Manchester hotel restaurant The Refuge is serving a roast for you AND your dog
Pet-friendly hotel Kimpton Clocktower also provides a full pet setup in the room, with a pet tuckbox, pet guide to the best dog-friendly places to visit, toys and treats
A hotel restaurant in Manchester is serving up Sunday roast dinners for dogs and we are completely obsessed.
Award-winning eatery and bar The Refuge, located inside the pet-friendly Kimpton Clocktower Hotel on Oxford Road, is already highly-rated for its Sunday roasts but it’s about to get even more popular after adding a new ‘roast bowl’ for pets to its Sunday menu.
Introduced as part of the venue’s new spring food menu overhaul, four-legged friends now have their own answer to The Refuge’s legendary Sunday dinner – allowing them to dine in style alongside their owners.
Comprised of a mini roast, the new pet ‘roast bowl’ features a selection of meat, veggies, and a dash of pet-friendly gravy (no onions or garlic to worry about here).
Image: The Refuge
Image: The Refuge
Owners, meanwhile, are also in for a treat with the choice between a traditional roast or one of The Refuge’s famous sharing platters (a mixture of grass-fed rump of Lancashire beef and half a roast Cumbrian chicken plus trimmings, with the option to add-on a lamb shawarma shepherd’s pie for an extra £9).
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All roast platters are served with thyme and salt roast potatoes, glazed carrot, seasonal greens, Yorkshire pudding, cauliflower cheese and pan gravy, whilst individual roasts come with roast potatoes, gravy, Yorkshire pudding and a selection of vegetables.
Vegans are also welcome, with a plant-based Sunday dinner option of vegan wellington, roasted celeriac, duxelles, red onion, kale and potato.
Speaking on the new menus, Stephanie McIver, General Manager of The Refuge said: “The new menus at The Refuge are a fresh and inventive take on feasting and sharing with friends and family.
“We welcome anyone and everyone to our dining space and we expect the new additions will be highlights for all our guests this season.
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“At The Refuge we extend our invitation to dogs which is a continuation of Kimpton Clocktower Hotel’s dog-friendly policy, making all dogs welcome alongside their human guest counterparts and offering dogs their very own Sunday roast dinner.”
Image: The Refuge
Image: The Refuge
Guests with pets are encouraged to book a PAWfect stay at Kimpon Clocktower Hotel to enjoy an overnight stay with breakfast, along with a full pet setup in the room, a pet tuckbox, pet guide to the best dog-friendly places to visit and a toy and treat or two.
Pets at Klimpton Clocktower Hotel are welcome to stay with their owners for free, with no extra charge placed on the room.
For more information on The Refuge and to book a table visit here. Guests looking to order a Dog roast bowl are encouraged to make this request when booking a reservation at The Refuge.
Featured image – The Refuge
City Centre
A League Of Their Own LIVE is coming to Manchester
Danny Jones
The inaugural live tour version of A League Of Their Own Live Tour is heading out across the UK, with a big Manchester show booked on the list of dates.
For fans of the hit sports-based TV show on Sky, this will be the first time ever that the A League Of Their Own (ALOTO) cast will be presenting, performing and cracking plenty of jokes in front of a proper live audience.
There’s no stopping and resetting to get the shot with this production: just them and the crowds up and down the country – we know you won’t let the side down, Manchester.
Booking one of the city’s biggest and most storied live entertainment spaces, we have every faith they’ll make it a night to remember.
A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN LIVE TOUR
The hit TV show announces its first-ever live arena tour! Hosted by Jamie Redknapp!
As you can see, already confirmed to be taking part in the live adaptation of the panel show are regular co-hosts Jamie Redknapp and Jill Scott, as well as some of the big names.
In addition to famous former sports personalities like Manchester United defender Patrice Evra and ex-boxer Tony Bellew, they will also be joined by comedians Tom Davies and Maisie Adam.
Massive football fans themselves, who have both been part of the ALOTO cast in the past, it’s a funny lineup, for sure.
While the main presenter, Romesh Ranganathan, has not been confirmed as part of the touring crew, it’s worth noting that the lineup could change closer to the time. We wouldn’t be surprised if they have some special guests up their sleeves for one or two of the shows, either…
Please let us see ‘Wazza’ roped in to recreate this moment:
Speaking of the dates, you can see all the shows – including the Manchester this coming autumn – currently announced down below:
A League Of Their Own Live Tour dates – 2026
Friday, 4 September – M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool
Saturday, 5 September – AO Arena, Manchester
Tuesday, 8 September – OVO Arena Wembley, London
Friday, 11 September – Utilita Arena, Newcastle upon Tyne
Monday, 14 September – bp pulse LIVE, Birmingham
Thursday, 17 September – OVO Hydro, Glasgow
As detailed above, early access can be enjoyed either for Three Mobile members or via the venue’s official presale window, which opens at 10am this Thursday, 30 April.
Meanwhile, general admission tickets go live at the same time the following Friday (1 May); you can get ready to grab yours right HERE.
Featured Images — Publicity pictures (supplied via AO Arena)
City Centre
Manchester Storm announce return to AO Arena after nearly two and a half decades
Danny Jones
In a huge bit of regional sporting news, Manchester Storm have announced they will be coming home to the AO Arena after nearly two and a half decades away from the iconic venue.
Massive news for Manc ice hockey followers and local sports fans in general.
Revealing the long-awaited return after 24 long years away from the place where Manchester’s native hockey team first began its story, the team, AO figures, and even some fans were part of a special announcement event inside the 20,000-seater stadium this week.
Confirming the news on Monday, 27 April, MCR Storm will be back playing at the AO Arena later this year – just in time for the start of the 2026/27 campaign.
— Manchester Storm | #TakeShelter (@Mcr_Storm) April 27, 2026
As detailed in a full press release from the Greater Manchester club, they are seemingly marking a milestone moment in their next chapter by going back to their roots.
It goes on to read: “Founded back in 1995 as a tenant of the then newly-opened Manchester Arena, the original Manchester Storm quickly became one of British ice hockey’s most iconic teams.
“In their inaugural season, the Storm secured the First Division championship before becoming founding members of the Ice Hockey Superleague in 1996.”
Coming somewhat full circle more than a generation later (Storm having made it to the play-off finals of the modern Elite Ice Hockey League era this April for the first time in their history), they have made one-off returns to the storied space in recent times.
However, many supporters have been waiting for a fully fledged return for some time now; equally, others are understandably sad to pay a bittersweet goodbye to the ‘Storm Shelter’ over in Altrincham, with the building having already pulled licensing for next year.
They have been at the Planet Ice rink for over a decade now, and the company itself have even issued a lengthy response following the departure – namely noting the issue of communication, clarity and fair notice. Nevertheless, for the vast majority, this felt like a long-overdue comeback.
With an ex-player turned head coach and all-round club legend, Cam Critchlow, having also signed on for another campaign behind the bench, it’s been a busy week in and around the organisation.
Representing the Manchester Storm ownership group, former coach Ryan Finnerty and partner Emma said in a joint statement: “This is a major milestone for our partnership group and a vision we’ve worked towards for some time.
Returning Manchester Storm to the AO Arena is a proud moment for everyone involved. It’s about giving our fans a premier stage in the heart of the city and delivering an outstanding live experience.
“Together with our leadership team and Canadian partners, our ambition is clear — not just to compete, but to lead in the Elite Ice Hockey League and beyond. This marks the start of an exciting new era for the club. Manchester Storm is coming home.
“Today marks a hugely exciting and significant moment for both the Manchester Storm and the Elite League”. The EIHL themselves have also celebrated the news, adding that they feel it reflects “the scale and ambition of the league”.
Are you happy to see them setting up shop at the AO Arena once again? Better still, do you remember going there to watch games the first time around? Let us know down in the comments.
Georgina Pellant -
3rd April 2023 
