Manchester-based property developers and community-led residential brand, Affinity Living, are bringing the world of renting and pets closer together with their brand-new dog adoption fair this month November.
The first of its kind Manchester city centre has ever seen, the ‘Doggy Adoption Fair’ by Affinity Living is part of their new charity partnership with Manchester Dogs’ Home (MDH) and is totally free to attend.
Aiming to find rescue dogs their fur-ever home, the event of open to anyone interested in taking the leap and adopting a dog as well as any furry friends they might want to have a sniff around as well.
Visitors will be able to learn more about the wide range of breeds up for adoption at Manchester Dogs’ Home and, of course, there will be plenty of pictures and information on all of the rescue pups who are ready to be picked up and petted as soon as possible.
Credit: Affinity Living
MDH will also have a team of experts on hand to chat with guests about the prospective adoptee doggos and give special insights into the quirks and unique personalities of each pooch looking for a new home and loving family.
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Guests will also be able to meet some of the happy hounds who have recently been successfully rehomed with the help of the organisation and there’ll even be an urban-pup masterclass giving top tips on how to best raise a dog in an urban environment — especially in apartments like Affinity’s.
Volunteers from the dogs’ home will be able to introduce guests to the dogs being brought along on the day, provide eye-opening stories of rescue dog adoption in action and stress the importance of rehoming dogs in need of a home rather than shopping around for one.
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Manchester Dogs’ Home will even be selling customisable mugs on the day, with guests and potential pet parents able to take home a custom-printed mug for just £5 featuring themselves and their four-legged friend. 100% of the proceeds go straight to the charity, of course.
But the fun don’t stop there. As well as Affinity Living’s on-site Loaf MCR coffee shop serving up refreshments for humans and their ever-hungry guests — pupcakes and puppicinos incoming — there’ll also be pop-up stalls organised by Manchester-based dog treat brand, All You Need is Woof.
Once again, proceeds will be going towards Manchester Dogs’ Home and whilst you’re busy deciding whether you need a new companion around the flat, there’ll be a host of canine carnival games to keep them busy throughout the day.
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At Affinity Living, unlike most other city centre apartments, pets (not just dogs) of all shapes and sizes aren’t just allowed: they’re welcomed with a warm embrace only man’s best friends themselves can rival.
With no additional fees and almost instant pet agreements on offer, Affinity Living not only want to put an end to the anti-pet landlord culture, but they also want to help make sure all dogs have a chance to find their forever home.
Taking place at their Riverview Apartments on New Bailey Street over in Salford, right next to Spinningfields, their dog adoption fair won’t just be the first Manchester city centre has ever seen but hopefully it will be the start of a change when it comes to pets and renting policies.
Better still, the entire event and all of the funds raised will go straight back into one of the region‘s most beloved charities in Manchester Dogs’ Home who continue to carry out their vital work for the purest souls on this planet year in, year out.
The 2023 Doggy Adoption Fair starts at 2pm and runs until 5pm on Sunday, 26 November. You can grab your completely free tickets HERE.
Tesco are introducing ‘VAR-style’ self-checkouts in the UK
Danny Jones
Many people think VAR has already gone too far and want it gone from football full stop, and we’re here to tell you that you’re a fool; your hopes are in vain, and the technology is only going to become more common as time goes on. Sorry.
So much so, in fact, that Tesco look are bringing in their own virtual referee into self-checkout systems in shops. You could say the ‘game’s gone…’
Of course, we’re being a bit flippant here, but if you have seen ‘VAR’ and ‘Tesco‘, you’re not seeing things: this is genuinely a thing that is being rolled out here in the UK, with video footage of the supermarket chain’s next self-checkout technology going viral online.
Thought you’d got away with sneaking an extra little something in the bag without paying? Think again.
— UB1UB2 West London (Southall) (@UB1UB2) May 28, 2025
We’ll admit, this was the first time we’d come across the technology, but as it turns out, the updated self-checkout service has been in place for a while.
Similar VAR checkouts have already been installed at other retailers, Sainsbury’s and ASDA, although some reports claim that while stores capture footage of shoppers to check if they’ve scanned all of their items, it is thought that not all of these self-service tills show a playback when an error is detected.
Although this particular speculation has sparked some uproar and debate online, many have quite rightly pointed out that CCTV records your movement in any given shop.
Regardless, it’s fair to say that aside from the obvious memes and people poking fun at the new system, many on social media have shared some pretty strong opinions on the matter.
Not that it matters much – it’s likely this will soon become increasingly the norm, with the likes of Sainsbury’s having already introduced barriers which require customers to scan their receipt in order to leave at branches such as the site on Regent Road Retail Park over in Salford.
As yet, it’s unclear how many of these new self-service tills are in operation and whether they are limited to larger supermarket locations of their Express convenience stores, but don’t be surprised if you come across one.
Put simply, if a barcode isn’t registered before being put on the scale and/or set aside to be packed away, the Tesco till will read: “The last item wasn’t scanned properly. Remove from bagging area and try again.”
Addressing these new VAR-style checkouts in an official statement, a company spokesperson said: “We are always looking at technology to make life easier for our customers.
“We have recently installed a new system at some stores which helps customers using self-service checkouts identify if an item has not been scanned properly, making the checkout process quicker and easier.”
What do you make of the new Tesco and their new VAR self-checkout technology?
Ruben Amorim reacts as Manchester United are booed off after Malaysia friendly
Danny Jones
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has delivered a fairly brutal response after his club were booed off by supporters during a friendly in Malaysia.
The Red Devils recently embarked on a post-season tour following a calamitous 2024/25 campaign, both domestically and continentally, with that limp loss in the Europa League final, but have already resumed what has become alarmingly normal service with yet another defeat.
Finding themselves on the wrong end of a 1-0 scoreline against ASEAN All-Stars in Kuala Lumpur – a squad comprised of various talents from around the region who had never played together before and were only founded as an actual team back in 2014 – it was all far from clean slates and fresh starts.
In the wake of the shock result, Man United were booed off by the Malaysian and other international fans inside the Bukit Jalil National Stadium, which saw more than 70,000 in attendance.
It’s the end and that’s it. Man United got boo’ed by the fans after the final whistle.
They got beaten by non-full team Asean All-Star who just trained together as a group few days before the match. pic.twitter.com/fBxnMiZPN8
For context, the ASEAN All-Stars had only trained together for the first time just days before the game itself, but the de facto exhibition outfit still managed to break the deadlock in the 71st minute against a United side that rarely looked like scoring.
All that being said, Amorim had some choice words for his own players in his post-match duties after their first post-season tour fixture, insisting that while he always remains accountable, those out on the pitch perhaps received somewhat of a deserved reckoning too.
He began by stating, “I’m always guilty of the performance of the team, no matter what. [I have been responsible] since the first day”, but went on to argue: “The boos from the fans, I think it something that we need, maybe.”
Citing that the Old Trafford faithful and die-hard away fans have always been loyal and supportive despite frustration in the league, he suggested that “maybe they will change the way they behave” following this latest reality check.
Despite adding that he has seen reasons for optimism in performances against Man City and Liverpool, for instance, where he felt he saw “belief” and seeds of what’s to come, he’s made very few excuses for the poor displays up to now.
United face the Hong Kong national team in their next friendly on Friday, 29 May, and it’s fair to say anything less than a win would be beyond bad for the predictably unpredictable Premier League club.
You can see his full post-match press conference down below.
Danny Jones -
3rd November 2023 
