A huge £4.5m Nerf laser combat arena is opening at the Trafford Centre

A brand new Nerf experience is set to open in Greater Manchester incorporating laser guns and virtual reality. 

The new ‘Nerf Action Experience’ is set to open in 25,000 square feet of the Trafford Centre, costing owner’s Hasbro £4.5m.  

The new activity centre will be the first to open in the UK in collaboration with games giant Hasbro and Rocafella Leisure Group.

The news of the plans were revealed via LinkedIn from Phil Smith, Chief Operating Officer of Rocafella.

He wrote “I’m excited to announce that we are launching the UK’s first Nerf Action Experience at the Trafford Centre in early 2021. Taking UK family Entertainment Centres to the next level with the first of its kind. A huge thank you to @hasbro and their dedicated team.”

The applications for the plans reveal that Nerf is ‘a family entertainment leisure experience, incorporating laser guns and virtual interactions and is a market-leading attraction with 20 attractions across Europe’.

Guests can expect a massive space for the attraction spanning three first floor units. There will also be a 4,000 square foot mezzanine for a café and viewing platform.

The attraction is also set to create 50 jobs, according to bosses.

A spokesperson for Barton Square said: “We’re in talks with a number of exciting brands who are looking to open at Barton Square following its transformation last year.

“This is part of plans to build a vibrant retail and leisure destination that our visitors will enjoy.”

The first Nerf Experience in the world opened in 2019 in Singapore which gives us an insight into what to expect from the Manchester site, such as multiple ‘zones’ with a variety of challenges and games split over different themes.