Soft play areas for kids are finally allowed to reopen their doors following months of lockdown restrictions.
But it's not just tiny tots who are being welcomed back at Pipsqueaks Play Cafe in Wigan, after its boss announced that dogs will be allowed to come indoors too.
Staff have created a dog-friendly space inside the centre's cafe, which means furry friends won't be left out of the fun.
Advert
While the little ones are splashing around in the ball pit, parents can chill out with them.
Sadly, however, your canine buddy won't be allowed to enter the children's play area - not yet anyway.
Speaking to the Manchester Evening News about the initiative, which first launched last year, the centre's owner Wendy Unsworth said: "This is totally separate from the soft play. 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 - lots of people don't want to leave their dogs or would need to arrange for someone to pop in and check on them.
"It's not just for puppies either - we had some older dogs in September who don't walk much now and their owners said it was perfect socialisation for them too.
Advert
"We like to think of Pips 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."
Adding: "The cafe part now always has a dog-friendly seating area, except for a couple of times a week when classes are taking place in there.
"It's ace because we get some new mums and dads bringing their babies to our baby play - which is in the cafe part - and they can bring their dog too.
"One chills with the dog, one takes the baby to play, then they all sit together for lunch.
"It's the same with grandparents bringing their dogs - it's so cute. Some of the grandparents wouldn't have come if they couldn't bring the dog so it's definitely helping families get together."
Advert
But while they're not allowed in the soft play area yet, Wendy says dog-friendly sessions could be on the horizon.
She said: "The next idea is that before we next have a professional deep clean, we will hand the centre over to the dogs for a play session.
"Apparently swimming pools do it before they are emptied and refilled and also Chill Factore before they replace all their equipment. The dogs would love it."
Featured Image Credit: Pipsqueaks Play CafeTopics: lockdown, Coronavirus, Greater Manchester, Dogs