Everyone’s favourite singalong karaoke cabins are coming back to Manchester for Christmas, it has been confirmed.
Bar Hütte, the magical Alpine cabin experience with cosy furnishings, twinkling lights, live music sessions, and flowing drinks, will return bigger than ever this year – with not one, but two locations in Manchester city centre.
Inspired by some of Europe’s coolest après ski bars, Bar Hütte combines super-snug karaoke hüttes with a vibrant and cheerful alpine atmosphere.
Now in its seventh year, Bar Hütte is seen as a festive staple in the city.
Bar Hütte’s singalong karaoke cabins are coming back to Manchester for Christmas / Credit: Bar Hütte
With two magical Christmas courtyards sweeping across the city, the beloved ‘carol-oke’ cabins will be returning to their home at Greater Northern Square, as well as moving into a brand new canal-side location at Kampus.
ADVERTISEMENT
While Bar Hütte at Great Northern Square is heading back to Deansgate, with 15 cosy private hüttes neatly-positioned under a heated stretch tent and twinkling lights, Bar Hütte at Kampus will also see a new outdoor terrace, comprising of eight snug, wooden karaoke hüttes nestled beneath the trees, and an ‘Aprés Ski Bungalow’ serving as an indoor alpine bar.
Bar Hütte at Kampus also teamed up with its neighbours, Nell’s and Great North Pie Co, so that hungry foodies can order pizza and pies delivered straight to their hütte via a QR code system.
ADVERTISEMENT
As well as an entertainment schedule of live singers and DJs, there is a new drinks menu to include winter serves, Instagramable cocktails, plus the legendary Bombardino, and the famous Bar Hütte shot-ski.
This year, there’ll be two city centre locations / Credit: Bar Hütte
Those heading down can enjoy karaoke for up to eight people in a Cosy Karaoke Hütte, or celebrate on a larger scale in a Party Lodge for up to 20 people.
Adam Brady, from HBD – which is one of the Kampus developers, said ahead of Bar Hütte’s arrival: “Bar Hütte will transform the Kampus garden from the perfect summer spot to the go-to festive hangout [and] we’ll be swapping festival bunting for fairy lights, with the cosy hüttes nestled within the trees, and Après Ski Bungalow providing a proper slice of winter escapism in the heart of Manchester.”
ADVERTISEMENT
At the weekends, and in the lead-up to the big day, there are family-friendly Santa Claus Club sessions too – which includes a karaoke hütte for one hour, hot chocolate, and colouring pads for the kids, plus the chance to get a picture with Santa Claus.
15 cosy private hüttes will be neatly-positioned under twinkling lights / Credit: Bar Hütte
There are also wreath-making sessions to get involved in at both locations, complete with a complimentary glass of prosecco or mulled wine.
Both Bar Hütte at Kampus and Bar Hütte at Great Northern Square will be open to the public on Wednesday 8 November, and bookings have just launched.
Free roses are being handed out at a Manchester train station this Valentine’s Day
Danny Jones
In an effort to spread the love this Valentine’s Day, free roses are being hands out to commuters at a Manchester train station this week.
Add that to the ever-growing list of why we absolutely adore this place.
Not everyone is coupled up come the most mush day of the year, nor do they need to be – self-love, Galentine’s and even just a whoelsome pint or two with the boys – but it’s nice to see Greater Mancs going out of their way to make things nicer for each other.
In our eyes, in a relationship or otherwise, this day is just about sharing the love with everyone and if you happen to arriving or leaving Manchester (excuse me, why would you ever?) from Victoria station this Friday, you could be in for a lovely little surprise.
The brains behind the touching little gesture is the city’s legendary live music and entertainment space, AO Arena.
Although many arrive at the venue via the Trinity Way Tunnel on the other side of Arena, the AO is already directly attached to Victoria by a simply set of stairs, meaning you can arrive in the city centre via train or tram and arrive directly at your destination.
It’s also one of the busiest stations in the North West, so for commuters looking to start the day with a little love, whether that be to treat their significant other, brighten a colleague’s day or just make themselves feel good, these roses are set to be handed out on Valentine’s Day morning.
100 of the most romantic flowers will be up for grabs from 8am at Manchester Victoria Station on a first-come, first served basis, naturally, Simple as that – but it gets better…
There is also an exciting chance to win a handful of surprises, including free tickets to a show at the arena, which will be given away with a select few lucky roses.
This year marks an extra special milestone for the AO Arena, as they are celebrating thirty years of spreading joy in the city as Manchester’s longest standing large music venue.
With that in mind and tying together the arena’s history and love for entertainment, each rose will be individually wrapped in a special 30th birthday edition print.
This design features the names of all artists and acts who have performed there over the last three decades; consider it just a small token of AO‘s love and affection for 0161, wrapped in nostalgia.
Happy Valentine’s Day, Manchester – you’ll always be ours x
Hundreds turn out for dying guide dog’s final walk along Blackpool seafront
Emily Sergeant
Hundreds of people and their pets gathered on the Blackpool seafront for a terminally-ill guide dog’s final walk.
‘Ginger prince’ Labrador retriever Ian had been working hard guiding his owner, Mark, through the world and providing him with the independence needed to take on each day, and was not long off his retirement and getting to spend the rest of his days in a loving home.
One Ian got to around 10, he was set to hang up his harness and go on to live with his former Puppy Raiser, Gemma Fairhurst, along with her family and her other guide dog pups in training, so that Mark would still get to keep in touch with Ian and Ian would get to pass on his wisdom and teach the youngsters how it’s done.
But sadly, this plan won’t become a reality, as Ian was recently diagnosed with terminal cancer.
Hundreds turned out for a dying guide dog’s final walk along Blackpool seafront / Credit: Gemma Fairhurst (via GoFundMe)
Vets told Mark and his wife Kerry around Christmas 2024 that Ian would sadly only have four-eight weeks to live.
Once Ian’s owners got in touch with Gemma to tell her the devastating news, she knew she had to do something to honour and celebrate him – and ultimately, raise funds for Guide Dogs to name another puppy Ian once he’d passed.
So, Gemma and Mark planned one last special walk for Ian along the Blackpool Promenade – the place he called home.
More than 200 people and 80 dogs joined in the walk / Credit: Sarah Summerton (via Guide Dogs)
“He’s led such a wonderful life and brought happiness to Mark and Kerry, but also to everyone that he’s met,” Gemma explained in her fundraiser.
“For me, he’s changed my life, and in many ways, he’s saved my life. He gave me the strength to carry on and he’s given Mark love and support that cannot be measured… so I’d like to raise the money it takes to name another guide dog, and the most perfect name I can think of is Ian.
“The cost to sponsor and name a guide dog is £5,000, so that’s what I’m trying to raise.”
The ‘big old doggy walk’ took place this past Sunday (9 February) from 2pm, and was open for any and everyone who would like to come along… and come along they did, as more than 200 people and 80 dogs arrived to walk along the seafront.
The walkers all contributed towards the ‘5,000 steps for £5,000’ target, with Ian leading the way at the front and being pushed along in a special troller by Mark and Gemma.
For the last leg of the journey, Ian even got out of his stroller and walked along the Promenade himself, with the walkers creating a guard of honour for him.
Ian’s story touched the heart of so many people across the North West, that Gemma absolutely smashed her target of £5,000, and at the time of writing, has raised more than £7,230 to name another guide dog puppy Ian.
Gemma said she’d been ‘overwhelmed’ by the support she’s received, and that people from all over the region turned up – including other guide dog puppies she raised in the past.