Beloved music store Mars Tapes relocates within Afflecks with bigger cassette shop and listening café

Following seven years of steady growth, Manchester’s cult cassette retailer Mars Tapes – known as the last cassette shop in the UK – is upsizing to a much larger unit inside Afflecks Palace.

This month, the independent shop has moved to one of the biggest units on the first floor of the Northern Quarter landmark, marking its third expansion to date. The new space allows for an extended range of cassette displays, more vintage audio equipment and the introduction of a listening café, where visitors can grab a coffee and enjoy a vast array of classic tapes.

To celebrate the move, Mars Tapes will host a weekend of in-store events on Fri 7 – Sat 8 Mar. Saturday will see a live performance from rising Glasgow band Cowboy Hunters, who will also be releasing a new EP on cassette via Sour Grapes Records, while Sunday’s programme will feature Manchester music mainstay Dave Haslam, who’ll take to the decks for a DJ set inside the shop.

Across both days, musician and artist Horace Panter – a founding member of The Specials – will be exhibiting his cassette themed artwork, rounding out an eclectic celebration of physical music culture and DIY spirit.

The celebrations will also include in-store offers on cassette releases and merchandise, alongside food and drinks served in the new café space.