Five-star hotel The Lowry Hotel is offering local families the chance to get a free night’s stay this summer.
Appealing to children with a passion for art and photography, bosses have launched a competition that’s sure to capture the imagination of creatively-minded little ones (and keep them happily distracted so you can relax).
Inspired by the Manchester worker bee, a long-standing symbol of unity and pride, the hotel is encouraging its young guests to capture their own bee-related picture – with plans to exhibit the best three entries in the autumn.
The competition follows on from the recent reveal of its new mascot, the ‘LowBee’ created by Thomas Wolski.
Image: Supplied
Pictures can be of anything from a bee-related illustration to a live specimen snapped out in its natural habitat, and there are a host of brilliant prizes up for grabs for the lucky winners.
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The winner will be invited to return to The Lowry Hotel to enjoy a complimentary overnight on a date of their choosing, whilst the runner-up will win a meal for four to enjoy at the hotel’s swanky River Restaurant.
Third place, meanwhile, will be treated to afternoon tea for four to enjoy with friends or family at a time of their choosing.
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Children who stay at The Lowry Hotel during the school holiday period will receive a ‘Kids Newsletter’ in their room which explains the competition, as well as receiving ‘Lowry Loot’ Monopoly money which can be handed to any server in the hotel to redeem a free milkshake, mocktail, ice cream or cookie.
Image The Lowry Hotel
Image The Lowry Hotel
Submissions will be judged by the designer of the LowBee mascot, Thomas Wolski, a contemporary artist who uses both traditional and modern techniques in illustration, photography, and painting.
Adrian Ellis, General Manager at The Lowry Hotel, said: “The worker bee is synonymous with our great city. That’s why we wanted to integrate it within a brand-new mascot for The Lowry Hotel.
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“We want to see what artistic creations our young guests can come up with, by launching an exciting competition asking children to snap their favourite bee-related pictures across the city and share with us on social media.
“We can’t wait to see what people create and with a range of brilliant prizes up for grabs, we expect the standards to be up to Thomas Wolski’s high expectations. Good luck!”
The competition is open to all children staying overnight at the Lowry Hotel from Thursday 28 July to Sunday 4 September.
The entrant account must be following the hotel on Instagram (@thelowryhotel) and the winner will be announced no later than Saturday, 10 September on the hotel’s Instagram channel.
More information on The Lowry Hotel’s Busy Bee Summer Holiday Photo Competition can be found on its website here.
Feature image – The Lowry Hotel
News
Claire’s is closing down stores in the UK and Ireland with more than 1,300 jobs set to be lost
Danny Jones
In another hit to domestic shoppers, Claire’s Accessories is closing down en masse across the UK and Ireland after entering into administration once again.
Falling into an unfortunate financial status for the second time in less than a year, Claire’s will be shutting down all of their standalone stores across Britain, along with their IE branches.
A total of 154 stores will soon disappear, with more than a thousand people set to be put out of work.
Once a mainstay of British high streets up and down the country, the accessory shop known for all things jewellery, piercings and more has ceased trading effective immediately.
Announced at the start of the week and the end of the first full month of Q2, it was confirmed that Claire’s closed their final locations on Monday, 27 April.
With administrators, Kroll, appointed to wrap up business proceedings, an estimated 1,300 English, Irish, Scottish and Welsh workers have now lost their jobs.
Founded way back in 1961 over in the United States, Claire’s has operated across the Atlantic for more than three decades.
However, with various other contemporaries and cheaper online options having appeared over the years, they’ve struggled not just to remain profitable but to compete full stop.
They most recently filed for bankruptcy in the US this past August (2025), with their Belgian, Spanish, and Dutch divisions having already called it quits.
Manchester location(s) have changed a lot over time, but now they’re on the way out (Credit: Arndale)
For many, the outcome isn’t all that surprising, but it will nevertheless be a sad loss for many who have seen multiple generations visit these venues over the years.
Manchester Storm announce return to AO Arena after nearly two and a half decades
Danny Jones
In a huge bit of regional sporting news, Manchester Storm have announced they will be coming home to the AO Arena after nearly two and a half decades away from the iconic venue.
Massive news for Manc ice hockey followers and local sports fans in general.
Revealing the long-awaited return after 24 long years away from the place where Manchester’s native hockey team first began its story, the team, AO figures, and even some fans were part of a special announcement event inside the 20,000-seater stadium this week.
Confirming the news on Monday, 27 April, MCR Storm will be back playing at the AO Arena later this year – just in time for the start of the 2026/27 campaign.
— Manchester Storm | #TakeShelter (@Mcr_Storm) April 27, 2026
As detailed in a full press release from the Greater Manchester club, they are seemingly marking a milestone moment in their next chapter by going back to their roots.
It goes on to read: “Founded back in 1995 as a tenant of the then newly-opened Manchester Arena, the original Manchester Storm quickly became one of British ice hockey’s most iconic teams.
“In their inaugural season, the Storm secured the First Division championship before becoming founding members of the Ice Hockey Superleague in 1996.”
Coming somewhat full circle more than a generation later (Storm having made it to the play-off finals of the modern Elite Ice Hockey League era this April for the first time in their history), they have made one-off returns to the storied space in recent times.
However, many supporters have been waiting for a fully fledged return for some time now; equally, others are understandably sad to pay a bittersweet goodbye to the ‘Storm Shelter’ over in Altrincham, with the building having already pulled licensing for next year.
They have been at the Planet Ice rink for over a decade now, and the company itself have even issued a lengthy response following the departure – namely noting the issue of communication, clarity and fair notice. Nevertheless, for the vast majority, this felt like a long-overdue comeback.
With an ex-player turned head coach and all-round club legend, Cam Critchlow, having also signed on for another campaign behind the bench, it’s been a busy week in and around the organisation.
Representing the Manchester Storm ownership group, former coach Ryan Finnerty and partner Emma said in a joint statement: “This is a major milestone for our partnership group and a vision we’ve worked towards for some time.
Returning Manchester Storm to the AO Arena is a proud moment for everyone involved. It’s about giving our fans a premier stage in the heart of the city and delivering an outstanding live experience.
“Together with our leadership team and Canadian partners, our ambition is clear — not just to compete, but to lead in the Elite Ice Hockey League and beyond. This marks the start of an exciting new era for the club. Manchester Storm is coming home.
“Today marks a hugely exciting and significant moment for both the Manchester Storm and the Elite League”. The EIHL themselves have also celebrated the news, adding that they feel it reflects “the scale and ambition of the league”.
Are you happy to see them setting up shop at the AO Arena once again? Better still, do you remember going there to watch games the first time around? Let us know down in the comments.
The Manc -
5th August 2022 
