A giant 39-foot polar bear sculpture has been unveiled outside The Ivy restaurant in Manchester's Spinningfields district, with the display aiming to support Royal Manchester Children's Hospital through a donation of 371 polar bear teddies.
The installation, which claims to be the world's tallest polar bear sculpture at almost 12 meters tall, was revealed on October 27 and will remain on display throughout the Christmas season. The Ivy Spinningfields is known for its elaborate Christmas displays, and this year's offering combines spectacle with a charitable cause.
Donation to Children's Hospital
The 371 polar bear teddies donated to Royal Manchester Children's Hospital each represent one of its beds, which provide vital services to young patients all year round. The donation aims to bring comfort to children and families spending time in hospital during the festive period.
In addition, a limited edition collection of The Ivy polar bear teddy bears will be available from a pop-up on Spinningfields Square on October 27. The 250 bears will be offered for just one day in exchange for a donation to the children's hospital.
Community Support and Festive Spirit
Lisa Biard, General Manager at The Ivy Spinningfields, said: "We wanted to create something special for Manchester this Christmas, bringing a little festive magic to the heart of the city. But beyond the spectacle, we also wanted to do something meaningful for our local community. Christmas can be particularly difficult for children and families spending time in hospital, and we hope that our donation of 371 polar bear teddies will bring a little comfort and joy to those who need it most."
Coronation Street actor Antony Cotton was on hand to unveil the Christmas display. Angela Rowe, Deputy Director at Manchester Foundation Trust Charity, which supports Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, added: "We're delighted to be working with The Ivy Spinningfields in the lead up to Christmas this year. We're incredibly grateful for the donation of polar bear teddies for young patients, which will bring some extra comfort and Christmas cheer to children spending the festive season in hospital."
City-Wide Christmas Preparations
The arrival of the giant polar bear comes as Manchester gears up for the return of its annual Christmas Markets, which will once again take over the city centre with food, drink and craft stalls. Taking over ten locations, this year's markets will also see the return of the big wheel at Albert Square, with Manchester's giant zippy Santa moving back to the spot outside the Town Hall for the first time in nearly ten years.
