Mollie Simpson

2 weeks ago | manchestermill.co.uk | Mollie Simpson

When the University of Greater Manchester announced a month ago that it was suspending three senior staff members, the national media focused on one name: George Holmes, who has been vice chancellor since 2005. The suspension of Holmes and two of his colleagues followed reporting by The Mill which uncovered evidence of financial corruption at the university and prompted an independent audit by the consultancy PwC.

3 weeks ago | manchestermill.co.uk | Mollie Simpson

In late April, one of Manchester’s most popular bars suddenly closed its doors. Sammy’s Bar, in the Northern Quarter, shut down because of a slew of online claims about predatory behaviour being made against its ever-present founder Sammy Shonn. Shonn, 42, has dismissed the stories about him as a smear campaign. But The Mill has now spoken to three separate women who say that Shonn sexually assaulted them, as well as one former staff member at the bar who says he groped her.

1 month ago | manchestermill.co.uk | Mollie Simpson

The Mill has seen evidence that the owner of a popular bar in the Northern Quarter secretly filmed himself having sex with a female customer via the bar’s CCTV system. The woman says the video was taken without her consent, which could constitute a criminal offence. Sammy Shonn, the 42-year-old owner of Sammy’s Bar, later showed the video to the woman he had sex with, and sent her screenshots of the encounter, which she shared with us.

1 month ago | manchestermill.co.uk | Mollie Simpson

Dear readers — welcome to your Monday newsletter. Today’s edition is devoted to those who use their spare time to make the city greener and brighter. We met a local beekeeper who has plenty of helpful tips for how to best design your garden around supporting the city’s bee population, plus, we spoke to the city council’s dedicated volunteer officer who gives out free bulbs and other gardening materials to those wanting to start their own community garden.

1 month ago | manchestermill.co.uk | Mollie Simpson

In 2018, the John Rylands Library welcomed a new leader, whose arrival was said to herald an exciting new chapter for the city. Christopher Pressler, 46, was described as “an exceptional appointment for Manchester” by university registrar Patrick Hackett, who said that one of his key strengths was “leading innovation in the way in which students, researchers and the public access knowledge”.