What's On
A Wizard’s Cocktail Festival has magically appeared in Manchester
The Manc -
26th February 2020 
The Manc -
26th February 2020
What's On
The top nerdy places in Manchester to get your geek on
Dean Hadcock
There are so many different types of nerds. From comic and manga readers, to the tabletop players, to lovers of video and arcade games.
So even if you’re DC or Marvel, in Manchester there’s a bit of something for everyone.
We’ve rounded up everything from board game cafes to comic book shops to arcade bars.
Whether you’re looking to buy or play, here are some of the nerdiest places you NEED to check out in Manchester.
Forbidden Planet
This place is like the Big Tescos for nerds. It’s your one-stop shop for everything geeky.
ADVERTISEMENT
Upstairs has everything like pop funks, figurines, collectables and fun merch from your favourite shows and games.
Downstairs is where the magic happens, and if you’re looking to get into comics or manga, this is the place to be. It’s got all the classics you’d expect with, of course, the brand-new comic releases.
ADVERTISEMENT
Travelling Man
This Dale Street shop is like the previous but with a smaller, independent feel and is always a lovely shop to browse in.
It’s our personal favourite and it’s got all you need including comics, manga and loads of tabletop games to browse and purchase.
Fan Boy Three
Looking for people to play board games with? This is the place to go. It was voted the UK’s favourite board game store in 2019.
You can join D&D and Warhammer games or just nip in for a browse, just try not to end up spending copious amounts of money on a new Warhammer army.
Afflecks
This gigantic shopping emporium is the home of all things alt, but there are also plenty of shops inside to get your geek on.
Here are just a few standouts. There’s Card Empire specialising in Yu-Gi-Oh and Pokemon Cards. The Animaid Cafe for lovers of all things kawaii. And we couldn’t forget Star Wars Man on the third floor with his huge collection of nostalgic TV and film collectables.
NQ64
Now if you’re looking to play instead of buy, the next three will be right up your street. Starting with NQ64, specifically the massive new site in the Northern Quarter.
They’ve got loads of classic arcade machines, themed cocktails and grub for when you get the mid-gaming munchies. We highly recommend playing Ice Cold Beer and beating our high score of 7 (trust us it’s hard).
Pixel Bar
Fancy something less retro and more modern? Try Pixel Bar, which is open past midnight every day.
If you want to grab some mates and have a couple of drinks while you crush them on games like Smash, Fifa or Tony Hawk, this is the place to be.
Bury Arcade Club
This place is the Mecca of all things arcade. It’s a multi-level video arcade featuring classic and modern games.
The best thing about it is you pay one standard fee (under £20) and you get to play everything inside for free and as much as you want.
The downside is Bury is a bit of a trek from the city centre and you’ll probably have to drive to get there.
Read more
- The UK’s largest thrift market is at Manchester’s Victoria Baths this weekend
- Manchester’s new vintage shop where designer labels cost less than £20
- The new restaurants and bars opening in Manchester this month | October 2023
Featured image: The Manc Group
What's On
Busted at Manchester’s AO Arena — tickets, support acts, stage times and more
Danny Jones
Guys, we don’t know if you heard but Busted are back on tour— or, more accurately, back on top and they’re bringing all the hits and unparalleled energy levels to Manchester’s AO Arena for a second night in less than a week.
The Busted boys played an initial sold-out show last weekend but had to add a second Manchester date due to the massive demand and although they received rave reviews the first time around, it might as well have been a warm-up for the main event which is already shaping up to be a belter.
With some seriously good supports, another soon-to-sell-out crowd of 20,000+ and the trio now having had a ridiculously good practice run only a few days ago, Busted at the AO Arena night two is going to be insane.
That being said, here’s everything you need to know about their 20th-anniversary tour date and greatest hits show.
Are there tickets left for Busted in Manchester?
If you’re still scrambling around in the hope of getting a last-minute ticket to hear the likes of ‘Year 3000’ and ‘What I Go to School For’ live, you’re in luck: there’s still a very small handful of tickets to be snapped up if you’re quick enough.
There are still a few seats floating about, ranging from £42.50 to £53.50 on Ticketmaster, and you can obviously splurge on the AO Arena’s Champagne Experiences in the Electric Lounge if you fancy it.
As always, if you end up missing out you can also check out resale sites like Twickets and TicketSwap, we advise steering clear from ticket touts at all costs.
Support acts
Busted have brought some truly great support acts along with them this time, including 90s and 2000s US pop favourites, Hanson — remember them?
As well as the equally iconic trio, Manc pop band New Hope Club are playing the home crowd too. Go on the local lads!
Throwing together some of the era’s most iconic pop-rock together with another three-piece from the modern generation, you’re getting a proper value-for-money and for-all-ages show this Saturday.
Busted stage times for AO Arena night two
As for when you can expect to see each of these fantastic acts take the stage, doors will open from 6pm and New Hope Club will be getting things started at 7:30pm.
Finishing a quickfire set just a few minutes before Hanson, the American throwback best-known for ‘MMMBop’ with be playing from 8pm until 8:30pm — and you might even have a surprise in store. We’re saying nothing else…
Then, at 9pm, the main event gets underway with Busted set to play up until curfew around 11pm and we literally can’t wait.
20th Anniversary and Greatest Hits setlist
Thanks to the ever-reliable Setlist.fm (and the fact we already had multiple members of The Manc office go along to the first night), we even know what they’ll be playing:
- Air Hostess
- Meet You There
- Loser Kid
- You Said No
- Everything I Knew
- MMMBop (Hanson cover)
- Sleeping With the Light On
- Good One
- What I Go to School For
- Who’s David
- Falling for You
- Thunderbirds Are Go
- She Wants to Be Me
- 3am
- Crashed the Wedding
Encore
- Video (Brit Awards 2004)
- Teenage Kicks (The Undertones cover)
- Interlude
- Year 3000
All the hits — what more could you ask for? Oh yeah, and did we mention they’re number one!?
Read more:
- Take That ticket prices labelled ‘crazy’ as band add fifth Manchester date
- Chase and Status announce UK tour with just three dates — and one of them is Manchester
- The Chemical Brothers on new arena tour, forming in MCR and how the city influenced them
It’s going to be another great night at the Arena, we just know it, no matter where you end up.
And, seriously, if you can afford it don’t sleep on the VIP experience — it’s worth every penny and perfect for a special occasion.
We recently went along to try ourselves for this year’s Davis Cup and it was a brilliant experience.
For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.
Featured Image — Busted/@chazzadnitt (via Instagram)
More What's On
Audio
Clint Boon takes us around Manchester's iconic Deaf Institute
Eats