star-studded diary party causes a real buzz
BEE-THEMED PARTY BRINGS OUT THE CITY'S MOVERS AND SHAKERS
THERE was singing, dancing and even a spot of limbo as hundreds of Manchester’s movers and shakers headed to our annual showbiz bash The Diary Party.
Our star-studded bash at The Lowry Hotel had a Manchester bee theme this year, sponsored by the city’s fashion giant Boohoo, and entertainment was provided by a host of homegrown acts.
Guests were also showing their pride in the city with a host of bee accessories for the occasion.
That included fashion boss and Real Housewives star Seema Malhotra and Magali Gorre both with fabulous bee-adorned handbags, bee badges clipped to fashionistas Laura Alicia-Summers and Sarah Longbottom and even embroidered onto the outfits of some dapper chaps.
Our event is known as a night for catching up with old friends as well as making plenty of new ones.
And the team from new bar Mahiki were certainly winning an army of fans as they hosted a special tiki bar on the night - and their hula girls then encouraged an extraordinary round of limbo on the dancefloor. Special mention to BBC Breakfast star Mike Bushell and former Corrie star Marcquelle Ward for limbering up and showing their impressively bendy physiques to get beneath the wooden beam!
Hollyoaks star Nikki Sanderson was in stunning form in her pastel pink mini dress for the occasion, while Coronation Street stars Cherrylee Houston, Victoria Ekanoye, Nicola Thorp and Paddy Wallace were joining in the fun.
And Victoria was joined by fellow actress Zeri Burt-Skeete who is the mum to her screen son.
George is played by Zeri’s adorable 11-month old Romeo and has been stealing every scene he’s been in on the show since he started with Victoria and Paddy as Jude and Angie.
Popular Key 103 DJ Darren Proctor was the host with the most at the bash, and he had particular joy introducing Oasish to the stage - as he was reunited with his old school pal who is the “Liam” of the band Paul Higginson. The band have become one of the UK’s leading tribute acts with their incredible performance of Oasis classics - and while we might be waiting some time for a real Oasis reunion, our guests were loving the banter of the Liam and Noel on stage.
Guests were also showing their pride in the city with a host of bee accessories for the occasion
Needless to say there were huge singalongs when anthems Don’t Look Back In Anger and Live Forever were performed during Oasish’s blistering rock ‘n’ roll set.
The event was themed by the team from Ledigo Events with lots of sweet treats for guests including bee-adorned cakes by Zara’s Cakes and an entire donut wall courtesy of the team at Krispy Kreme.
The girls from Wish Upon a Sparkle also ensured our guests were glammed up with their fabulous flashes of glitter, while a “posh tombola” was held to raise funds for the We Love Manchester Emergency Fund.
Guests were greeted on arrival by a performance from the amazing Parrs Wood Choir, who melted hearts with their rendition of Ariana Grande’s My Everything - the song they performed to the world alongside Ariana at the One Love Manchester gig earlier this summer. over thanksThe straightchoirto the were from team ferriedschool at Swans Travel to our bash at The Lowry Hotel.
Former Waterloo Road star Hope Katana wowed the crowds with her set of covers and new songs that she has been writing with her twin sister Millie with their band The Katanas.
And we were treated to an amazing surprise set from Manchester swing king Alexander Stewart who stepped in at the eleventh hour after fellow Manc musician JP Cooper was taken ill and lost his voice.
Alexander performed a host of sparkling covers including Suspicion and Feeling Good before jumping into the crowds to serenade guests including reigning Miss Manchester Zoe Dale.
Also among famous faces at the event were Manc musicians Rowetta and Misha B, Hollyoaks stars David Kennedy, Ellis Hollins and Ben Ryan-Davies, glam TV presenter Jenny Powell, former Shameless stars Rebecca Ryan and Alice Barry, glam fashion designer Nadine Merabi and WAG entrepreneur Jude Cisse.
The Lowry Hotel’s team of chefs created a mouth-watering array of canapes in a woodland themed buffet area, while guests also enjoyed the japes in the photo booth from Eventbooths.