Happy Shopper shops

Looking back at our visits to Happy Shopper shops since 2020.

A Happy Shopper shop sign in Ormesby St Margaret, Norfolk

We felt very nostalgic during the coronavirus pandemic and one of the old brands from our childhood we thought about was 'Happy Shopper' - the name alone conjures up images of the 1980's.

A sign at the Pleasant News Happy Shopper in Wisbech (2021)

Emily's first job was at a Happy Shopper in Ipswich and I remember seeing the Happy Shopper shops and branded products a lot when I was growing up in Oxfordshire back in the 1980's and 1990's.

We didn't think there would be many - or any - of the original orange and yellow branded shops still around, but we were proven wrong when we saw one in Preston in September 2020.

A Happy Shopper shop in Preston

Visiting a fully branded Happy Shopper shop is like stepping back in time

The Happy Shopper branding was changed in the year 2000 and I think it lost a lot of its charm and individuality. Many of the former Happy Shopper shops have since been rebranded as Premier shops.

You could still see the 'newer' Happy Shopper branding on Pleasant News in Wisbech in 2021

The shelves inside the store were still the classic orange and yellow design

Since spotting the old shop in Preston we've been lucky enough to spot and snap a few more.

The Happy Shopper on Page Hall Road in Sheffield in 2020

Here's a list of posts about other Happy Shopper shops in:

• Preston
• Sheffield (Sharrow Lane)
• Sheffield (Page Hall Road)
• Ilkeston
• Hitchin
• Fallowfield, Manchester
• Ashwellthorpe
• Ormesby St Margaret
• Lowestoft (2011)
• Lowestoft (2021)
• Wisbech
• Sittingbourne
• Burton-on-Trent 1
• Burton-on-Trent 2

At the Happy Shopper shop on Chaucer Road in Sittingbourne

You can view my YouTube Playlist of Happy Shopper shop videos here.

Putt Putt Social Crazy Golf Tournament in Norwich

A Crazy Golf tournament is being held at Putt Putt Social in Norwich on Friday 17th May.

The team event will be contested at the indoor Crazy Golf venue.

Visit the Putt Putt Social website for more information.

Plans for a Mini-Golf course at Hawley Garden Centre in Kent

There are plans for a Mini-Golf course to be created at Hawley Garden Centre in Sutton at Hone, near Dartford, Kent.

Visit the Hawley Garden Centre website for more information.

It'll be another new location to visit on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Putt Putt Social Crazy Golf Tournament in Gloucester

A Crazy Golf tournament is being held at Putt Putt Social in Gloucester on Friday 17th May.

The team event will be contested at the indoor Crazy Golf venue.

Visit the Putt Putt Social website for more information.

Mr Mulligan’s Crazy Golf Competition in Worcester

A charity fundraising Crazy Golf Competition is being held at Mr Mulligan’s in Worcester on Thursday 20th June.

Mulligans Mini Golf in Worcester

The team-based Crazy Golf tournament will be taking place at the Mr Mulligan's indoor adventure golf course in the city centre.

Mulligans Mini Golf in Worcester

You can find out more about the Mr Mulligan’s Crazy Golf Competition on the St Richard's Hospice website.

Visit the Mr Mulligan's website for more information about the venue.

Crazy Golf at Strikes Bar in Rugby

There's a new Crazy Golf course at Strikes Bar in Rugby, Warwickshire.

Strikes Bar is home to tenpin bowling, crazy golf, adventure softplay and AR darts.

You can find Strikes Bar at Unit LSU1C, Manning Walk, Central Shopping Centre, Rugby CV21 2JT.

Visit the Strikes Bar website for more information.

It's another new venue for us to check out on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

ÜberBlast Mini Golf in North Conway, New Hampshire, USA

Taking a look back at the Mini Golf course at the ÜberBlast Family Entertainment Center in North Conway, New Hampshire, USA.

My brother Christopher and his family swung by the the ÜberBlast Family Entertainment Center in North Conway, New Hampshire, USA back in 2021.

The mini golf course at ÜberBlast became the 1,006th visited on our overall Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Since 2006 Emily and I have visited 1,044 miniature golf courses around the UK and overseas on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. As well as playing minigolf in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Jersey and the Isle of Man we’ve travelled to minigolf courses in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Finland, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Poland, Singapore, Spain (Lanzarote and Majorca), Sweden and the USA.

When added to the courses Christopher and his family have visited around the British Isles and Turkey, Spain (Majorca), Italy, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany, France, Indonesia, Croatia and the USA, the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour currently stands at a combined 1,091 courses visited!

The mini golf course at ÜberBlast looks like a nice layout in interesting surroundings.

Check out the ÜberBlast Family Entertainment Center website for more information.

PAR 'N' BAR Cosmic Crazy Golf in Rugby has moved

PAR 'N' BAR Cosmic Crazy Golf in Rugby has moved location to Level 2, Rugby Central Shopping Centre, CV21 2JT.

PAR 'N' BAR Cosmic Crazy Golf in Rugby in May 2023

The Crazy World of Minigolf Tour - taking in 26 countries to date

Our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour has seen us visit 26 countries so far.

Mini Golf at Leopoldpark in Blankenberge, Belgium. Photo by Emily Gottfried

Since 2006 Emily and I have visited 1,044 miniature golf courses around the UK and overseas on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. As well as playing minigolf in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Jersey and the Isle of Man we’ve travelled to minigolf courses in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Finland, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Poland, Singapore, Spain (Lanzarote and Majorca), Sweden and the USA.

Hotel Pinija Mini Golf in Croatia. Photo by Christopher Gottfried

When added to the courses Christopher and his family have visited around the British Isles and Turkey, Spain (Majorca), Italy, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany, France, Indonesia, Croatia and the USA, the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour stands at a combined 1,091 courses visited!

Mini Golf at the Farm House Pub in Ixia, Rhodes, Greece. Photo by Christopher Gottfried

Höfner Stübl Minigolf in Sasbachwalden, Germany. Photo by Christopher Gottfried

Mini Golf at the Resort Horizont & Splendid in Pula, Croatia. Photo by Christopher Gottfried

Minigolf in Carcassonne - Lac de la Cavayère, France. Photo by Christopher Gottfried

Time Machine Minigolf in Warsaw, Poland. Photo by Emily Gottfried

Countries visited on our minigolfing adventures since September 2006:

1. England
2. Northern Ireland
3. Scotland
4. Wales
5. Australia
6. Austria
7. Belgium
8. Croatia
9. Finland
10. France
11. Germany
12. Greece
13. Hong Kong
14. Indonesia
15. Isle of Man
16. Italy
17. Jersey
18. Luxembourg
19. Netherlands
20. New Zealand
21. Poland
22. Singapore
23. Spain (including Lanzarote and Majorca)
24. Sweden
25. Turkey
26. USA

Check out the full list of courses we've been to on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Minigolf around the world - Bali Mini Golf in Indonesia

A look at the Bali Mini Golf course at Luwak Coffee Garden in Indonesia.

Bali Mini Golf at Luwak Coffee Garden in Indonesia. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, October 2018

My brother Christopher, a charter member of the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour swung by the Bali Mini Golf course at Luwak Coffee Garden in Bali, Indonesia while on holiday in 2018.

Bali Mini Golf at Luwak Coffee Garden in Indonesia. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, October 2018

Bali Mini Golf at Luwak Coffee Garden in Indonesia. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, October 2018

Bali Mini Golf at Luwak Coffee Garden in Indonesia. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, October 2018

You can find minigolf courses - and interesting business combinations - around the world!

The Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Since 2006 Emily and I have visited 1,044 miniature golf courses around the UK and overseas on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. As well as playing minigolf in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Jersey and the Isle of Man we’ve travelled to minigolf courses in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Finland, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Poland, Singapore, Spain (including Lanzarote and Majorca), Sweden and the USA.

When added to the courses Christopher and his family have visited around the British Isles and Turkey, Spain (Majorca), Italy, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany, France, Indonesia, Croatia and the USA, the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour stands at a combined 1,091 courses visited!

The Mini Masters miniature golf tournament in Manchester

Looking back at the 'Mini Masters' miniature golf tournament in Manchester.

I won the Mini Masters miniature golf tournament in Manchester back on the 11th April 2009. Time certainly flies!

Mini Master

The Mini Masters was the first of two tournaments I won on the 9-hole Championship Miniature Golf course at what was then Playgolf Manchester. The second event being the Miniature Open in July 2009.

Lining up a big minigolf win

I won the Mini Masters with a three round total of 81 (-24) after scoring 26, 27, and 28.

A long tee-shot over and past several obstacles!

The course was the 84th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. Back then the course wasn't one of our local layouts as we still lived in Luton, Bedfordshire and travelled up for the events.

Emily putting on the big miniature golf course

The Championship Miniature Golf course is no longer at the centre, but you can find an expanded Championship Miniature Golf layout with two 18-hole courses in New Brighton. We've played both layouts there.

The location is no longer a Playgolf venue either. It's now known as the Trafford Golf Centre and is home to two 18-hole dinosaur adventure golf courses. I won the Dino Falls Masters Adventure Golf competition there in 2018 too!

Visit the Trafford Golf Centre website for more information.

Three new Golf Fang venues planned

There are plans for three new Golf Fang venues to open in London, Bristol and Nottingham this year.

You can currently find Golf Fang indoor crazy golf venues in Liverpool, Birmingham, Newcastle, Glasgow, Sheffield and Cardiff.

Visit the Golf Fang and Big Fang Collective websites for more information.

The new locations will be new places to check out on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Cumberland Golf planning a tour of Cumbria

Mini Golf Cumberland Edition will soon close at The Beacon Museum in Whitehaven, Cumbria. But there are plans for it to move to a new location, or locations in the future.

The Mini Golf course opened at The Beacon Museum in Whitehaven, Cumbria last October and closes on Sunday 14th April.

Mini Golf Cumberland is a 9-hole layout, with obstacles themed on Cumberland landmarks.

Visit The Beacon Museum website for more information.

As Curators of The Crazy Golf Museum it was nice to see another museum including minigolf as an interactive exhibit to facilitate learning.

We visited Cumbria last year, but didn't have time to visit Whitehaven.

Hopefully we'll get to have a game on the Mini Golf Cumberland Edition course on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour in the future.

New Golf Fang opening in Bristol

A new Golf Fang indoor minigolf venue is planned to open in Bristol in 2024.

There are plans for three new Golf Fang venues to open in London, Bristol and Nottingham this year.

You can currently find Golf Fang indoor crazy golf venues in Liverpool, Birmingham, Newcastle, Glasgow, Sheffield and Cardiff.

Visit the Golf Fang and Big Fang Collective websites for more information.

The new locations will be new places to check out on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

From Putt Putt Noodle to Putt Putt Social

The indoor crazy golf business has rebranded from Putt Putt Noodle to Putt Putt Social.

Putt Putt Social Minigolf in Norwich. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, September 2023

The old Putt Putt Noodle sign at what is now Putt Putt Social in Norwich, Norfolk

You can find Putt Putt Social venues in Bedford, Gloucester, Norwich, Poole and Telford.

Check out the Putt Putt Social website for more information.

New Golf Fang opening in Nottingham

A new Golf Fang indoor minigolf venue is planned to open in Nottingham in 2024.

There are plans for three new Golf Fang venues to open in London, Bristol and Nottingham this year.

You can currently find Golf Fang indoor crazy golf venues in Liverpool, Birmingham, Newcastle, Glasgow, Sheffield and Cardiff.

Visit the Golf Fang and Big Fang Collective websites for more information.

The new locations will be new places to check out on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Treetop Golf at Cabot Circus in Bristol

A new Treetop Adventure Golf venue is opening at Cabot Circus in Bristol.

You can find other Treetop Adventure Golf courses in Cardiff, Manchester, Leicester, Birmingham and Gateshead.

Visit the Treetop Adventure Golf website for more information.

New Golf Fang opening in London

A new Golf Fang indoor minigolf venue is planned to open in Waterloo, London in 2024.

There are plans for three new Golf Fang venues to open in London, Bristol and Nottingham this year.

You can currently find Golf Fang indoor crazy golf venues in Liverpool, Birmingham, Newcastle, Glasgow, Sheffield and Cardiff.

Visit the Golf Fang and Big Fang Collective websites for more information.

The new locations will be new places to check out on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Jungle Rumble Adventure Golf at Cabot Circus in Bristol has closed

The indoor Jungle Rumble Adventure Golf centre at Cabot Circus in Bristol has closed.

We first visited the two courses - the 'Jungle' and the 'Secret Swamp' - back in February 2010 when were in the city to compete in the BMGA English Open minigolf competition at the then new 36-hole two-course. They were the 207th and 208th courses visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Playing at Jungle Rumble Adventure Golf in 2010

You can find Jungle Rumble Adventure Golf courses in Birmingham, Brighton, Glasgow and London. Visit the Jungle Rumble Adventure Golf website for more information.

Putt Putt Social in Colchester

A new Putt Putt Social indoor minigolf venue is planned to open in Colchester.

Putt Putt Social Minigolf in Norwich. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, September 2023

There are plans to turn the former Debenhams department store in Colchester, Essex into an indoor crazy golf course.

Visit the Putt Putt Social website to find out more about the brand's existing courses.

It'll be another new course for us to visit on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

The American Golf Adventure Golf National Pairs Championship 2017

A look back at the 2017 American Golf Adventure Golf National Pairs Championship.

My team-mate Peter Jones and I qualified for the American Golf Adventure Golf National Pairs Championship Final by winning the Welsh Regional Qualifier at Clays Golf Centre on this day in 2017!

The Clays Golf Centre Adventure Golf course

Each of the holes on the 9-hole Miniature Golf course at Clays Golf Centre in Wrexham are based on famous holes from big/regular golf.

National Television Championships

The American Golf Adventure Golf National Pairs Championship Final was played at The Belfry in September 2017 and was televised on Sky Sports Golf.

You can watch the tournament in the video below from 26m 55s.

You can also watch the American Golf Championship Tour Season Review programme on the American Golf YouTube Channel with the Adventure Golf competition starting at 31m 33s.

Players earned their places in the final by competing in qualifying events at courses in England, Scotland and Wales including:

• Great Western Golf Clydebank
• World of Golf Croydon
• Top Golf Watford
• Bristol Golf Centre
• Trent Lock, Long Eaton
• Clays Farm Golf Centre, Wrexham

Action from the TV tournament at The Belfry

The Dino Falls Masters Adventure Golf competition in Manchester

Looking back at the Dino Falls Masters Adventure Golf competition at the Trafford Golf Centre in Manchester.

Playing Dino Falls Adventure Golf in Manchester

I competed in the first-ever Dino Falls Masters Adventure Golf competition at the Trafford Golf Centre in Manchester on the 6th April 2018 - and won it!

Playing Dino Falls Adventure Golf in Manchester

The event saw hundreds of players compete.

The venue has been a good spot for me and our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour, as I also won the Mini Masters and Mini Open there in 2009, as well as a Midlands Minigolf Club Invitational Tournament, also in April 2008.

At Dino Falls Adventure Golf in Manchester

The Trafford Golf Centre is home to two 18-hole adventure golf courses. Check out Trafford Golf Centre and Dino Falls Adventure Golf websites for more information on the courses.

Crazy Golf history: from a minigolf course to a hotel

The site of England's first-ever Crazy Golf course is being turned into a hotel.

The Original Crazy Golf course in Skegness (2015)

A new Travelodge hotel and Starbucks drive-thru are being built on the location of England's first Crazy Golf course.

The Original Crazy Golf course on South Parade in Skegness, Lincolnshire has been derelict since 2018, and now work on the site is set to begin soon.

The Original Crazy Golf course in Skegness (2015)

England's first Crazy Golf opened on South Parade in Skegness in 1926 and the game is widely known by that name in the UK. Crazy Golf is seldom, if ever, used overseas except in tourist spots popular with UK holidaymakers.

In May 2015 The Original Crazy Golf course became the 363rd played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

It's sad to hear about the loss of this piece of miniature golf history. I'm glad we got to visit the course when we did in 2011 and 2015.

The Original Crazy Golf course in Skegness (2015)

We've also got some nice old postcards of the course in our collection, including this one when it was known as Craz-e-Golf.

Craz-e-Golf at Skegness by E.T.W Dennis & Sons Ltd S.2142 postally used on 21 June 1977

Skegness is home to several other minigolf courses. We've haven't been there since 2015, but did visit as many as we could the last time. At least one new adventure golf course has opened there since then.

We'll to revisit again soon and see how things have changed...

Noah’s Park Adventure Golf at Barleylands in Billericay

Barleylands in Billericay has a new minigolf course.

A new Adventure Golf course has opened at Barleylands in Billericay, Essex.

The Noah’s Park Adventure Golf course is an 18-hole outdoor layout.

Check out the Barleylands website for more information.

It's another new course for us to visit on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.