Are you a big dachshund fan? Love seeing lots of little sausage dogs in the same place? Looking for your little pup to make some sausage friends?
Well, you’re in luck, as the Dachshund Pup Up Cafe is back at the end of next month, and if the concept of the popular event wasn’t already cute enough as it is, this time around, it’s a themed Christmas edition, and it’s all sounding set to be the perfect festive day out with your four-legged friend.
After what can only be described as a smash-hit success when it visited our city last Christmas, the ‘Dashing Dachshund’ pop up cafe – or we should say ‘pup up cafe’ – is returning to Manchester in a couple of weeks time, and will be filling a popular city centre venue with loads of sausage dogs to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year.
Last year, over 250 dachshunds visited the cafe to join in on the festive fun, and this year is expected to be no different.
A ‘dashing dachshund’ pop-up cafe is coming to Manchester this Christmas / Credit: The Pup Up Cafe
Just like it did at the end of last month, The Dachshund Pup Up Cafe has managed to secure the whole of Lola Lo in the city centre for all the dogs to roam free and enjoy some festive fun in a safe space.
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Sausage dog owners and dachshund fans can mingle with many furry little friends, take part in a range of seasonal activities, and stock up on dachshund-related goodies as early Christmas presents, while the pups themselves get to enjoy unlimited dog treats and free puppuccinos, and play to their heart’s content with other sausages.
With up to 50 sausage dogs allowed per session, and festive fancy dress very much encouraged, each pup will get a Christmas present on arrival at the party, and will even have the chance to win some extra prizes if they’re the best dressed.
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It’s all sounding set to be the perfect festive day out with your four-legged friend / Credit: The Pup Up Cafe
It’s going to be a jam-packed day to remember, so luckily, there’ll be a dedicated photographer snapping pictures of each session, and there’ll be loads of Christmas props to use in the pictures.
If you fancy joining The Pup Up Cafe for “a sausage mad day” when it arrives in Manchester for Christmas on Sunday 26 November, then tickets will set you back £10 if you’re a sausage dog owner, and £15 if you’re just a dachshund fan who’s keen to go along for the fun anyway.
You can ride a wizard-themed steam train through Greater Manchester countryside next week
Emily Sergeant
The hugely popular wizard-themed steam train will be travelling through Greater Manchester once again next week.
February half term is right around the corner, and that means East Lancashire Railway (ELR) is back with a whole host of immersive events that give curious Mancs the chance to step back in time by hopping on one of the historic Pullman-style steam train carriages through the picturesque Greater Manchester countryside.
Thomas the Tank Engine, dinosaur, Peppa Pig, and seasonal themed train rides are just a few of the events that have been entertaining families in the region over the last few years.
By far one of the most popular experiences on the lineup, however, has to be the chance to go on a ‘wizarding adventure’, where little Mancs can come together for a magical day of sharing spells and getting stuck into lots of magic-themed fun.
You can ride a wizard-themed steam train through Greater Manchester next week / Credit: ELR
Aspiring witches and wizards of all ages are invited to enrol in the spellbinding school of sorcery this February half term, as they take a ‘wacky and wonderful’ whistle stop tour through the ‘Irwell Valley of wonders’.
Little Mancs will get to learn powerful incantations and perfect their wand-waving skills, all while using their imagination and learning how to soar through the skies on a broomstick.
They’ll also get to discover the proper way to greet mystical creatures, and take care of a ‘real’ dragon egg too.
The Wizarding Adventure is an “enchanting experience for all the family” / Credit: ELR
Aside from wizard-themed tasks, there’ll also be plenty of photo opportunities along the way.
Aside from wizard-themed tasks, there’ll also be plenty of photo opportunities along the way, and food and drink will be available to tuck into from the café on Platform 3/4 at Bury Bolton Street Station, and from the Rawtenstall Buffet too, making it a truly ‘enchanting’ experience for the whole family.
The Wizarding Adventure is back this half term, with several special journeys lined-up next month on Thursday 19 February, and tickets still available to get your hands on from £18 each for children and £20.50 for adults.
Swedish pop icon Robyn to play huge Manchester gig on European tour this summer
Emily Sergeant
Generational Swedish pop icon Robyn is heading out on a big European tour this summer, and she’ll be stopping off in Manchester.
This is Robyn’s first major tour since 2019, and it will feature 20 dates as well as her biggest ever headline shows – including London’s 20,000 capacity O2 Arena, and three consecutive hometown nights at Stockholm’s Avicii Arena.
And, of course, a night at Europe’s largest indoor arena – Co-op Live, here in Manchester.
Having provided some of the biggest moments in pop culture over the last three decades, Robyn is currently in the eye of one of the year’s most celebrated musical returns, as 2026 has seen her announce her ninth studio album, and her first since 2018, titled Sexistential, produced with longtime collaborator Klas Åhlund, and reuniting her with Max Martin for their first co-writes since 2010.
It’s said to be the ‘most ecstatic’ record Robyn has ever made, and is tipped to be the sound of one of contemporary music’s most influential artists ‘coming home’.
This upcoming tour will feature an exciting lineup of special guest openers across the UK and Europe dates – with 808 State and Zhala on the bill for Manchester‘s gig, bringing together a mix of boundary-pushing artists who are either friends of Robyn or among the voices that inspire her.
Robyn – The Sexistential Tour UK & EU 2026
Wednesday 24 June – 3Arena, Dublin
Friday 26 June – OVO Hydro, Glasgow
Saturday 27 June – Co-op Live, Manchester
Tuesday 30 June – ING Arena, Brussels, Belgium
Wednesday 1 July – Adidas Arena, Paris, France
Friday 3 July – The O2, London
Wednesday 8 July – Uber Arena, Berlin, Germany
Saturday 11 July – Unity Arena, Oslo, Norway
Tuesday 14 July – Royal Arena, Copenhagen, Denmark
Thursday 16 July – Avicii Arena, Stockholm, Sweden
Friday 17 July – Avicii Arena, Stockholm, Sweden
Saturday 18 July – Avicii Arena, Stockholm, Sweden
Following on from the UK and European tour, Robyn will then head over to the US and Australia for another run of huge dates in major cities such as New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Mexico City, before the tour draws to a close in Melbourne in Australia on 24 November.
Robyn will bring The Sexistential Tour to Co-op Live in Manchester on Saturday 27 June 2026, and tickets officially go on sale this week.
There are two separate pre-sales happening this week before tickets then go on general sale this Friday 13 February – there’s the Co-op Presale, which starts tomorrow (Tuesday 10 February) at 10am, and then the Spotify Presale, which starts on Thursday 12 February at 10am.
You can get tickets when they go live on general sale this Friday at 10am here.
Emily Sergeant -
26th October 2023 
