Mancs will soon be able to run around a life-size Pac-Man maze in a brand new augmented reality experience heading to Manchester soon.
The new Pac-Man Live Experience will come from the same teams behind the smash-hit The Crystal Maze Live, and the popular attraction Chaos Karts, which will close to make room for the new addition.
Based on the iconic video game, the experience will be real life, playable Pac-Man on an epic scale.
Players will step into the role of Pac-People and will navigate through immersive mazes, collecting power pellets and fruit and dodging ghosts as they go.
Whoever can collect the most points will be declared victor.
The experience uses cutting-edge augmented reality technology to bring classic Pac-Man characters and elements into the real-world environment.
There’ll be multiple mazes and up to 12 different levels to explore, including a new bonus game, with these dynamic playgrounds filled with challenges and surprises.
It’ll be accessible for all guests and have an age range between eight and 80.
Little Lion Entertainment has recently acquired The Games Arenas, spaces where exciting and interactive worlds (such as the current Chaos Karts world) can be created.
Up next at the Manchester site, down near the Science and Industry Museum, will be The Pac-Man Live Experience, based on the iconic video game.
It’ll be a chance to chomp your way around a maze, Pac-Man style, like never before.
Chaos Karts will close to make room for the Pac-Man Live Experience in ManchesterChaos Karts will close to make room for the Pac-Man Live Experience in Manchester
The new playable live experience is a collaboration with Bandai Namco Entertainment, the leading global video game publisher behind iconic franchises such as PAC-MAN, TEKKEN, and ELDEN RING.
Tom Lionetti-Maguire, CEO of Little Lion Entertainment, said: “We are ecstatic to collaborate with Bandai Namco Entertainment, the pioneers of one of the most beloved video games in history.
“Their expertise and collaboration in our creative vision have been invaluable in ensuring that our live experience remains authentic to the original game while offering a fresh and thrilling twist in bringing this into a fully playable 360-degree digital world.”
Aadil Tayouga, Licensing & Business Strategy Director at Bandai Namco Europe, said: “This new experience perfectly aligns with PAC-MAN, offering something fun and entertaining that appeals to both children and adults.
“We can’t wait for people to discover this innovative and truly unique experience created by our partner at Little Lion Entertainment, bringing PAC-MAN to a whole new field while staying true to the franchise’s values.”
An official launch date for the Pac-Man Live Experience in Manchester hasn’t yet been announced.
Trafford Centre’s ‘unmissable’ summer fair is returning with a beach, fairground rides, and more
Emily Sergeant
A beach, splash park, fairground rides, and loads more family fun is returning to the Trafford Centre this summer.
After proving to be massively-popular over the past couple of years, with thousands of families travelling from across Greater Manchester and beyond to bask in the sunshine and make the most of all the fun and games, the Trafford Centre is getting ready to welcome back ‘the much-anticipated event of the summer’ in a couple of weeks time.
And this year, the beloved family event has got itself a new family activity zone, and it sounds set to be bigger and better than ever.
The best bit? Tickets will only set you back just £3 each.
A huge fairground, splash park, and beach are returning to Trafford Centre for the summer / Credit: Trafford Centre
Set to open from Saturday 19 July, and run right the way through until the end of August, the family-friendly event will see a massive beach ready for sunbathing and sandcastles pop up outside the shopping centre, alongside a splash park with lots of water jets perfect for cooling you off.
From building sandcastles at the giant beach, to cooling off at the children’s splash park, there’s something for everyone.
Adrenaline junkies both young and old will also get to enjoy retro fairground rides, including ‘Star Flyer’, ‘Sea Storm’, while the event’s in town, as well a giant inflatable area, and loads more.
New for 2025 is the Summer Activity Zone – an undercover tent area complete with free, hands-on crafting activities designed especially for kids.
Each week brings a new theme packed with imagination, colour, and fun, no matter whether it’s rain or shine, so if your little Mancs love painting, baking, building, or experimenting, then you’ll want to take them here to inspire their young minds.
There’s also a wide range of tasty treats available too, including burgers and hotdogs, and for those with a sweet tooth, Cheshire ice cream, Belgian waffles, chocolate covered fruit and marshmallows, and churros.
Trafford Centre’s Summer Fair is popping up outside The Orient, opposite The Great Hall entrance, from Saturday 19 July right through until 31 August, and will be open every day from 12-8pm.
Tickets are now on sale – with pre-booking ‘recommended to avoid disappointment’ – and will set you back just £3 per person if booked in advance (includes booking fee) and £3.50 on the gate, while ride tokens must be purchased separately for £1.
Featured Image – Trafford Centre
What's On
Stage times confirmed for Oasis Live ’25 at Heaton Park in Manchester
Daisy Jackson
Oasis will finally return to Manchester for five massive hometown gigs this week – and stage times for their Heaton Park show have been confirmed.
The Gallagher brothers have already reunited for two gigs in Cardiff ahead of their Manchester shows.
Oasis will be performing in Heaton Park on 11, 12, 16, 19 and 20 of July, with support from long-time friends Richard Ashcroft and Cast.
With about 80,000 people expected to flock to the fields for the Oasis Live ’25 shows, there’s a lot of planning going on behind the scenes.
And the stage times for the Oasis Manchester gigs have just been confirmed by the band.
Oasis will be taking to the stage at 8.15pm, and with a 10.30pm curfew, that’s around two hours of glorious Gallagher hits.
Gates to Heaton Park open at 3pm and organisers are expecting large crowds – they’re encouraging fans to allow plenty of time for travel and arrive early.
As a reminder, there are shuttle buses running directly from Lever Street to Heaton Park from 1.30pm, but these are almost sold out.
You can also get tickets for Big Green Coach here, or use trams from Victoria Station up to the venue.
Confirmed stage times for Oasis at Heaton Park, Manchester
Daisy Jackson -
1st October 2024 
