Four-legged friends of Manchester are in for a real treat as a popular dog salon and boutique is set to open at one of the city’s newest neighbourhoods.
Opening up at KAMPUS, The Barkside is looking to be a “one-stop-shop for city-dwelling dogs”, with a grooming salon, and a shop stocking The Barkside’s signature street-fashion, own brand of nutritious foods, luxury grooming products, and quality accessories arriving at the new rental community.
That’s not all either, as pups will also get to let their hair down with doggy mud baths – which is known to be a usual de-shedding treatment – and frothy puppuccinos, so they don’t miss out on the cafe culture KAMPUS is fast-becoming known for.
Unfamiliar with The Barkside?
First opening as a day care back in 2013, owners Elkie, Leah, and Lauren – along with their team – have gone from strength to the strength, and have since opened a doggy day care, salon, and shop on Travis St in Manchester, and in Heaton Chapel in Stockport – both of which now have a lengthy waiting list of would-be clients.
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The Barkside’s permanent stay at KAMPUS comes after the company has been hosting monthly pop-up events at the neighbourhood – which has plenty of pet-friendly apartments.
“Dog friendly communities like Kampus are leading the way,” says Elkie Davies – founder of The Barkside.
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“Other renters across Manchester are no longer banned from having pet companions and tonnes of people are working and spending more time at home [so] it’s meant that whether you love Dachshunds or Dobermans, you can have a place in the city centre and experience the pure joy of having a dog in your life.
“We fell in love with the space and garden at KAMPUS and can’t wait to bring The Barkside to the neighbourhood alongside a load of independent businesses.
“We’ve been turning customers away because the demand for quality grooming and daycare in Manchester is so high [so] it’ll be awesome to bringing top-notch products, pampering and puppuccinos to our expanded puppy family.”
The Barkside is the latest independent venture to arrive at KAMPUS, and joins Manchester favourites Pollen bakery and General Stores, alongside the recently-opened Nell’s Pizza & Bar, wine bar Beeswing, and recently-announced Cloudwater Brewery.
The Barkside is looking to be a “one-stop-shop for city-dwelling dogs” / Credit: Instagram (@thebarksidemcr)
The KAMPUS neighbourhood is being developed by HBD and Capital&Centric.
Speaking on The Barkside’s arrival, Adam Brady from HBD, said: “We’re a friendly and diverse neighbourhood and the indie businesses joining our community reflect that ethos.
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“That welcome extends to our four-legged friends and the army of dogs that now call KAMPUS home, with a dog-walking services for residents, and The Barkside joining the community means people will be able to drop their dog for a grooming session have a coffee and pastry at Pollen while they wait.”
Featured Image – KAMPUS / The Barkside
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Stockport County’s Christmas dinner in a cup returns for 2025 as part of new festive food range
Danny Jones
We can’t believe it’s rolled around again already, but with the festive period well underway and the big day just a few weeks away, Stockport County have brought back their viral ‘Xmas dinner in a cup’for 2025.
Better still, the County Courtyard has seen some new Christmas specials added to its food menu, too.
The local football club are absolutely flying in League One at the moment, having spent plenty of time at the top of the table already and still well and truly contesting those promotion/play-off spots.
If you’re a Stopfordian, that’s plenty of cause for celebration right there, but with the Christmas dinner in a cup also up for grabs once more, the holiday season literally couldn’t taste any better right now.
For those who’ve never seen it before, it’s exactly what it says on the tin – well, cup: a little Sunday dinner in a County-branded takeaway coffee cup, complete with a healthy pour of gravy and pretty much all the trimmings you could hope for.
Yes, including sprouts, because all of you who still don’t touch them need to grow up already.
Currently priced at just £4.50, not only does it contain virtually all the major food groups (barring the customary matchday pints, of course), it might just be one of the healthiest and best value-for-money bits of footy scran around – certainly in Greater Manchester, anyway.
But, as mentioned, that’s not all this year; Stockport are also serving up the new festive hot dog and even a ‘leftover Christmas curry’ in a bowl, which might even be more warming on a cold night at Edgeley Park than the Xmas dinner in a cup or clinging onto a flask of Bovril.
Anyone else craving that curry with a cheeky bit of bubble and squeak now?
It’s also worth noting that you’ll only be able to get one of those on Boxing Day, by the way, when the Hatters host Lincoln City in the league.
As for the rest of it, County fans can get their hands on this seasonal scran for the first time this year at the weekend when Dave Challinor’s side take on Barnsley at 12:30pm, and two of the three specials will then be served at home every game over the holiday period.
Speaking of random Christmas food creations, there’s another limited-time-only and potentially divisive example that we’ll also be sampling this December…
Aldi has launched the world’s first lickable pigs in blankets wrapping paper… for some reason
Emily Sergeant
Aldi has launched its latest Christmas creation, and this one’s arguably wackier than anything else it’s brought out before.
There’s absolutely no denying that pigs in blankets are a staple of festive feasting, with millions of the little delicacies consumed throughout the UK each Christmas, but have you ever wished you could turn the taste of those pigs in blankets into a lickable wrapping paper to wrap all this year’s gifts in? Yeah probably not… Aldi‘s made it though.
It’s anticipated that more than 561 million pigs in blankets are going to be eaten over the festive period, new research has found, which is an average of 10 per person.
But if you just can’t bare to leave the taste of pigs in blankets behind, Aldi’s new wrapping paper is set to give shoppers a fun and tasty twist when it comes to gift-giving.
The limited-edition wrapping paper is inspired by Aldi’s very-own range of pigs in blankets, and is described as capturing the smoky, savoury flavour and smell of the festive treat, with stickers that peel back to reveal a truly unique ‘lickable’ experience.
Aldi has launched the world’s first lickable pigs in blankets wrapping paper / Credit: Simon Jacobs/PA Wire (via Aldi UK)
Not only does the novelty wrapping paper taste and smells like pigs in blankets, it also looks the part on presents too with its pastel pink design, festive holly, and snowflake patterns.
“Pigs in Blankets are a highlight of the festive season… so we wanted to create something special to celebrate the Christmas classic,” commented Julie Ashfield, who is the Chief Commercial Officer at Aldi UK, as the new creation launches.
“This unique, lickable wrapping paper is the perfect way to spread extra joy on Christmas Day.”
Want to get your hands on it then? Unfortunately, it won’t be as simple as popping to your nearest Aldi store and picking up a roll, as with a creation as unique as this, there’s only going to be limited stock and a special shopper competition to win it.
To be in with a chance of winning, you simply need to email [email protected] with your full name before the deadline at 11:59pm on 1 December.
Emily Sergeant -
16th February 2022 
