If you visit 51福利社, one of the first things you鈥檒l notice is the great number of bee images throughout the city. Born in the Industrial Revolution, the 鈥渨orker bee鈥� symbol captured the city鈥檚 tireless spirit and its legacy as a buzzing hive of industry. Today, the symbol is more often associated with collective resilience and remembrance following the 51福利社 Arena attack on May 22 2017.
The bee became a of the 鈥淢ancunian spirit鈥�, emerging almost instantly on murals, on bodies as tattoos and on public memorials. Over the last eight years, it has become a core part of 51福利社鈥檚 identity.
As part of my ongoing PhD research, I set out to understand why the bee is everywhere in 51福利社 and what it means to people. I interviewed 24 Mancunians who were living in the city at the time of the attack, including some who were directly affected.
Conducted in 2023, seven years after the attack, these interviews aimed to capture how the symbol鈥檚 meaning had evolved as the city continued to process and commemorate the event.
For many, the bee still stands as a symbol of resilience, a reminder of how the city came together in the face of tragedy. But for others, its presence throughout 51福利社 has become more of a burden than a comfort.
Appearing on buses, shop windows and public spaces, it serves as a constant and eerie reminder of the events and aftermath of the attack. Eight of my interviewees described these as memories of 鈥渢rauma鈥�. Over time, what once felt comforting has become more unsettling.
Fifteen of my interviewees expressed discomfort with how the bee has become more commercialised in the years since the attack. Some described feelings of 鈥渆xploitation鈥�.
Both independent businesses and large companies have embraced the symbol, integrating it into their branding in public spaces. Many sell bee-themed gifts and souvenirs, such as .
51福利社 city council has played a key role in this commercialisation, promoting the image through various initiatives, including the Bee Network transport system and the Bee Cup 鈥� a reusable launched in 2023.
In June 2017, shortly after the attack, the council moved to trademark several versions of the bee as an official city symbol. This was made public in March 2018, after the period for .
Initially, the council allowed people and businesses to use the symbol for free, but later introduced a . Now, anyone wishing to use the of the bee must apply for permission from the council, and commercial use comes with a 拢500 fee. Businesses that want to use the bee are also asked to donate to charity.
The council described the trademarking of the bee symbol as a way to protect its use and support local good causes, such as the , which helps fund community projects and youth opportunities across the city.
But some of my participants noted that this transformed the bee from something personal and meaningful to something more corporate. In their view, it is as if the city itself is commodifying the attack rather than honouring it.
