Dua Lipa leads the stars at Warner Music’s poodle‑themed BRITs afterparty in Manchester

dua lipa attended the Warner Music & Hennessy BRIT Awards afterparty at Cut and Craft in Manchester on Saturday, February 28, after making a surprise performance at the nearby Co‑op Live Arena; the lavish event combined a five‑metre poodle installation and immersive club production with sets from high‑profile DJs. dua lipa, who is 30, led a guest list that included household names and industry figures as Warner celebrated the BRITs moving to Manchester for the first time in its 46‑year history.

Dua Lipa at Cut and Craft

Dua Lipa arrived at the Cut and Craft afterparty the same night she surprised the crowd at Co‑op Live Arena; she wore a sculpted black corset and figure‑hugging skirt, diamond chandelier earrings and matching bracelets, and finished the look with glam make‑up. On the decks during the evening were Groove Armada, G2, dua lipa’s brother Gjin Lipa with Tommy Gold, and Romeo Beckham’s DJ girlfriend Kim Turnbull, who also DJed despite attending the party without David and Victoria Beckham’s second eldest son and was noted carrying a Chanel handbag.

Train to Manchester and the early arrivals

Warner’s celebrations began hours before the ceremony, with guests boarding the British Pullman train from London Euston to Manchester Piccadilly to arrive in time for the BRITs. Passengers on that journey included Beth Ditto, Geri Halliwell’s daughter Bluebell Horner, Nick Grimshaw, Jaime Winston and Lennon Gallagher, who later soaked up the atmosphere at Cut and Craft alongside his girlfriend Isobel Richmond.

Mark Ronson’s medley, Amy Winehouse tribute and surprise guests

At the BRIT Awards ceremony on February 28, Mark Ronson was honoured with the Outstanding Contribution to Music award and delivered a career‑spanning performance that began with Ghostface Killah for the 2003 hit "Ooh Wee. " Ronson reflected on meeting Amy Winehouse — recounting how she approached his New York studio and, as he told the crowd, said "I thought you were an old guy with a beard" — and said that the night they wrote "Back To Black" changed his life. He paid tribute to Winehouse with "Back To Black" and invited the Dap‑Kings on stage for "Valerie. " Dua Lipa made a surprise appearance to perform "Dance The Night" from the Barbie soundtrack and the single "Electricity. " Ronson’s catalogue includes hits such as "Uptown Funk" and "Nothing Breaks Like A Heart, " and his honours include two BRIT Awards, nine Grammys and an Academy Award and Golden Globe for co‑writing "Shallow. "

Decor, robots and a poodle parlour inside a Grade II* banking hall

Cut and Craft on Mosley Street, located in a Grade II* listed former banking hall, was transformed into a 24 Hour Poodles Party with a five‑metre‑tall poodle installation at the entrance, oversized poodle inflatables, marble finishes, glam bots and a specially installed poodle‑motif carpet. Archival images of cultural icons with their dogs — including Davie Bowie and Winston Churchill — lined parts of the venue. Warner partnered with 1X to bring humanoid robots to greet guests and dance on the red carpet, while the sound and production included L‑Acoustics design and immersive lighting and laser displays. The bar poured Champagne and bespoke Hennessy cocktails, and guests had access to Hennessy Paradis, the Henny‑Rita, Hennessy X. O Espresso Martinis, Hennessy Iced Tea, Manchester‑inspired canapés and an illuminated bottle display.

Who was there and what happened at the BRITs

The afterparty guest list ran long: Gene Gallagher, Vogue Williams (who changed out of a bright yellow gown into a plunging satin corset and lace skirt), Cush Jumbo, Archie Madekwe, Munya Chawawa, AJ Odudu (who wore a bejewelled bodice), Bez and his sons Arlo and Jack of Manchester collective Suns of Acid, Megan McKenna, Kojey Radical, Celeste, Jamie Laing, Beth Ditto, Ms. Banks, Talia Storm, Montana Brown, Sheila Atim, Amber‑Rose Gill, Barry Can't Swim, Corinna Brown, Nick Grimshaw, Rachel Chinouriri, Daniel W. Fletcher, Tinea Taylor, James Blunt, Corbin Shaw and Damian Hurley. Groove Armada and Kim Turnbull each took turns on the decks, while Suns of Acid hosted a hedonistic basement takeover. The BRIT Awards ceremony itself featured performances from Harry Styles, Olivia Dean and Mark Ronson, with appearances from Bjork alongside Rosalía, HUNTR/X’s EJAE, Audrey Nuna and REI AMI, Wolf Alice, Alex Warren, Sombr and RAYE; Jack Whitehall hosted for the sixth time.