On World Bee Day (May 20th) we were excitedly announced our new partnership with The Bee Centre, a local organisation that works with individuals, organisations and communities to promote a healthy and biodiverse environment. They do this by providing the means and opportunities for companies and individuals to create habitats for pollinators (bees).
This new partnership includes The Lowry Hotel sponsoring two hives at the centre and purchasing honey made by these to use in the hotel.
The Lowry Hotel's General Manager, Adrian Ellis, said: "We made a pledge this year to use more sustainably sourced products, as well as support local suppliers. As the Manchester Bee is an iconic symbol of the city, it felt only right to create delicious honey, exclusively for our guests at The Lowry Hotel."
The Bee Centre is unique as they only sell surplus honey from the hive. By only removing surplus honey they ensure the bees always have more than enough food to sustain the hive, whilst also providing the bees with the room they need to continue expanding their colony.
This award-winning honey is already being used across the hotel, in cocktails, food dishes and as gifts to hotel guests. A new addition to our cocktail menu is The Bee Keeper, a rum-based cocktail, sweetened with honey and smoked with Madeira wood chip.
The Bee Centre's neighbouring farm also provides the hotel's Wignalls Yallo Rapeseed Oil, which has been made from flowers pollinated by the Lowry's bees.
As well as providing the hotel with this delicious honey, The Bee Centre offers training courses on beekeeping as well as various conservation activities including working with the public sector to create habitat and pollinator corridors which benefit bees and other pollinators and enhances biodiversity. Keep an eye on our menu to discover new dishes using The Lowry Hotel Honey.
You can visit our hive and find out more about bees at The Bee Centre's location in Preston.