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
Victim named and murder investigation launched after young woman is killed in Newton Heath stabbing
Emily Sergeant
The victim of a street stabbing in Newton Heath this week has been named for the first time as a murder investigation continues.
It comes after officers from Greater Manchester Police (GMP) responded to reports of a disturbance at around 2am yesterday (Thursday 15 October) on Dorking Avenue, in the Newton Heath area of Manchester, and when they arrived on the scene, they found a woman in her 20s with serious injuries that were ‘consistent with a stabbing’.
Despite best efforts of all emergency services involved, the young woman was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.
As the murder investigation progresses, the woman has now been publicly named and a photo of her has been released for the first time.
She has been named as 26-year-old Alisha Samuels.
At this time, one man, aged 25, has been arrested on suspicion of murder, and a man and woman, aged 61 and 38, have been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender, and they all remain in custody – with officers continuing their enquiries to establish the full circumstances of this incident.
Alisha’s family have asked for privacy whilst they deal with the devastating loss of their loved one, GMP has stated.
“We are continuing to urge people who may have information in relation to this incident to please come forward to support our investigation and bring justice for Alisha,” the police force said in a public appeal.
Anyone who may have witnessed the incident, or has mobile phone, CCTV, or doorbell footage, is urged to call GMP on 0161 856 5464, or contact them via the Major Incident Public Portal here.
Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111
Featured Image – GMP (Family Handout)
News
Former supply teacher jailed for multiple upskirting and AI sex offences across Greater Manchester
Emily Sergeant
A former supply teacher has been jailed for multiple upskirting and AI sex offences in schools across Greater Manchester.
Abusali Rahman – a British national of Bangladeshi ethnicity from Salford – appeared in Bolton Crown Court this week for his sentencing after first being charged with, and then pleading guilty to, several offences.
The offences are including, but not limited to, 12 counts of taking an indecent photograph/pseudo-photograph of a child (images obtained by upskirting), three counts of making indecent photograph / pseudo-photograph of a child (making AI-generated images), and one count of attempting to meet girl under 16 following sexual grooming.
The offences are alleged to have taken place between December 2023 and June 2025, according to Greater Manchester Police (GMP).
Twelve girls have been identified in relation to the upskirting offences – aged between 13 and 16 at the time of the alleged offending – at seven high schools in three Greater Manchester boroughs (Bury, Bolton, and Salford).
GMP says it has remained in close contact with the schools, local authorities, and other partners throughout the investigation to ensure all appropriate support is in place for those who need it.
Additionally, the court also heard how Rahman amassed a collection of images of young girls, using AI and other methods to sexualise them.
The images numbered more than 300 in total, ranging from Category A to Category C classifications, and Rahman would post these on social media, often alongside humiliating and disgusting captions.
Rahman was sentenced to six years in prison, and will also be subject to a 20-year Sexual Harm Protection Order.
A former supply teacher has been jailed for child sex offences in schools across Greater Manchester / Credit: GMP
Detective Constable Lisa McGaffin, from GMP’s Bolton Child Protection Team, described Rahman’s crimes as ‘absolutely abhorrent’.
“My thoughts throughout this process have always been with the young girls who have been subject to such indignity,” DC McGaffin said following the sentencing this week. “Their welfare and support will always be a priority for us.
“While working as a teacher – someone who young children should trust and be safe with – Rahman repeatedly took secret photos for his own sick gratification, before posting images online which showed his total disregard for the girls’ respect and dignity.
The Manc -
5th August 2022 
