Europe, up from 8th last year 🌍👏… pic.twitter.com/ARJfwomIFL
— Chester Zoo (@chesterzoo) April 19, 2025

“Every visit helps support our vital conservation work, both here in the UK and around the world.

“As a charity and a national conservation zoo, it means the world to know our efforts are being so warmly received by our guests. It’s people coming through our gates who enable us to do what we do – lead the charge to save wildlife, protect and restore habitats and safeguard ecosystems.

“Together, we’re securing the long-term future of some of the world’s most endangered species.”

Chester Zoo’s renewed title comes after it opened the UK’s largest-ever zoo habitat, Heart of Africa, which is home 57 iconic African species, earlier this month.

It also comes ahead of the unveiling of another exciting new development at the zoo this summer – The Reserve, which Chester Zoo is calling its answer to a ‘premium safari getaway’ right here in the UK, with 51 luxury African-themed lodges offering guests the chance to stay overnight and support conservation for the very first time.

Featured Image – Chester Zoo

News

Bolton grooming gang ringleader who ‘preyed upon young teenage girls’ jailed

Emily Sergeant

The main offender of a group of sexual predators who preyed upon young teenage girls in Bolton has been jailed.

Ashley Darbyshire appeared at Liverpool Crown Court yesterday (Monday 28 April) was found guilty of grooming, raping, and sexually assaulting underage girls in the Blackrod area of Bolton between 2016 and 2018.

He was convicted of three counts of rape, 12 counts of sexual activity with a child, three counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and one count of making indecent photographs of a child.

Darbyshire was sentenced alongside three other men who were part of the group, with the remaining set to be sentenced today (29 April).

#SENTENCED | Three men part of Blackrod grooming gang have been sentenced today 28/04/25 for sexual offences against girls under 16.

Ashley Darbyshire (01/01/1997), of Bolton, was sentenced to 15 years, at Liverpool Crown Court.

MORE ➡️ https://t.co/pBOLf1QEQ3 pic.twitter.com/777CPK9NbS
— Greater Manchester Police (@gmpolice) April 28, 2025

According to Greater Manchester Police (GMP), the offences began in 2016 when the primary offender, Darbyshire – who was 19 at the time – first came into contact with the primary victim, a girl aged 13, and then went on to introduce her to nine of his friends, who each ‘used and abused her at their disposal’ on numerous occasions into 2018.

The men – who were all aged from between 17 and 29 at the time when the offences began – also approached the other victims, all girls under the age of 16, via private messaging and social media platforms, and got to know them from where many local teenagers would hang out and socialise near the community centre.

The men plied some of the victims with alcohol and drugs, GMP explained, while some of them would send indecent images of their private body parts to the girls, as well as initiate sexual conversations with them on messaging platforms.

The other two grooming gang members sentenced on the same day as Darbyshire / Credit: GMP

The offences eventually came to light after an incident involving one of the victims and another defendant on Sunday 17 June 2018, after which the police were notified, and an investigation was subsequently launched.

The group of men were all convicted of a range of sexual offences, with over 30 convictions between them.

Darbyshire has been sentenced to 15 years in prison, and is set to serve 10 years in custody, as well as being placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life.

On the same day as Darbyshire’s sentencing, another man from the group, Ross Corley, was convicted of two counts of sexual activity with a child and sentenced to 28 months in prison, and another unnamed man was convicted of two counts of sexual activity with a child under 16, and was sentenced to 15 months, suspended for two years.

According to GMP, many of the men ‘showed no remorse’ for their actions in court when sentenced.

Featured Image – GMP