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.

Crazy Golf on "Rory and Will - Champions of The World"

The "Unofficial Worlds TV Crazy Golf Championship Challenge" played in Hastings and shown on Channel 5!

Back in September 2012 the 'Castle Golf' World Crazy Golf Champion Michael Smith and three-time Women's World Crazy Golf Champion Ruth Burke and I (ably supported by BMGA Tour Pro Steve Sturdy) filmed a piece for the lighthearted travel documentary "Rory and Will - Champions of The World" for Channel 5 at the famous 18-hole Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf course in Hastings, East Sussex. A few photos from the day's filming are below.

Rory McGrath lines up a Putt on the tough 14th hole in Hastings as his Crazy Golf Coach Michael Smith  looks on

The British Minigolf Association's Crazy Minigolfing Team in Hastings after filming, from l-r Rory McGrath, Ruth Burke, Michael Smith, Will Mellor, and me! (pic by Steve Sturdy)

Rory & Will's Champions of the World 'Unofficial World Crazy Golf Championship' Trophy - with customary seaside 99 with a flake!

If you missed the first airing, then you can watch the episode when it's repeated on Friday 8th of February at 7pm. You can also watch the programme on Channel 5's 'Demand 5' service!

If you enjoyed watching the programme, like Crazy Golf & Minigolf and fancy giving the sport a go then why not sign-up to the British Minigolf Association - there are FREE and paid options available and you can find out more on the BMGA website's Membership page.

The Hastings Crazy Golf course is the host venue for the 'Castle Golf' World Crazy Golf Championship and 2013 will see the eleventh edition of the tournament held. If that's too long to wait to take part in a Crazy Golf tournament then you can enter the first-ever BMGA British Crazy Golf Open that will be held in March!

Related Blog Post:

- Crazy Golf to feature on "Rory and Will - Champions of The World"

Links:

- Rory and Will - Champions of The World

- British Minigolf Association (BMGA)

- Hastings Adventure Golf

- British Minigolf Association Factsheet

Crazy Golf to feature on "Rory and Will - Champions of The World"

Channel 5 TV show to feature Crazy Golf on new show "Rory and Will - Champions of The World".

The new Channel 5 TV Show "Rory and Will - Champions of The World" will feature Crazy Golf on the next episode. Filmed at the Hastings seafront Crazy Golf course last year Rory McGrath and Will Mellor received some coaching from two of the world's best Crazy Golfers and then challenged each other to find out which of them is the best player in their ongoing challenge match.

You can catch a glimpse of Will Mellor playing Crazy Golf on the trailer for episode 2 at the end of the first show.

Episode 1 saw the pair take on Reliant Robin Racing, Nurdling, Thumb Wrestling, Fishing and Pea Shooting!

Links:

- Rory and Will - Champions of The World

- British Minigolf Association (BMGA)

- Hastings Adventure Golf