I’ve been away so I haven’t had a chance to do my nightly M31 patrols. I did get the 2023 eruption just after it was discovered though:
https://britastro.org/forums/topic/m31n-2008-12a-call-to-arms
so it is definitely available to small telescopes although it does fade very quickly. I’m back home now and it is clear here at the moment.