Mancunians are being given the chance to adopt their very own bee this Christmas while raising money for a worthy cause in the process.
We all know that Manchester and bees go hand in hand.
While there is said to be over 250 species of ‘solitary bee’ buzzing around in Britain, the ‘worker bee’ is one of the best-known symbols of Manchester, denoting Mancunians’ hard work ethic, the city being a hive of activity, and representing a sense of unity at times when it’s needed most.
Bees have been an emblem for the city for over 150 years, which is why getting to adopt your very own couldn’t be a more perfect Christmas present for a proud Mancunian, and Printworks – Manchester’s “number one hive of entertainment” – has launched an ‘Adopt a Bee’ campaign to raise much-needed funds for Greater Manchester’s communities.
You may not know it, but Printworks is actually home to more than 100,000 honey bees on its rooftop garden.
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How brilliant is this?
And the entertainment complex is this year offering the people of Greater Manchester the unique chance to adopt one of these bees in aid of Forever Manchester – a charity that raises money to fund and support community activity right across the region.
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For just £2 each, or £25 for one of its four Queen Bees, you can “bee-come” an adoptive parent.
Speaking on the ‘Adopt a Bee’ campaign, Adam Jackson – Marketing Manager at Printworks – said: “It’s been a tough year for everyone, but especially so for our underprivileged communities in Greater Manchester who have been hit hardest by local lockdown restrictions.
“With the bee such an iconic symbol in Manchester, we wanted to give Mancunians the chance to adopt their own or give their loved ones a unique gift that also helps our local community when they need it most.”
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Printworks is home to four beehives – each housing between 30,000 and 40,000 bees – and it has already previously raised money for charities Forever Manchester, The Booth Centre and Volition through selling jars of its hard-working bee’s honey.
You can find more information and adopt a bee via the Printworks JustGiving page here.
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Greater Manchester’s spooky steam trains are returning this Halloween
Emily Sergeant
Spooky season is right around the corner, and one of Greater Manchester’s most-popular Halloween events is returning.
What’s Halloween without East Lancashire Railway‘s (ELR) eerie ghost trains at this point? Generally selling out each year, the heritage railway’s Halloween Ghost Trains always prove to be top of the Halloween bucket list for people looking for some ‘spooktacular fun’ once the scariest time of year rolls around.
And 2026 is expected to be no different… in fact, it’ll be even creepier than normal, because the scream train has had a spooky makeover.
You can expect flickering lights, eerie sounds, creepy surprises, and perhaps a very unwelcome visitor climbing aboard.
Those brave enough at lending the Monster Squad a helping hand at banishing ghosts and ghouls will be whisked away on a haunted steam engine through the atmospheric Greater Manchester countryside.
Before you join them though, you’ll need to prove you have what it takes by making it through the Halloween Walkthrough on the footbridge with a fair few jump scares.
Once you reach the platform, you’ll be greeted by Halloween favourites, Vampire Brian and Veronica the Witch, who’ll prepare you for your terrifying train trip with a song, a dance, and probably a scream or two.
Spooky steam train rides through Greater Manchester are returning this Halloween / Credit: ELR
As you take in the autumn sights and delights of the local countryside out the historic steam train’s windows on your journey, there’ll be lots of spooky entertainment and music along the way, and as always, screaming and singalongs are to be expected – and encouraged – as this is all part of the experience.
Families are also encouraged to ‘show off your spookiest fancy dress’ on the day too, and if you make it to the end, then a goody bag for every child ‘full of tricks and treats’ awaits.
The Halloween Ghost Trains are happening over an extended weekend in late October, running from Thursday 29 to Saturday 31 October.
Tickets are now on sale, starting from just £15 per person, and you can book here.
Featured Image – ELR
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Major pop star crowns humble rice and three cafe as ‘Jewel of Manchester’ ahead of sold-out gig
Thomas Melia
A beloved city centre takeaway has been given the title of ‘Jewel of Manchester’ by chart-topping UK singer Sam Smith.
Known for hits like ‘Stay With Me’, ‘I’m Not The Only One’ and more recently ‘Unholy’, UK pop-ballad act Sam Smith also likes to drop a food review every once in a while.
Currently on the road with a run of shows in Manchester and London for their ‘To Be Free’ live shows, Sam Smith is stopping off at some of our city’s much-loved spots.
On their food-reviewing account titled ‘Sam Served’, where they adopt the aptly-fitting nickname ‘Ham Smith’, Sam has visited restaurants across the globe – and most recently turned their attention to Manchester’s own This & That.
Smith decided to pop in and grab a cheeky rice and three from long-standing backstreet food business This & That, and it certainly went down a treat.
After sampling their amazing selection of meat, vegetable and vegan curries, the musician crowned this family-run Indian takeaway a ‘Jewel of Manchester’.
The hitmaker described this Northern Quarter Indian eatery as ‘Everything food should be’ and definitely enjoyed all the curries on offer ‘leaving belly and heart full’.
This & That prides itself on affordable and comforting food with its ‘Rice and Three Curries’ starting from just £6 – not bad for a city centre foodie spot.
Sam has racked up an impressive 490k followers via their ‘Sam Served’ profile, with famous faces like Lily Allen, Denise Welch and CMAT all wanting to know the superstar’s foodie thoughts.
After enjoying a curry or three, Sam Smith also made sure to feed their soul to by venturing down to Afflecks and getting lost in the music at Mars Tapes.
Recognised as one of the UK’s only cassette and tape shops, Mars Tapes lets you flick through their crates of physical media and even preview tracks before you buy with its dedicated listening areas.
It’s safe to say that Smith has ‘Latched’ onto Manchester’s independent business scene and we’re here for it.
The London-born artist has just released their latest album Hazel Eyes and is currently amid a UK residency tour with two dates in Manchester’s Albert Hall and eight shows set for London Coliseum.
Emily Sergeant -
17th December 2020 
