Thousands of soft play centres up and down the UK have finally been able to let visitors back through their doors over these past two weeks.
But it’s not just children that one Wigan venue has welcomed with open arms.
In an attempt to become as “family friendly” as possible, popular soft play centre Pipsqueaks Play Cafe – based in the Orrell area of the Greater Manchester borough of Wigan – is now opening to our four-legged friends as well, and it’s already proving to be a massive hit.
The dog-friendly area is inside the play centre’s cafe space, which is perfect for the parents still keen to keep an eye on their pups while their kids let off some steam on the play frame.
It also offers somewhere for the dogs to socialise too.
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While dogs will be allowed in the cafe, sadly they won’t be allowed in the soft play area itself just yet – but this is something that Pipsqueaks’ owner Wendy Unsworth has admitted she has in the pipeline.
“We first became dog friendly last summer,” Wendy told the MEN.
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“We have some lovely walks around the centre and lots of free parking, so it made sense to section off an area of the cafe for dog walkers,”
“This is totally separate from the soft play.
The dog-friendly play sessions have already proven to be a massive hit / Credit: Pipsqueaks Play Cafe
“The rationale behind the exclusive dog-friendly play sessions is that adults and children have missed out on so much social contact and by allowing dogs, particularly lockdown pups, to come along, we remove a barrier to visiting soft play [and] lots of people don’t want to leave their dogs or would need to arrange for someone to pop in and check on them.
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“It’s not just for puppies either [as] we had some older dogs in September who don’t walk much now and their owners said it was perfect socialisation for them too.
“We like to think of Pipsqueaks as being a family play cafe and dogs are now just as much part of the family, so it was a natural step to include them.”
A date for the first doggy soft play session has not yet been announced, but the plan is to hand the facilites over to dogs before the centre next has a professional deep clean.
Keep your eyes peeled.
You can book your slot for a Family Dog Friendly Play Sessionhere.
Featured Image – Pipsqueeks Play Cafe
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Pop icons S Club announce new arena tour, with huge Manchester gig
Daisy Jackson
S Club will be heading back to Manchester on a newly-announced 13-date arena tour next year.
The pop icons have announced the Ain’t No Party Like A S Club Party tour, which will see Bradley, Jo, Jon, Rachel and Tina back on stage for the ultimate pop party.
The huge tour includes a night at the AO Arena in Manchester, as well as two gigs at the O2 in London.
S Club are one of Britain’s most successful pop groups, formerly known as S Club 7, who went on to become a cultural phenomenon with their own TV series – one of which, L.A. 7, remains the highest-rated programme of all time on CBBC.
Their smash hits include Reach, Don’t Stop Movin, Bring It All Back, Never Had A Dream Come True, and S Club Party.
In 2023, S Club celebrated their 25th anniversary with a sellout UK and US tour, shortly after the tragic death of former member Paul Cattermole.
Now, five of the original seven are ready to bring the party back to Manchester, as S Club return to the stage.
They’ll have very special guests supporting on the tour too, announcing Boyzlife, the supergroup made up of the former Boyzone and Westlife members Keith Duffy and Brian McFadden.
S Club say: “We can’t wait to get back out on tour, see you all and celebrate the songs, memories and moments we’ve shared together over the years.
“It’s going to be one BIG party, and we want you all to be part of it!”
S Club will play the AO Arena in Manchester on Saturday 9 October 2027.
Tickets for all shows go on sale at 9.30am on Friday 6 November HERE.
Manchester announces ‘poignant’ plans to mark Remembrance Sunday with free city centre service
Emily Sergeant
Manchester is set to honour the ‘service and sacrifice’ of members of the armed forces community during this year’s annual Remembrance Sunday commemorations.
With Remembrance Day only a couple weeks away now, just as it does each year, Manchester City Council has now revealed how the city will mark this important occasion, and has confirmed all the details of the annual Remembrance Sunday Parade.
Proceedings will start on John Dalton Street at 10:30am, and run right through until midday – with the service itself being held at 11am.
Veterans, military personnel and cadets, all led by Greater Manchester Police‘s Band, will march from John Dalton Street to the Cenotaph St. Peter’s Square.
This will be followed by a short return march to Mount Street across St Peter’s Square.
The service will begin at the Cenotaph at 10:58am, and a two-minute silence will be observed at 11am in tribute to those who have lost their lives in conflict. The start and conclusion of the silence will be marked by the firing of a maroon.
/ Credit: Manchester City Council
Following the service, veterans, military personnel and cadets will take part in a short return march across St Peter’s Square to Mount Street.
As the Council marks another year of its partnership with the Royal British Legion, further the Remembrance Sunday events will take place across the city following the service – including arts and crafts sessions, memorial services, and performances.
“Remembrance Sunday is one of the most important occasions in Manchester’s civic calendar,” declared Councillor Shaukat Ali, who it the Lord Mayor of Manchester.
“It is a time for us to come together as a city to remember and honour the courage, sacrifice and service of those from our diverse communities who have given so much in times of conflict. I want to encourage residents, families and visitors to join us at the Cenotaph as we pay our respects and ensure that the contribution of past and present generations is never forgotten.”
Emily Sergeant -
1st June 2021 
