The Printworks and Hard Rock Cafe are offering the perfect stocking filler for ‘mad for it’ Mancunians this year. For just £10, Christmas shoppers can purchase Manchester’s finest #LiveFromTheHive honey, made by Bez’s bees, in a jar designed by local artist, Mancsy. 

This year a whopping 213 jars were produced by the honey bees in their second annual honey harvest, almost doubling the yield from last year’s harvest. Now only 50 jars remain, following the harvest launch event in October – The Printworks and Hard Rock Cafe are therefore urging people to make their purchases quickly.

2014 heralded the first yield of honey, which was graded ‘exceptional’ by the Manchester District Beekeepers Association, and jars signed by Mancsy were sold for as much as £75 to keen collectors. One was kept back from the 2014 yield, jar 15, in honor of the Printworks’ and Hard Rock Cafe’s 15th birthday. Dedicated Mancunians can enter an auction to be the proud owner of said jar with all of the money raised will go to local charities, Forever Manchester and The Booth Centre.

The bees are situated on top of The Printworks, in the much-celebrated rooftop eco garden. The garden was originally launched in 2012 by Bez, famous for his performances as part of iconic Manchester band, The Happy Mondays. The rooftop garden now hosts four hives – housing approximately 320,000 bees in total.

Jar 25 has been reserved for Forever Manchester as a special 25th anniversary gift, and jar 20 was given to the Booth Centre to mark their 20th year of supporting homeless people in Manchester.

Centre Director of The Printworks, Fred Booth, says: “The second honey harvest is the biggest batch yet and has created a real buzz at The Printworks. We are proud to be raising even more money for two outstanding Manchester charities and we’re sure that the jars of honey will go on to become collectors items yet again. They are a great stocking filler for people that love all things Manchester.

“The rooftop garden and its produce has gone from strength to strength and we are sure that its success will continue for many years to come.”

Emma Livingstone, Sales and Marketing Manager, Hard Rock Cafe Manchester adds: “After all the hard work everyone has put into looking after the bees over the past 12 months, we are delighted that the honey harvest has gone so well. We hope that the hives continue to thrive and that we can keep using the honey to help local charities.”

The bee keeping is very much a hands-on affair with Fred Booth, along with Emma Livingstone, and Hard Rock Cafe Sales and Marketing Co-ordinator, Jack Barton – all qualified Apiarists – tending to the bees on a weekly basis and attending evening sessions and workshops with the Manchester District Beekeepers Association.

To purchase your jar, or to bid for jar fifteen, contact laura.mcgaghey@theprintworks.com with your name and the amount you would like to offer.

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