Were you forced to celebrate your birthday inside your four walls this year without the company of your family and friends?
There’s plenty of high street retailers and chains that want to make it up to you.
Most of us can pretty confidently say that the concept of a ‘lockdown birthday’ is not one that had ever really entered our heads before March this year, but it’s a reality that many have had to come to terms with over the past few months. Whether it was a socially-distanced celebration through Zoom, a household/social bubble party, or a quiet day to yourself, birthdays during lockdown have undoubtedly been different.
Now that an element of normality is beginning to resume though, there’s a number of high street retail chains and restaurants/bars that are offering belated freebies, treats and loyalty perks to those who marked their big day cooped up indoors.
It’s never too late to celebrate right?
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Here’s everything you need to know and all the details on how to redeem your reward:
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Greggs
Free Sweet Treat
Greggs UK
It’s time to satisfy that sweet tooth craving.
If you sign up to Greggs Rewards via the bakery chain’s free app, then you’ll be sent a voucher on your birthday for a free sweet treat. Not only does this include a doughnut, cookie, or yum yum – costing up to £1 – you don’t even have to buy anything else to get this freebie either.
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What’s more is that as Greggs closed its branches for the majority most lockdown, it has automatically extended the birthday treat vouchers until the end of 2020 too.
You just need to show the date of your voucher on your phone when you next pop into your nearest branch.
More information can be found via the Greggs Rewards website here.
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Build-A-Bear
‘Count Your Candles’ Discount Scheme
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Build-A-Bear
A little something for the kids.
Build-A-Bear’s Count Your Candles scheme is free to join and lets all Bonus Club members buy a bear for the same price as the age of their child on their birthday, so for example, if your child turns two, you would only be pay £2 as opposed to the usual price of around £14.
For members whose children had a birthday during lockdown, you’ve now got until 30th September to redeem the offer (although the scheme could be later extended) and you can get your discounted bear from any store that has reopened by just letting a member of staff know you are redeeming the offer.
You can find more information via the Build-A-Bear website here.
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Pizza Express
Free Prosecco
Facebook / Pizza Express
What’s a birthday without some bubbly? Pizza Express knows this all too well, which is why the Italian chain restaurant is offering those who create an online account a free bottle of Prosecco on your birthday when you buy two meals.
Pizza Express has also confirmed that anyone with a birthday between March and August can still redeem the freebie retrospectively and members will be sent an email this month detailing how to do so, and the deadline it must be redeemed by.
The offer is subject to availability and you unfortunately cannot stack this offer with any other discounts.
There’s plenty of birthday perks for those who register with the Frankie & Benny’s Rewards scheme.
Diners can get two mains for the price of one on their birthday, or a bottle of Prosecco for the reduced price of £10 down from £16.49.
To redeem the offer, you just need to show the code emailed to you ten days prior to your birthday and you normally have 50 days to use the discount. You usually get the cheapest meal free when you eat in and the scheme is valid on any mains, although the discount only applies to two meals. The scheme is currently paused due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, but Frankie & Benny’s has said will allow customers to redeem vouchers that expired during lockdown when it is back, although there is no date for this yet.
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You can register with the Frankie & Benny’s Rewards scheme here.
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Brewer’s Fayre
Free Birthday Meal
Brewer’s Fayre / TripAdvisor
Are you a member of the Brewer’s free ‘Bonus Club’?
If not, you might want to consider signing up as members of the restaurant chain’s rewards scheme can redeem a free meal on their bithday.
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This can be redeemed in-branch by either using a printed voucher that has been emailed to you prior, or by displaying a copy on your phone. Those who had a birthday during lockdown were previously given extra time until August 31 to redeem belated vouchers, so if you’ve missed this new deadline, you may have to wait till next year.
You can find out more information via the Brewer’s Fayre website here.
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H&M
25% Off Birthday Discount
Wikimedia Commons / Billie Ward
To make the most of this birthday benefit, all you’ll need to do is download the free H&M app and become a member to get 25% off one item on your big day.
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As this voucher can be used both online and in store, the fashion chain hasn’t extended this particular extended as shoppers could still use the discount on its website during lockdown. The discount unfortunately cannot be used on designer collaborations, special collections or on gift cards, and you must also select standard delivery if ordering online.
You can find out more information about H&M Membership here.
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Paperchase
£5 ‘Treat Me’ Loyalty Card Discount
Paperchase
This one isn’t just exclusive to lockdown birthdays.
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Ever-popular stationary retailer Paperchase lets shoppers pick up a free Treat Me loyalty card in stores and activate it online to get a range of perks, crucially including a free £5 voucher to use on their birthday.
The £5 off is applied to cards automatically on your birthday and can be used both in store and online for 28 days, but if you did turn a year older during lockdown, you now have until 30th September to use the discount (although some stores may extend this further).
There’s no minimum spend, but do be aware you won’t get the difference refunded if you purchase something for less than £5.
Find more information about the Treat Me loyalty card via the Paperchase website here.
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Krispy Kreme
Free Doughnuts
Krispy Kreme UK
Did you know Krispy Kreme UK is offering a free Original Glazed doughnut to everyone who celebrated a birthday during lockdown?
If it was your birthday during lockdown until 31st August, you’ll have been given 150 loyalty points – known as Smiles – which is enough to redeem a free doughnut of your choice as normally you’ll need 100 for the standard Original Glazed version. For those with birthdays from 1st September onwards however, you’ll be sent a voucher on the first day of the month you were born, which lasts until the end of the following month.
This offer is only available from Krispy Kreme stores and you can find out more information here.
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A brand-new immersive ‘walking theatre’ and XR experience has landed in Greater Manchester
Danny Jones
We hear the word immersive thrown around a lot these days, but if the notion of walking through some of your favourite fantasy and sci-fi worlds in a state-of-the-art XR tour doesn’t fit the definition, we don’t know what does.
Get ready to pull on a headset and be dropped into a different universe, Mancs.
This is Immersia XR: an industry-leading immersive entertainment and XR (extended reality) experience has just been unveiled right here in Greater Manchester.
Anyone for a ride on a magic carpet?
Credit: The Manc GroupCredit: Immersia XR (supplied)
Immersia XR specialises in what they call ‘Walking XR Theatre – a new term for a new kind of experience’, and boasts big plaudits across the board, with an average Google rating of 4.8 from dozens of reviews already.
Having just made its Manchester debut to the public at Trafford Palazzo (located right next to 0161’s famous Trafford Centre) this summer, the new addition brings cutting-edge technology blended with iconic family-favourite tales in an “unforgettable walk-through format.”
A lucky few have been treated to our first time, including us here at The Manc, and you’ll have to take our word for it when we tell you it’s a truly incredible experience.
It’s the first of its kind in the UK and Europe, and although there are other similar VR and AR offerings around the region, you won’t find anything quite like ‘walking theatre’ and this free-roam experience.
Credit: Supplied
As you can see above, there are a number of experiences to be enjoyed right from the off, including two modes inspired by childhood classics, Alice in Wonderland and Tales of Aladdin.
Ever fancied trying your hand as an astronaut and walking on the surface of the moon as you look back at the Earth below? Course you have! No training involved in this one, either.
Take that, Katy Perry, you can keep your short-lived Blue Origin nonsense to yourself.
Immersia XR’s ambition doesn’t stop there, though, as they are also preparing to introduce the exciting new ‘Terracotta Army’ experience in the near future.
Here’s a glimpse at how it looks inside the goggles:
Already open to the public and running up until Sunday, 6 July 2025, Immersia XR is fun for all ages, with kid-friendly zones and accessible narratives built into the experience.
Best of all, there are actually very few bells and whistles; no screens, no controllers – it’s just you walking through the story of your choice.
Immersia XR’s founder, Ian Xiang, said: “We’re not just launching a new attraction—we’re pioneering the future of storytelling. Walking XR Theatre is where cinema, theatre, and technology converge to create magic. You don’t just watch the story—you walk through it.”
Tickets are on sale now, with adult prices starting from only £17, children (ages 3–15) from just £12, and family tickets (2 adults, 2 kids) from £54. Great value for money.
Concession tickets are also available for students and over-65s, priced from £16, and group bookings of 10 or more receive 10% off. You can even get 20% off all ticket types with the early bird code: PRESS20. You can grab yours HERE.
5 Easter foods that are toxic to dogs and what to do if they eat them
Emily Sergeant
With Easter upon us, and households nationwide tucking into a feast of chocolate treats and festive leftovers, we need to make sure we keep an eye on those food vacuums.
And by food vacuums, we of course mean our four-legged friends.
We all know that a lot of themed foods and sugary goodness tends to get consumed over the Easter period, and with so much to make your way through, it can be tempting to treat your dogs to some of the leftovers.
But did you know that some common Easter foods can actually make them seriously ill? This is why it’s so important to know which ones should be avoided.
Whilst it’s perfectly fine to offer your pooch small snacks in moderation, there’s lots of foods around at this time of year that your dog may help themselves to if they aren’t stored away, and many of them are extremely toxic – so pet expert and founder of Yappy.com, John Smith, has highlighted which are dangerous for our dogs, what to do if they do consume them, and some of the safer choices to dogs as a well-deserved treat.
Here’s five Easter foods that are toxic to dogs.
Did you know that some common Easter foods can actually make dogs seriously ill? / Credit: Pxfuel
1. Chocolate
Chocolate is obviously one of the most popular treats to find in homes during Easter, but it contains a chemical called theobromine, which is seriously harmful to dogs, and this means that eating even a small amount of chocolate can have serious consequences and result in symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, and death in some serious cases.
2. Hot Cross Buns
Hot Cross Buns are another delicious Easter food that should be kept far away as most contain dried fruit such as raisins, sultanas, and currants, which are toxic to dogs.
The reasons behind why these fruits are toxic is a bit of a mystery, as some dogs have eaten large amounts of dried fruit without feeling unwell, whereas others have become unwell after eating just a small amount – but John says it’s “definitely best to err on the side of caution” and make your own buns using a vet-approved dog-friendly recipe that you can enjoy together as a family without fear.
3. Cooked Bones
Cooked bones come with serious health risks for dogs.
Although they aren’t poisonous, they’re prone to splitting when gnawed and chewed, and this can lead to bone fragments getting stuck in their throats – which can result in choking.
4. Bulb Vegetables
Bulb vegetables are a roast dinner essential, but those such as onions and garlic can cause nasty stomach upsets for dogs, and in some cases, can even cause red blood cell damage, so it’s better to keep them on your plate and out of your pets’ mouths.
5. Meat Skin
It may be tempting to give your dog skin from the leftover chicken, or a fatty piece of meat – but this is far too rich for their tummies, and in some of the worst cases, it can cause inflammation of their pancreas.
Properly-cooked boneless pieces of chicken added to their dog food bowl is a better way to involve them in the Easter fun without risking their health.
Chocolate and hot cross buns are just some of the Easter foods toxic to dogs / Credit: Pexels & FreeImages
What should I do if my pet has eaten something it shouldn’t have?
Even if your pet has only eaten a small amount of these foods, it’s important to do the following:
Call the vet straight away – Don’t wait for your pet to start showing symptoms. A vet will be able to offer advice, and the quicker you act, the better chance your pet will have of recovery.
Note the time and quantity of food ingested – Provide the vet with as much information as you can. This includes the time your pet ate the unsafe food, brand names, the ingredient list and how much you think they consumed.
Don’t try to make your pet sick – Attempting this can cause further health complications. Leave this to your vet, as they are trained to do this in a safe manner.
John adds that dog owners should “keep any dangerous Easter foods well out of paws reach in a high cupboard”, and check that floors are “clear of toxic food scraps” that children may have dropped during Easter egg hunts and parties.
Emily Sergeant -
3rd September 2020 
