I was recently on the phone to a London editor, and we soon touched upon my grand idea to one day host a walking tour showcasing the Bees of Manchester.
Awkward silence ensued and polite giggles. After I explained the meaning of the humble worker bee’s importance to our city, the proverbial penny did soon drop. “Ohhhhh”, he said. “That’s awesome!”
And it is really.
Living in Manchester, the bee symbol has become a part of the furniture – whether you were aware of it or not – and as of the 1840s even added into the Manchester coat of arms. Since the Manchester Arena attacks in May 2017, it’s truly become a symbol, not just of our hard-working nature (work hard, play hard), but of our community ‘hive’ spirit.
The Manchester façade evolves daily through expanded neighbourhoods, and architectural restorations. With the addition of creatives wanting to make their mark, via new business ventures and pieces of street art ripe for snapping on Instagram, it’s safe to say that our place is buzzin’ – and I’m not just talking in Manc slang.
So for those who want to have a proper introduction to our celebrated bees of Manchester, below are my favourites, and where you can find them – but hurry, they don’t always stick around for long!
1. Bee Medallions, St. Anne’s Square
The ‘Royal Insurance Building’ built in the 1950s is one of many points of architectural significance in Manchester attributed to Fairhurst and Son. Medallions of bees are lined amongst the side of the building (you’ll need to look up!) and are best visible stood outside of the Royal Exchange Theatre.
2. Bee Mural, Koffee Pot, Oldham Street
Spray painted by Manchester-favourite Qubek, this piece of street art was commissioned by the M.E.N shortly after the Manchester Arena attacks. Surrounding a honey heart are 22 bees, one for each victim. The art covers the entire building side of bar & café, Koffee Pot and is now a must-see in the NQ.
3. EU Bees, Northern Quarter
Politics are rife in Manchester and the inner city has shown massive distaste for Britain exiting the European Union. In a true Manc way of showing love for our continental neighbours you may notice graffiti’d EU flag Bees sprawled around the city, mostly in the Northern Quarter but also surrounding Oxford Road. Kelvin Street, Church Street and Jack Rosenthal street are the easiest to spot.
4. Planter & Bins, Town Hall
During the 70s, a cast iron bee design became a staple of our aesthetic but as recently as 2014, a new design was included on public bins by M-Four Design. They’re absolutely everywhere in the city but the most celebrated for me, are those sitting proudly outside the Town Hall entrance which welcome thousands of visitors annually to the infamous Albert Square Manchester Christmas Markets.
5. Mosaic Floor, Town Hall
The Town Hall may be closed for restoration now until 2024 (cries) but I urge you to stick that date in your diary and visit “The Bees”, the name proudly given to the landing outside of the Great Hall. The marble floor was laid by Venetian craftsmen and includes a pattern of bees and cotton flowers, both a nod to Manchester’s hand in the industrial revolution.
(Apologies in advance for the lesser picture quality – It was taken a while ago and it’s closed so I can’t take a new one for a while!)
6. Glass Door Bees, Library Walk
Library Walk is a covered walkway between Manchester Central Library and Town Hall installed around 2015. On one side of the walkway (towards Albert’s Square), bollards adorned in bees welcome you. But my favourites of this area are upon the St. Peter’s side. Automated glass doors welcome you – often providing shelter from Manchester’s notorious rain – adorned in bees, the same design shown on our city’s bollards.
7. Bee O’Clock, The Refuge on Oxford Road
The Grade 2 listed building now known as the Principal Hotel and Refuge bar and restaurant on Oxford Road (but historically the Refuge Assurance building) was a labour of love since the 1850s and was finally completed around 1910. The finishing touch was the 220ft Baroque clock tower above the main entrance visible today all down Manchester Oxford Road – and especially so from the next door train station promenade. The clock tower uses the Manchester bee as a marker for each quarter hour. I love this hidden gem.
8. Piccadilly Basin Car Park & Gardens
Nestled in a car park just outside of Manchester Piccadilly is a lovely little community garden. A structure within it is typically layered in street art and the latest inhabitants are these honeybees.
9.The Manchester Arndale Mural
This Manchester mural appeared in the Halle Place area of Manchester Arndale early in 2018, with the worker bee-focused art piece (by street artists Lei Mai LeMaow and Mr Penfold) offering some serious eye candy amongst this part of the shopping centre which is under massive construction.
10. Time Capsule, St. Peter’s Square
Once the ‘Second City Crossing’ Metrolink project was complete at St. Peter’s Square in late 2016, a time capsule was placed upon site which is now marked with a compass, a tram, the date of burial…and a bee. Obviously this particular example was taken on a rainy day. Classic Manchester.
BONUS BEES
The ones that didn’t quite make the cut but I still lovingly snap every time I wander past..
Metrolink 3022, one of the city’s trams is now adorned in the bee symbol. Keep your eye out for it | Stephenson Square is always a hot spot for street artists and the “One Love” yellow bee wall is massively documented | The Bee mirror in The Refuge private dining room | The ‘Monty the bee’ mural in Monton | Bee Mural at Rif Raf Furnishing in Urmston. Just at the right height for toddlers to pose in front of…
Phew! This was hard to narrow down to be honest as there are actually hundreds. Manchester Bees has created a map of all the spotted bees in our city so go hunt them out and let me know which are your favourite!
If this is something you enjoyed, Manchester will be hosting Bee In The City as of July, where 80+ bee sculptures will be placed around Manchester and decorated by some of our most celebrated artists. I absolutely can’t wait and if you fancy a wander around hunting them down (and photographing of course!) then let me know and we can get something organised.
I’d love to know which is your favourite and whether any are new to you! If you’re not local to Manchester, tell me what the symbol of your city is so I can track it down when I visit.
