Tucked inside an industrial warehouse in Manchester is a tiny dog-friendly cinema that gives its canine viewers ‘pawpcorn’ and other doggie chews and treats.
The 36-seat mini cinema at Ducie Street claims to be the world’s first dog-friendly cinema – and even has dedicated screenings on Monday night where they show dog-friendly films like Bolt, Lady and the Tramp, and Homeward Bound.
It has also recently partnered with premium pet supply store Dig Shop Manchester, which has not long opened in Manchester’s northern quarter selling dogs accessories, toys, healthy treats, and more.
Image: Dog Shop MCR
Image: Dog Shop MCR
This means that, for the first time, dog owners can actually reserve a specially curated hamper worth £25 from the good people at Dog Shop Manchester when visiting Native Manchester.
Dogs, the hotel maintains, are their most favoured guests.
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Image: Dog Shop MCR
Comprised of two meat treat packs supplied by Hugo & Co, a biscuit pack from Lola’s Little Bakery, a roll of compostable poo bags supplied by Fetch it, one paw cleanser with cloth, and one small soft toy or ball, the doggy hamper comes filled with everything you need to make your pooch feel like the poshest dog in town.
The team has also hand-picked their favourite dog treats from independent brands to be available at the Counter, on Ducie Street’s ground floor.
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These can be purchased directly and taken into the cinema with your pup – unlike the hampers (£25), which need to be booked as part of a hotel stay.
On Monday nights, the mini boutique cinema screenings have lower sounds and are more well-lit in order to take into account dogs’ sensitive hearing and make them as comfortable as possible.
Special doggy screenings coming up includeWes Anderson’s Isle of Dogs, Christopher Guest‘s Best In Show, and Chris Sanders’ The Call of the Wild.
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Housed inside Ducie Street Warehouse, dogs are welcome throughout the building – not just in the cinema, but also in the adjoining aparthotel Native, terrace, restaurant, lounge, and bar.
To find out more about the Manchester dog-friendly cinema and its Monday night pawpcorn screenings, click here.
Manchester’s legendary Dragon Parade returns next month to celebrate Chinese New Year 2026
Emily Sergeant
Manchester’s legendary Dragon Parade will make its way through the city centre once again next month.
As Manchester gets ready to celebrate Chinese New Year 2026 – which officially begins on Tuesday 17 February and runs through to Tuesday 3 March – and mark the ‘Year of the Horse’, the iconic Dragon Parade will be making its grand return to the streets of our city centre, and bringing a spectacular show of colour and light along with it.
In case you’re unfamiliar with what the Dragon Parade is all about, it’s the focal point of the city’s annual Lunar New Year celebrations – and it’s a real spectacle, to say the least.
The parade is known for attracting thousands of visitors from all across the region each year.
Manchester’s legendary Dragon Parade returns next month to celebrate Chinese New Year 2026 / Credit: Chinese NY Manchester (via X)
Celebrations officially kick off on Saturday 14 February this year, and as the headline of the festivities, the popular parade is set to take place the day after (Sunday 15 February).
Once again, organisers are expecting visitors in their thousands to turn out and watch as the famous 175ft Chinese dragon weaves its way through the city’s main shopping streets.
Official timings and plans for the parade are yet to be announced by the Council, but if previous years are anything to go by, it’ll likely kick off from around midday, starting on the junction of Oxford Street and George Street, and then make its way along Portland Street before concluding in Chinatown for a final performance on Princess Street.
Chinese New Year festivities will take place over a full weekend / Credit: Chinese NY Manchester (via X)
There’ll also be even more cultural celebrations and activities to get involved with throughout Lunar New Year over in Manchester’s popular Chinatown – with live stage performances, traditional lion and dragon dances, and loads of stalls serving up tasty and authentic street food.
And to top it all off, we’ll also soon see the return of Manchester’s famous traditional red lanterns dotted up above all around town too, adding colour to dark winter days.
As always, this year’s celebrations have been organised by the Federation of Chinese Associations of Manchester (FCAM), in partnership with Manchester Business Improvement District (BID) and Manchester City Council.
Featured Image – Chinese NY Manchester (via X) / CityCo
What's On
Chester Zoo announces new spring date for its popular running event to help UK wildlife
Emily Sergeant
Chester Zoo has announced that its popular Run For Nature is back again this year, and this time, there’s a new spring edition.
The UK’s biggest charity zoo seen success with this event in the past few years, with thousands of runners signing up for one of the North West’s most unique athletic experiences and all funds raised going towards efforts to protect highly-endangered giraffes in Africa.
This year though, the much-loved event’s focus brings conservation ‘a little closer to home’ and will protect some of the UK’s most threatened species instead – with all funds helping to safeguard hedgehogs, kingfishers, otters, harvest mice, and more.
It comes as the UK is currently considered one of the most nature-depleted countries on Earth.
Participants will first get to wind through the zoo and enjoy glimpses of elephants, lemurs, and other incredible species along the way, before heading out into the picturesque Cheshire countryside.
Adults can choose from a 10K or 5K route, while younger runners are invited to take part in a one-mile ‘Zoom’ race, open to children aged four-15, which takes place entirely within the zoo’s incredible 130-acre grounds.
All runners will receive free entry to the zoo for the rest of the day as part of their registration, along with a 25% discount for friends and family who come along to show support.
Chester Zoo’s popular 10K charity run is returns with a new spring date / Credit: Chester Zoo
Lorraine Jubb, who is the Fundraising Lead at Chester Zoo, called the Run For Nature a ‘really special event’.
“In previous years, runners have already supported conservation efforts for Asian elephants, Eastern black rhinos and Northern giraffe,” she explained. This springtime though, we’re turning our attention much closer to home in the UK, and to the wildlife we share our gardens, parks and countryside with.
“With one in six species now at risk of extinction in the UK, every runner will be playing a vital role in helping us protect animals and supporting our growing nature recovery work across right across Cheshire.
Georgina Pellant -
5th November 2021 
