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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
Stretford’s free neighourhood festival returns this weekend
Danny Jones
Stretford’s still fledgling and completely free all-day festival is BACK for 2026 and is happening this coming weekend.
So, if you didn’t have plans this Saturday, you do now.
Simply named StretFest, this is the third edition of the now annual celebration in one of Manchester’s fastest growing neighbourhoods – and an increasingly up-and-coming one at that.
Kicking off in the morning and running right into the wee small hours thanks to a healthy dose of varied daytime activities, evening events and de facto afterparties, there’s plenty on the cards.
🎉 It's the big one on Saturday! Stretfest is back & we're thrilled to have a fab selection of LIVE Music on from 3pm – 8pm for it!
We can't wait to greet loads of faces, old and new. #Stretford will be buzzing with activity so come on down & make a day of it ! 🍻 pic.twitter.com/16Rnn5w1qj
StretFest only started back in July 2024, but it has quickly grown into a cult favourite not only among locals living in and around the Trafford town, but also among plenty of people from all over Greater Manchester, with last year seeing more visitors than ever.
Based not just over at Stretford Mall but the surrounding parks, Public Hall, across the bridge and an area they dub ‘The Beach’, there are several distinct but equally vibrant hubs, all offering something different.
For instance, venues like Longford Tap, Head Bar and Stretford Canteen are all involved, as are the likes of the Library and Martin Luther Church, but also recently opened cafes like Swig and Cuppello’s, as well as many, many more.
To be honest, we’ll probably be popping over for all the food and drink alone.
And, of course, there’s going to be plenty of live music, DJ sets, other bits of entertainment, and all-around fun to be enjoyed; there’s even going to be everything from arts, crafts and workshops, to pirates and boat rides.
Getting underway from as early 9am – thanks to the likes of the regular Stretford parkrun crew teaming up with the festival, and Mr & Mrs hosting a coffee morning for their first birthday – there really is going to be something for everyone from start to finish.
You can see the full StretFest schedule or build your own personal day-into-night programme HERE.
As for what else is on the cards for the final few days of March (give or take a couple), you can find out what else is on in and around the ten boroughs down below.
Featured Images — Publicity pictures/Adrian Michael (supplied)/The Manc Group
What's On
Embrace announce intimate live show in beloved Bury music venue
Danny Jones
British alternative veterans Embrace have announced another intimate show here in Greater Manchester, only this time it’s over in Bury at a stunning small-cap arts venue.
It’s not often you get to see such a long-standing band play outside of the city centre so far into their career, especially in gorgeous grassroots spaces like this one.
A fellow Northern outfit, they’ve often been lumped in with that ‘post-Britpop’ era of music, and plenty throw around the so-called ‘dad rock’ label, but honestly, we couldn’t care either way: they remain among the UK’s perennially underappreciated underdogs that never get old, as far as we’re concerned.
Revealing a handful of new live dates for their album launch this summer, they’ll be making just two appearances in the North West on the run.
Writing in the post, the group said: “We’ve lined up a run of exclusive UK dates in venues that are some of the smallest we’ve played in years. It’s going to be special, but capacity is extremely limited.”
As you can see, besides the Jacaranda Baltic in Liverpool, the only other place in this region where they’re set to play for this mini tour is The Met over in Bury.
One of the most beautiful gig spots, not just in the town but in all the 10 boroughs, for our money, the room only holds around 400 standing and roughly 250 seats.
For seasoned artists like this lot, who are more used to playing big festival stages and big domestic headline tours – which they’re also doing later this year – it’s sure to be a special night.
Toasting the release of their ninth studio LP, Avalanche, this spin-off on the tried and tested in-store format wouldn’t be possible without the help of local record store, Wax and Beans, who are promoting and hosting the show.
But we can’t lie, there’s something about the idea of seeing them decades on from when they first tightly-packed out crowds of this size.
If you want to be part of the Embrace album launch tour, you can get ready to grab your tickets at 10am this Friday, 27 March, right HERE. And speaking of great record shops…
Danny Jones -
14th March 2023 
