Booking.com donates Manchester football derby house to the Scouts

The half blue, half red cabin offered fans of the city's rival Premier League clubs a place to stay during the recent derby clash

Booking.com has donated a half red half blue house built to mark the recent football derby in Manchester to the city’s Scouts organisation for use at its Worsley camp.  

The ‘house’ was constructed ahead of the match to provide the perfect stay for football fans and celebrate the city as its two Premier League rival sides clashed.

The accommodation was located in the middle of Manchester’s two iconic football stadiums on First Street. 

It was available to book for one night only for £18.81, a reference to the first Manchester derby in 1881. 

Andy Farrell, Greater Manchester West Scouts County Commissioner visited the house last week to accept the donation from Lisa Shaftesley, head of people at Booking.com’s Trip Division. 

The cabin is now at Manchester Scouts’ Hollinwood Camp, which provides activities and education for over 6,000 youths in the area, as well as providing an inclusive place where younger generations can build relationships in a safe and controlled environment.  

It will be adapted for use as the Scouts’ booking office while also serving as a ‘tuck shop’ to keep everyone energised during their activities.  

Matthias Schmid, senior vice president of Booking.com’s Trips Division, said: “We’ve called this city home for some time, and now have the second biggest Booking.com office in the world here. With Manchester making this all possible, we naturally wanted to create a buzz around the city and celebrate the people who live here. 

“Because of this, Manchester Scouts is the perfect recipient of the Half-and-Half House and we’re delighted to gift it to them. As a former Scout myself, I fully understand and appreciate the superb work they do in building strong communities, the way they serve our younger generations is second to none and vitally important. 

“We hope it gives the Scouts many happy memories for years to come and that they enjoy a truly unique venue which epitomises the city they call home as much as we did in creating it.” 

Farrell added: “We’re delighted to receive this donation, and such a fantastic house which personifies the great city of Manchester and everything its people are passionate about.  

“Everyone at Manchester Scouts is incredibly excited to see the Half-and-Half House in all its glory, and we’ll ensure it is put to good use at our Hollinwood Camp for many years to come. We’d like to thank Booking.com for their donation and will welcome them to visit it at any time.”