Greater Manchester is set to become home to the UK’s first indoor Nerf activity centre once it opens in just a few weeks time.
It’s been a long time coming, after it was revealed that plans for the new immersive experience were submitted back in 2021, and construction was subsequently put on hold, but it’s now been confirmed that the UK’s – and Europe’s – first official NERF Action Xperience is opening its doors at Trafford Palazzo next month.
A joint venture by Manchester-based leisure group Rocafella Leisure, and entertainment discovery platform Fever, the new NERF Action Xperience is the first of its kind in the continent and is sounding set to one of the region’s best days out for all the family.
UK’s first indoor Nerf activity centre to finally open in Greater Manchester next month / Credit: Supplied
No matter whether you’re a superfan or a NERF newbie, visitors of all ages will get the chance to “live out their ultimate NERF adventures” at the new purpose-built activity centre.
The exciting new attraction will be made up of five different themed arenas.
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The ‘Sports @ NERF AX’ is a dedicated active play zone where players can “get their hearts pumping” with seven different sports-inspired games, while the ‘Training Ground’ is a zone where players can test their NERF blaster skills with eight digital target games, and ‘Chaos City’ is described as being a “post-apocalyptic urban city blaster adventure”.
‘Mission X’ is set to be a cargo bay or marooned spaceship blaster arena, while the final themed arena rounding out the five is ‘Project Stealth’ – a “classified testing bunker blaster” arena.
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The activity centre itself is only half of the experience too, as the new opening will also include the UK’s first dedicated NERF retail store – which will be an 8,000 sq ft shop selling hundreds of NERF products, as well as bespoke NERF AX merchandise.
The exciting new attraction will be made up of five different themed arenas / Credit: Supplied
NERF Action Xperience Greater Manchester will officially open its doors on Friday 25 August.
Trafford Palazzo’s newest addition is the first location in a UK-wide rollout of NERF Action Xperience venues over the next five years, and is creating 50 new jobs – with a recruitment process currently underway, and a number of roles available to apply for.
Tickets will set you back £20 each (including protective goggles), and the waitlist has now gone live if you’re keen to grab them as soon as they go on sale.
Tame Impala announces another HUGE Manchester gig after chart-topping success
Emily Sergeant
Tame Impala has announced another UK and EU tour in 2027 to celebrate recent chart-topping success.
Following sold-out runs across the globe in 2025 and 2026 – including here in Manchester – and currently in the midst of a North American arena tour, Tame Impala has announced a new run of dates for next year – with a mix of headline and festival appearances.
The announcement arrives as Kevin Parker – better known by his project name, Tame Impala – continues an extraordinary run with his latest studio album Deadbeat, released last year.
On Deadbeat, Parker aimed to sculpt a collection of ‘wickedly potent’ club-psych explorations as a vehicle for some of his most direct, ear-wormy songwriting to date.
Tame Impala has announced another huge Manchester gig after chart-topping success / Credit: Julian Klincewicz (Supplied)
After recently being featured in the new Marvel film, Spiderman: Brand New Day, the lead single from the album, ‘Loser’, has just hit number one on the Global Spotify chart.
Not only that, but the remix of the hit song ‘Dracula’, featuring JENNIE, also remains in the top 10 on various global charts, and the original version has also nominated for Best Alternative at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards.
Critics described this most recent run of gigs as ‘one of the best live shows of the year’, so it only makes sense that he’d be back for more.
Kicking off on 28 May 2027 in here in Manchester, Tame Impala will be taking to the Co-op Live stage once again, before heading down to the capital for two nights at The O2 on 1 and 2 June, and then popping over to Paris, Rotterdam, and Cologne to.
Wet Leg will open all headlining dates next year, including here in Manchester.
Tickets go on sale this week, with Co-op Member Presale kicking off at 9am on Wednesday (26 August), followed by General Sale also at 9am on Friday (28 August).
A reimagined dance music celebration is coming to Manchester later this year
Thomas Melia
Get ready to hear some of the biggest anthems in dance music, reimagined and given an orchestral transformation right here in Manchester city centre.
Powerhouse music business Ministry of Sound has been uplifting and promoting dance music through its varied and electric live events for over three decades.
Now, it’s putting an all-new take on all your favourite dancefloor fillers that have been released over the past 30 years with a 31-piece orchestra, a whole team of vocalists and a stacked setlist.
Expect to hear the likes of Fatboy Slim with his huge tune ‘Right Here, Right Now’ alongside Darude’s standout hit ‘Sandstorm’, as performed by a live orchestral arrangement and light production.
After receiving a great reception at major music settings like Gone Wild, The Big Feastival and Silverstone Festival, paired with a sold-out show at the Royal Albert Hall, this all-new live show now visits the music capital of the North.
Of course, it’s only fitting that Manchester gets the chance to experience this innovative twist on classics and anthems, considering the city’s vibrant club contributions like the Madchester scene and legendary music institution the Hacienda.
Now, dance, house and trance spanning the past 30 years come together courtesy of the Ministry of Sound Classical, playing out across UK locations like Brighton, Newcastle and Birmingham, as well as Manchester.
The show is playing out at city-centre gig hotspot O2 Apollo, and is about to teach 3,500 Mancunians dance music history through a dance-meets-orchestra concert like no other.
This live music extravaganza is organised and led by dance music pioneers Ministry of Sound, who developed and defined the 1990s house music scene in London and across the country.
Ministry of Sound Classical is heading to O2 Apollo in Manchester on Friday 18 December with tickets and more information available HERE.
Featured Image – Press Shot (Supplied via Ministry of Sound)
Emily Sergeant -
10th July 2023 
