Chester Zoo has announced that it’s bringing back its ‘after hours’ evenings once again this summer after they proved so popular in previous years.
Giving visitors the chance to explore the UK’s biggest charity zoo “in a whole new light”, the unique event series was launched to massive success back in 2022, and returned by popular demand in 2023 to offer unlimited access to animal habitats, indoor areas, and restaurants after hours for the first times in its history.
And this summer, they’re back again for animal lovers who missed out in previous years… and there’s even some new “immersive” features for 2024 too.
With tickets now on sale at 50% cheaper than a standard day ticket, Chester Zoo is inviting people to discover the zoo as the sun goes down with spectacular live entertainment, exciting games and activities, and delicious food and drink.
Chester Zoo’s popular ‘after hours’ evenings are back again this summer / Credit: Chester Zoo
The zoo is promising there’ll be absolutely “tons to see and do” this year, so all the family can enjoy an evening making “unforgettable memories” together.
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This includes getting to wish goodnight to giraffe calf, Edie, meeting the zoo newest arrivals, snow leopards Yashin and Nubra, spending your evening with some of the planet’s most endangered species, and, in what is a new feature for 2024, your ticket will also give you access to the new “immersive” experience, ‘Native‘, included in the price.
Not only that, but there’ll also be animal-themed face painting, exciting entertainment such as larger-than-life animal puppets, and freshly-prepared food and drink – including extravagant sundaes, boozy slushies and cocktails, and more – to make the most of, so there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
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Explore the zoo after hours this Summer! ☀️
We're inviting you to a NEW summer evening event, AFTERGLOW
Get FIVE hours of zoo time for 50% less than a standard ticket while also enjoying spectacular entertainment, exciting activities, tasty food and drinks… as well as… pic.twitter.com/h1F8giwjT7
And don’t forget, every ticket purchased directly goes towards the vital conservation work Chester Zoo does, both in the UK and all across the world, so you’ll be contributing to a better and safer future for all species.
Afterglow is back at Chester Zoo from 13 – 25 August, with adult tickets from £18, child tickets from £11, toddler tickets for £2.50, and infants under one going free of charge.
Manchester venue to host General Election ‘all nighter’ with results streamed live onto a big screen
Emily Sergeant
A General Election ‘all nighter’ where the results will be streamed live onto a big cinema screen is happening in Manchester next week.
Are we about to see the end of 14 years of Tory rule? Could it be a night to celebrate for Labour? May the Lib Dems, the Greens, and ever-growing raft of independent parties across the UK gain themselves some new constituencies? And, most importantly, will Count Binface finally grab that seat in the Houses of Parliament?
All these questions will (hopefully) be answered on General Election day next Thursday 4 July.
And if you fancy following along with all the action live from the second the polls close right through to the final results being revealed, then there’s a popular city centre venue hosing an ‘all nighter’ watch party event especially for it.
Happening at Cultplex – which is one of Manchester‘s favourite indie cinema venues, tucked away inside GRUB in the Green Quarter – politics fans will want to make sure they get themselves down there from 9:30pm sharp so they can grab a seat ahead of the exit polls and make their way through the many, many hours of crushing and dramatic announcements.
A full bar, a stocked-up supply of snacks, and “monumental amounts of coffee” will be on offer as the results are beamed live in 4k onto the venue’s full-sized cinema screen.
In a bid to try and keep everyone awake during the dull moments, the event will have its very-own host throughout the night, and, apparently, there’s also plenty of audience interaction planned too – including polls to enter, and optional tasks to complete, like putting in letters of ‘no confidence’ in the presenting skills of the BBC’s leading political figure, Laura Kuenssberg.
A Manchester venue to host General Election ‘all nighter’ with results streamed live onto a big screen / Credit: Lauren Hurley | Jessica Taylor (UK PARLIAMENT – via Flickr)
There’ll also be a second screen showing all the memes and ‘hot takes’ from social media too, so you won’t miss a thing.
And if you’re one of the brave souls who’s signed up to count the votes at the nearby AO Arena, then you can grab your first pint for free, if want to swing by the venue after your watch has ended.
Fancy it then? Tickets to Cultplex’s General Election 2024 LIVE are now on sale at a ‘pay-what-you-can’ rate, with a suggested donation of £6, and 100% of all ticket sales will go directly to the Trussell Trust.
Onda – inside Manchester’s most in-demand pasta kitchen as it opens its first restaurant
Daisy Jackson
Onda, the modest pasta kitchen that suddenly got so popular it was almost impossible to reserve a table, has branched out and opened its very first restaurant.
They grow up so fast.
The team behind the restaurant had been operating as a pop-up since spring 2023, first from the Exhibition food hall and then later at New Cross on the edges of Ancoats.
It was here in their second location that Onda suddenly hit the big time and found wildly viral fame, thanks to its tiramisu drawer.
Bookings went absolutely wild, to the point that people were waiting entire seasons to bag a seat.
It makes sense then that they have taken the chance to upscale their operation, and it’s time for Onda to open its very first proper restaurant.
They’ve taken up a unit at Circle Square, where similarly popular neighbours include Federal Cafe Bar.
The space is huge, and flooded with natural light, with an open central kitchen where customers can watch the magic happen.
Inside the new Onda restaurant in Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group
Onda is founded by chef Sam Astley-Dean, who, along with his team, carefully makes all their pasta and pizza dough from scratch daily.
The tiramisu might have sent their popularity sky-high, but the quality and prices here prove that it deserves every bit of success coming its way. This place is not a novelty.
Dishes are reasonably priced and include spagetthi with garlic and breadcrumbs for £9 and pici with pecordino and black pepper for £9.50.
Pasta and pizzetta dishes at Onda in Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group
The menu then goes up to a scallop and Cornish crab agnolloti for a still-very-reasonable £15.
Along with the pasta, there’s a menu of pizzetta, with the option to amp up your crust with a generous showering of parmesan.
And it would be remiss of you to leave this place without having a scoop of their homemade tiramisu, scooped out of that refrigerator drawer that put Onda on the map in the first place.
You can book a table here, or walk-ins will be available from July.
Emily Sergeant -
23rd May 2024 
