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A ‘battle bar’ where you can throw axes and play digital darts is opening in Manchester

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 10th June 2022

A new competitive gaming experience is opening in Manchester next week.

Boom Battle Bar will offer axe-throwing, augmented reality darts, and plenty of other activities at its new home in the Printworks.

With bookings now open, the newcomer will be taking over the former short-lived Lazy Lizard nightclub.

The UK-first Boom Battle Bar will span 10,000 sq ft, complete with a premium bar and food offering.

Augmented reality darts are coming to the Printworks. Credit: Supplied

Inside, you’ll find augmented reality darts, where state-of-the-art technology has been used to create different game modes to the pub classic past-time.

Then there are two axe-throwing lanes, again enhanced with digital technology – though it goes without saying that you can’t pick up an axe if you’ve had any alcohol.

In contrast, alcohol is a prerequisite for one of the other activities. A pair of beer pong tables will be available to book in 45-minute blocks.

The new venue will include Shuffleboard. Credit: Supplied

There’s also American pool tables, shuffleboard, arcade games, and SINGA-powered karaoke booths.

A street food-style menu will include chicken tenders and nachos, while the bar will serve Battleground-themed cocktails like the Long Island Iced Tee, a Tiki-inspired Ship Faced, and an Axepresso Martini.

Read more: The Killers at Emirates Old Trafford Manchester – tickets, support, setlist and more

Boom Battle Bar CEO Richard Harpham said: “We’re delighted to be opening bookings for our epic-new Manchester venue.

“Spanning across multiple levels and packed full of our most sort after games including axe throwing, augmented reality darts and karaoke booths which fit up to 15 people, we just know the people of Manchester are going to love this venue and the ultimate competitive thrill BOOM has to offer.”

Boom Battle Bar will open on 17 June – bookings are now open here.

Featured image: Boom Battle Bar

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Local LGBTQIA+ football team Manchester Laces are set to play in the FA Cup for the first time ever

Danny Jones Danny Jones Manchester Laces playing in Women's FA Cup for the first-time ever

Inclusive football team Manchester Laces are set to break even more new ground are they prepare to compete in the Adobe Women’s FA Cup for the first time ever.

What a truly incredible few years it’s been for the club.

Set to play their maiden match in the female division of the sport’s oldest competition this weekend, Manchester Laces’ Yellows squad will be taking on rival Greater Manchester Women’s Football League (GMWFL) side, Northwich Victoria, in another historic milestone for the local outfit.

Announced last month, the game is now fast approaching, and they’re hoping that plenty of Manc natives will turn up in support.

For anyone unfamiliar with the story, Manchester Laces has grown to become the leading women’s, non-binary and LGBTQIA+ positive sporting bodies in the region.

In fact, as part of a wider family – which includes clubs in Hackney, South London and Limehouse Laces, not to mention players over in Canada too – they’re comfortably one of the biggest in the entire country.

Sticking with MCR Laces alone, founded by Helen Hardy, they have grown so much in reputation and size that they have six different teams besides just the Yellows: the other Manchester squads include the Blues, Greens, Oranges, Purples, as well as the budding new Reds and Blacks.

It’s this kind of impressive expansion and, crucially, representation that has seen them win two Football v Homophobia Awards and Grassroots Initiative of the Year back in 2023.

Side-note: they also happen to have one of our favourite fooy kits of the entire year so far…

Boasting a new regular stadium at Timpson Road and set to take part not only in the North West Women’s Regional Football League (NWWFL)/GMWFL, but now FA Cup and county cup games, 2025 could be their most momentous year yet.

Providing access to countless women and people from within the queer and non-binary community who love the beautiful game and may have otherwise struggled to find an outlet, their work has been crucial in and around Greater Manchester.

With that in mind, taking part in an inaugural run within the prestigious knockout tournament feels like yet another watershed moment for the organisation.

Speaking ahead of the fixture, the club wrote on social media: “In 2021, we started our journey in Div 2 of the GMWFL with the aim of creating an inclusive and welcoming space for all. After winning consecutive league titles and earning back-to-back promotions, we are now a Tier 6 team.

“Yellows are delighted to be stepping into the magic of the FA Cup for the very first time, and we would love to see you there!

Taking place at both Wythenshawe Town FC’s and the Yellows’ own new home ground of Ericstan Park on Sunday, 7 September (2pm KO), we wish them the best of luck.

Manchester Laces: the non-binary football club leading the charge on inclusivity in sport
Tickets for Manchester Laces’ debut FA Cup game are just £2 and can be purchased on entry

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Featured Images — Wythenshawe Town FC/Manchester Laces (via Instagram/Facebook)

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The Last Dinner Party have announced a huge 35-date tour, including a big Manchester gig

Danny Jones Danny Jones The Last Dinner Party Manchester tickets 2025

Multi-award-winning indie and alternative rock band, The Last Dinner Party, have just announced what is set to be one of their biggest globe-trotting tours ever, with a momentous Manchester gig included on the UK run.

The much-celebrated five-piece have revealed their latest run of shows will span the UK, Ireland, mainland Europe, Australia AND New Zealand, confirming a total of 35 live dates.

After coming somewhat under fire in 2024 following a series of cancelled concerts, the Londoners have responded in the best way possible: by putting their money where their mouth is and coming back with a bang ahead of their highly anticipated sophomore release.

We have every faith they’ll have the stamina to fulfil their live commitments this time around, and you best believe we’ll be going for tickets.

TLDP2

Speaking in the build-up to the release of the second album, From The Pyre – which is set to drop on 17 October – the band said of their latest material: “This record is a collection of stories, and the concept of album-as-mythos binds them.

‘The Pyre‘ itself is an allegorical place in which these tales originate, a place of violence and destruction but also regeneration, passion and light. The songs are character-driven but still deeply personal, a commonplace life event pushed to a pathological extreme.

“Being ghosted becomes a Western dance with a killer, and heartbreak laughs into the face of the apocalypse. Lyrics invoke rifles, scythes, sailors, saints, cowboys, floods, Mother Earth, Joan of Arc, and blazing infernos. We found this kind of evocative imagery to be the most honest and truthful way to discuss the way our experiences felt, giving each the emotional weight it deserves.”

Going on to describe the follow-up to their seminal debut, Prelude to Ecstasy (which saw them sweep up multiple BRIT and NME Awards, as well as a Mercury Prize nomination), as “darker, more raw and more earthy”, you’re definitely in for a heavily intellectualised experience with this one.

Their performances are certainly much more than a group of musicians getting up on stage too; having seen them last October ourselves, the LGBTQ+ icons definitely revel in the artistic expression of a live show, and have been praised for celebrating the female queer gaze too.

The Last Dinner Party aren’t ‘industry plants’, they just got real good real quick – Victoria Warehouse, Manchester

The Last Dinner Party UK tour dates

As you can see in the social post shared by the band, they’re about to have a very busy end to 2025, plus plenty of travelling in the new year, but for now, you can see The Last Dinner Party’s upcoming UK tour dates in full down below:

  • 14 November – 3Arena, Dublin
  • 17 November – Corn Exchange, Edinburgh
  • 20 November – O2 City Hall, Newcastle
  • 23 November – Bridlington Spa, Bridlington
  • 26 November – Aviva Studios, Manchester
  • 29 November – The Civic Hall, Wolverhampton
  • 30 November – The Prospect Building, Bristol
  • 2 December – Utilita Arena, Cardiff
  • 4 December – Plymouth Pavilions, Plymouth
  • 5 December – Brighton Centre, Brighton
  • 7 December – O2 Academy Brixton, London
  • 8 December – O2 Academy Brixton, London

Yes, set to visit Aviva Studios – a.k.a. the home of Greater Manchester’s ever-growing artistic hub – for the very first time, we couldn’t think of a more fitting act to play the stunning dynamic space.

General admission for The Last Dinner Party tour goes live from 10am GMT on Friday, 12 September, but fans who pre-order the album can gain early access.

You can get ready to grab your tickets right HERE.

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For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Press shots (supplied)/The Manc Group

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