Rooms are free at Jurys Inn... but only if you’re a bee
Manchester’s Jurys Inn has recently unveiled a new look, following a £2.9 million refurbishment. It now has 265 modernised bedrooms (including thirteen executive suites), a new open plan lobby with a dedicated connectivity area, a Costa coffee shop (woo) and a brand new bar and restaurant; “Oddsocks Bar & Kitchen”.
Mounted to the canal side wall of the new dining area is a special ‘Bee Happy Hotel’ to offer shelter to the local bee population over the cold winter months. This consists of a dozen yellow hexagons filled with bee-friendly fauna and flora as well as various different sized tubes for a perfect place to hibernate.
The Bee Happy Hotel has been designed in consultation with the Manchester and District Beekeepers Association (MDBKA), who actively help prevent the decline of the local bee population. MDBKA President Lena Crowe stated; “We are thrilled Jurys Inn has provided a city-centre bee hotel to help sustain the wild bee population in Manchester. The canal side Jurys Inn deck provides the perfect location for bees, and the introduction of bee-friendly fauna and flora will help attract bees looking for a room over the next few months”.
Bees are under threat mainly due to changes in agricultural techniques which have resulted in far fewer wildflowers than there used to be. Many species are struggling to survive and at least two have become extinct since the start of the 20th century. Bees don’t just simply provide wax and honey, they are essential for pollinating all manner of fruits, vegetables, herbs, grains and animal feed.
Manchester is well known for its symbol, the worker bee. After the Manchester Arena bombing in May, hundreds of people queued up across the city to get a bee tattoo in a gesture of solidarity for the 22 people who lost their lives (read here).
Jurys Inn felt strongly that they wanted to incorporate this iconic symbol of Manchester somehow into the new design and have managed to find a practical, interactive way to do it.
Jurys Inn General Manager, Steven Devine said; “We have been busy bees in recent months and are thrilled to unveil the new look Jurys Inn Manchester complete with a brand new dining experience, Oddsocks Bar & Kitchen and stunning, contemporary bedrooms. However, we didn’t want to forget our local icons – the worker bees.
"Manchester is a hive of activity and we hope Jurys Inn Manchester will be too. This winter we hope to give the insects a true Mancunian welcome as we open the doors to our Bee Happy Hotel. Guests and locals visiting the hotel will be able to enjoy the installation throughout the colder months."
