Like go-karting and Mario Kart? Sorry, daft question, course you do — let’s try that again: are you free to do both at the same time this September?You better hope you are.
There are plenty of go-karting places in and around Greater Manchester and virtual reality is becoming increasingly popular throughout the UK, but you won’t find many places that combine the two. In fact, there’s only two places you can find it in the whole country and Manchester is about to be one of them.
Chaos Karts is the novel new concept that combines go-karting with VR to create the first live-action video game, bringing real-life racing into the world of augmented reality for a truly unique day out.
Having first popped up in Shoreditch, London for a limited time only and arriving in 0161 on 1 September 2023, the crazy, high-tech experience is about to take the karting, gaming and VR worlds by storm.
Engineered by The Ents Inc, Chaos Karts is an innovative take on go-karting that offers a potentially infinite number of circuits in a digitally projected world, with each driver’s vehicle interacting with the virtual track as well as battling with rival racers.
Setting up in the old Granada Studios on Lower Byron Street, the all-new attraction throws players into a virtual world not unlike what you’d see in a game of Mario Kart, only as well as competing in the game you’ll actually be racing against friends, family, colleagues and whoever dares to take you on.
As there are no physical obstacles on the track and the likes of anti-collision technology, helmets and driving suits aren’t required, Chaos Karts uses state-of-the-art technology to produce real-life sensations and reactions and ensure players stay immersed for the duration of the dynamic race.
Each race varies in design, complete with pumping music and ground-breaking in-game power-ups and weapons so you can get an edge over the competition as you all sprint to the finish. We can neither confirm nor deny that blue shells are involved but the same spirit is still very much present.
This action-packed experience is available for everyone aged nine and promises to transport players to a completely different technicolour world as they race around the arena to win points, races and, of course, bragging rights.
Created by founder and CEO Tom Lionetti-Maguire — the same man behind Little Lion Entertainment’s The Crystal Maze & London’s Tomb Raider Experiences — the Chaos Karts brand is even going global, with the franchise’s first international site popping up in Dubai later this year too.
With early bird tickets on sale now and starting from just £15 per person, you won’t want to miss out on this one. Get yourself booked in for Friday, 1 September HERE.
A huge record fair is coming to Manchester city centre this bank holiday
Thomas Melia
There’s a record fair making its way to Manchester next weekend, and it’s taking over one of Manchester’s iconic live music venues.
Record lovers and music fanatics this one’s for you.
Whether you’re after growing your own record collection back home, or showing off your DJ skills, this event has everything you could ever ask for.
The Very Good Plus record fair is arriving in Manchester city centre, and it’s coming to none other than independent live music venue, New Century.
You’ll be able to browse through some of the best vinyl in the region and hopefully spot some releases by some of your musical icons.
There’s even family-friendly stations which give little ones and grown-ups alike the chance to try their hand at making and designing their own record sleeve, as well as getting stuck in with a screen-printing workshop.
A record fair event is taking place at Manchester music venue New Century and NOMA this bank holiday / Credit: The Manc Group
If you cant find any LPs you’re after, you’ll definitely find a caffeinated drink or two at Sadler’s Yard and even have a go at creating your own track on the open decks.
There will be a variety of food and drink options, as well as some food for the soul too, thanks to an array of DJ sets running until the evening courtesy of Ded Luvly on a Pulp Coffee sound system.
Live music lovers can rejoice as just for this record fair event, they’ll be able to roam around this huge gig space and if you head downstairs there’ll be a DJ workshop and sound system experience taking place.
This music-oriented event is a collaboration between iconic music venue New Century, city centre neighbourhood NOMA, and DJ and music aficionado, Living Room Dance Club.
So get ready to dig through the crates, create a few demos of your own, design an album cover or two and enrich yourself in all things music because this event has it all.
The Very Good Plus record fair is coming to NOMA and New Century in Manchester on Saturday 23 August from 11am until 6pm, and it’s completely free – apart from all the money you spend on some good quality vinyl, of course.
Featured Images – Jamakassi via Unsplash/ Phillip Blocker via Unsplash
What's On
A mobile Manc cocktail bar is rolling into a thriving new Greater Manchester neighbourhood
Danny Jones
Greater Manchester has plenty of up-and-coming areas both here in the city centre and out in the boroughs, and one of those – Middlewood Locks over in Salford – is about to be treated to its own mobile cocktail bar.
You’ve got to love a Manc-born and bred independent business.
The canalside New Makers Yards apartments on Middlewood Locks are some of the most desirable new homes and flats you’ll find on the outskirts of the city, but with their on-site Seven Brothers pub sadly closing earlier this year, it is lacking one key thing: somewhere to drink.
However, with Cocktail Cartel MCR rolling into town for National Rum Day, residents can get a taste of, hopefully, what’s more to come.
Cocktail Cartel is a brand new, completely independent mobile bar that’s already starting to take the events industry by storm.
Serving unique and innovative creations (including plenty involving Captain Jack’s go-to tipple), they’ll be slinging cocktails to the New Makers Yards natives along the stunning and ever-thriving Middlewood Locks this month.
Created by Katie and Erik, who have been working in Manchester’s hospitality scene for nearly 20 years combined, these two have a passion for supporting fellow local indies and bringing amazing drinks to the table wherever the opportunity presents itself.
From their ‘Grown Up Coke Float’, which has all the punch of a classic Long Island Iced Tea only with a scoop of toffee ice cream, chocolate sauce and sprinkles thrown in there, to a Pedro Pascal-inspired tequila numbers (yes, really), they have a lot of fun behind that bar.
Better still, most of their spirits are coming from local legends, Spirit of Manchester, and for this particular upcoming event, it wouldn’t be right to host National Rum Day in 0161’s second city without a gorgeous bit of Salford Rum.
But it doesn’t stop at just cocktails; the Cartel will also be pouring pints from nearby Track Brewery among various other regional favourites.
Once again, they’ll be popping up at New Makers Yard on Saturday, 16 August from noon onwards, promising rum, cocktails, beer, wine, cider and softies – so let’s just hope we get plenty of sun for it.
Keep an eye on their socials for how you might be able to grab some freebies also…
If you visited the most recent edition of Middlewood Locks Fest, you know this place is buzzing when the weather hits just right and the drinks are flowing. See you there.
Danny Jones -
14th March 2023 
