Showing posts with label London. Show all posts
Showing posts with label London. Show all posts

Sunday, February 18, 2024

Putt Club Crazy Golf - London Docklands

A look at the Putt Club Crazy Golf course at London Docklands.


Many thanks to my friend and minigolf rival Gareth Holmes for sending over these photos from his visit to Putt Club Crazy Golf London Docklands.

Putt Club Indoor Crazy Golf Docklands. Photo by Gareth Holmes, 2023

Putt Club Indoor Crazy Golf Docklands. Photo by Gareth Holmes, 2023

Putt Club has locations in Southampton, Hull, Leicester, London Edmonton, London Docklands, and Watford.

Visit the Putt Club Crazy Golf website for more information.


They are all new venues for us to visit on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Wednesday, December 13, 2023

Lane7 London Victoria

There's a new Lane7 venue in London.


The new Lane7 indoor entertainment centre in London Victoria is home to a Crazy Golf course

The new Lane7 indoor entertainment centre recently opened its doors in London Victoria. The venue is home to a Crazy Golf course and other games.

Check out the Lane7 website for more information.

We played the 9-hole indoor minigolf course at Lane7 in Newcastle upon Tyne in 2019. It was the 840th course visited and 495th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Lane7 indoor mini golf in Newcastle upon Tyne
Lane7 indoor mini golf in Newcastle upon Tyne

Friday, August 11, 2023

Janken: The International Rock Paper Scissors Championships 2012

A look back at the 2012 International Rock Paper Scissors Championships in London.


We competed in the International Rock Paper Scissors Championships in London eleven years ago this week. Time certainly flies!

We teamed up with Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and author Dave Barry and his daughter Sophie from the USA to take part in the huge event.

The San Marino Rock Paper Scissors team at the Rock Paper Scissors International in London
The San Marino Rock Paper Scissors team

More than 150 athletes from 16 teams competed in the Wacky Nation organised tournament held at the Knight’s Templar Pub on Chancery Lane in London.

As we couldn’t play as a combined "UK-USA" team we decided to represent the plucky nation of San Marino instead.

Prior to the start of the competition I challenged football hard man Neil ‘Razor’ Ruddock to a 'friendly' RPS contest to warm-up. Needless to say I won the shootout! It was an ill-tempered clash with plenty of foul language and gamesmanship. The heated battle almost resulted in a knock-out punch too!

International Rock Paper Scissors Championships 2012
Clash of the titans

International Rock Paper Scissors

Matches in the Round Robin stage of the main-event were played in a ‘first to four points’ format with each player in the team taking it in turns to win a point by competing in a ‘best of three’ Rock Paper Scissors game. Our team managed to rack up a win loss record of won four, lost one.

Before any teams could advance from our pool a play-off was required as Austria and Lapland A had also finished with four wins and one loss!

Thankfully our team was able to win both matches to advance alongside Lapland A, with the Austrians sent home.

The first semi-final saw San Marino take on the Vatican City team in a ‘first to six points’ match.

Unfortunately we lost and were therefore unable to go for gold.

Sadly we just missed out on the podium, suffering defeat to Great Britain in the repechage to ultimately finish in fourth place.

The final was a battle between the might of Lapland A and the Vatican City, with the Laplanders finishing on top and grabbing the gold medal.

Getting to the semi-finals of the International Rock Paper Scissors Championships was the furthest I ever reached in an RPS tournament, having been knocked out in the preliminary rounds of national competitions held in 2010 and 2011.

Wednesday, July 05, 2023

New Putt Putt Noodle Crazy Golf courses

There are new Putt Putt Noodle minigolf courses opening in several locations in the UK.


Putt Putt Noodle Crazy Golf
Those katakana characters on the left of the logo translate as 'Lucky'

The new Putt Putt Noodle minigolf venues will include:
  • Aberdeen
  • Bedford
  • Basingstoke
  • Bristol
  • Central London
  • London E6
  • Colchester
  • Glasgow
  • Liverpool

There are currently Putt Putt Noodle courses in Norwich, Poole and Telford.

Visit the Putt Putt Noodle website for more information.

Wednesday, June 28, 2023

Junkyard Golf in Camden, London

A new Junkyard Golf indoor crazy golf venue is opening in Camden, London this summer.


Junkyard Golf

The team at Junkyard Golf are opening a new London crazy golf venue, with their largest site being created in Camden. The location is set to open in August.

Visit the Junkyard Golf website for more information.

Monday, April 10, 2023

Free minigolf in Canary Wharf, London

There's a free play minigolf course in Canary Wharf, London.


There's a free play minigolf course in Canary Wharf, London

The pop-up course is in place for the summer.

Visit the Canary Wharf website for more information.

Sunday, March 19, 2023

Shoreditch Balls Crazy Golf in London

There's a Crazy Golf course in Shoreditch.


Many thanks to our fellow minigolf enthusiasts at A Couple of Putts for letting us know there's a new(ish) miniature golf course in London that we didn't know about already!

Shoreditch Balls Crazy Golf in London

Shoreditch Balls opened on Old Street in late 2021 and is a new venue to add to our Crazy World of Minigolf 'To Visit' list.

Check out the Shoreditch Balls website for more information.


I used to work in the Shoreditch area of Hackney and commuted into Old Street everyday back in the mid-noughties. Those were the days when there were next to no minigolf courses in the capital. Fast forward to 2023 and you can't move for places to have a putt. At my last count there were 37 minigolf, crazy golf and adventure golf locations in the city.

Friday, January 20, 2023

Junkyard Golf in Camden, London

A new Junkyard Golf venue is opening in Camden, London this year.


Junkyard Golf

The team at Junkyard Golf are opening a new London crazy golf venue, with their largest site being created in Camden.

Visit the Junkyard Golf website for more information.

Thursday, September 08, 2022

Birdies Crazy Golf at Angel Central

A visit to Birdies Crazy Golf at Angel Central Shopping Centre in Islington, London.


Birdies Crazy Golf at Angel Central
Birdies Crazy Golf at Angel Central

Emily swung by Birdies Crazy Golf at Angel Central Shopping Centre in Islington, London, making it course number 1,002 on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Birdies Crazy Golf at Angel Central
Birdies Crazy Golf at Angel Central

Birdies Crazy Golf at Angel Central
Birdies Crazy Golf at Angel Central

Birdies Crazy Golf at Angel Central
Birdies Crazy Golf at Angel Central

Birdies Crazy Golf at Angel Central
Birdies Crazy Golf at Angel Central

Check out the Birdies Crazy Golf website for more information.


Birdies Crazy Golf at Angel Central
Advertising on the tube for the venue

You can also find Birdies Crazy Golf venues at Battersea and Roof East.

Monday, July 11, 2022

Adventure Golf at Hounslow Golf Park

There are two new 18-hole Adventure Golf courses at Hounslow Golf Park in London.


There are two new 18-hole Adventure Golf courses at Hounslow Golf Park in London

Volcano Island Adventure Golf opened at Hounslow Golf Park this month and is home to the Eruption and Cascades courses.

The Hounslow Golf Park venue is also home to a number of other golfing activities including a driving range and a 9-hole course.

Visit the Hounslow Golf Park website for more information.


They are two more courses for us to visit on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Sunday, May 29, 2022

Plonk Golf on Hoxton Street in Shoreditch

Plonk Golf is re-opening on Hoxton Street, Shoreditch.

Plonk Golf crazy golf course in London

Plonk Golf are re-opening their venue on Hoxton Street in Shoreditch, London.

You can find Plonk Golf courses at Borough Market, Camden Market and Hackney.

Visit the Plonk Golf website for more information.


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

Thursday, May 26, 2022

New Adventure Golf course in Harrow

Work is underway on the new Adventure Golf course at Bannister Sports Centre in Harrow, London.


Work is underway on the new Adventure Golf course at Bannisters Sports Centre in Harrow, London

The outdoor adventure golf course at the Bannister Outdoor Sports Centre will have a dinosaur theme.

Check out the Bannister Outdoor Sports Centre website for more information.


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

Thursday, May 05, 2022

Crazy Putt London Adventure Golf at Greenwich Peninsula Golf Range

A look at the Crazy Putt Adventure Golf course at Greenwich Peninsula Golf Range in London.


A big thank to our fellow crazy minigolf adventurer Matt Dodd for sending over these snaps from his visit to the Crazy Putt Adventure Golf course at Greenwich Peninsula Golf Range in London.

Crazy Putt Adventure Golf course at Greenwich Peninsula Golf Range in London. Photo by Matt Dodd, May 2022
Crazy Putt Adventure Golf course at Greenwich Peninsula Golf Range in London. Photo by Matt Dodd, May 2022

Crazy Putt Adventure Golf course at Greenwich Peninsula Golf Range in London. Photo by Matt Dodd, May 2022
Crazy Putt Adventure Golf course at Greenwich Peninsula Golf Range in London. Photo by Matt Dodd, May 2022

Crazy Putt Adventure Golf course at Greenwich Peninsula Golf Range in London. Photo by Matt Dodd, May 2022
Crazy Putt Adventure Golf course at Greenwich Peninsula Golf Range in London. Photo by Matt Dodd, May 2022

Crazy Putt Adventure Golf course at Greenwich Peninsula Golf Range in London. Photo by Matt Dodd, May 2022
Crazy Putt Adventure Golf course at Greenwich Peninsula Golf Range in London. Photo by Matt Dodd, May 2022

Crazy Putt Adventure Golf course at Greenwich Peninsula Golf Range in London. Photo by Matt Dodd, May 2022
Crazy Putt Adventure Golf course at Greenwich Peninsula Golf Range in London. Photo by Matt Dodd, May 2022

Visit the Crazy Putt Adventure Golf course website for more information.


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

Wednesday, April 13, 2022

New course at Swingers West End Crazy Golf

Changes afoot at Swingers Crazy Golf.

The West End location of Swingers Crazy Golf in London is being extended and will soon feature a third course as well as an all weather roof terrace.

Swingers West End Crazy Golf in London, October 2019
Swingers West End Crazy Golf in London, October 2019

Visit the Swingers Crazy Golf website for more information.


We played the first Swingers Crazy Golf pop-up course on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour in Shoreditch back in September 2014. The brand has grown since then, with Swingers in The City opening next to the Gherkin in 2016 and Swingers West End following in 2018.


The brand is expanding, with new venues opening in the USA and plans for three more venues next year and five more locations opening in 2024 and 2025.

Tuesday, January 18, 2022

New Birdies Crazy Golf course opening in London

A new Birdies Crazy Golf venue is opening in Angel, London.


A new Birdies Crazy Golf venue is opening in Angel, London

The team at Birdies Crazy Golf are creating a new venue at the Angel Central shopping centre in North London.

It'll be another new course for us to visit on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour when we're next in the capital.

We played the first Birdies pop-up crazy golf course when it was in The Vaults underneath Waterloo station in 2015. Back then it was among the first wave of new-style of 'competitive socialising' miniature golf venues in London.

Birdies Crazy Golf also has a course in Battersea, London. We've yet to play there.

Visit the Birdies Crazy Golf website for more information.

Tuesday, December 07, 2021

Plonk Golf at Borough Market in London

A new Plonk Golf minigolf course is opening at Borough Market in London.


The team at Plonk Golf are opening a new 9-hole indoor crazy golf course at Borough Market in Southwark, London.

You can also find Plonk Golf courses at London Fields, the Horniman Museum and Camden Market.

Check out the Plonk Golf website for more information.


We've visited a number of Plonk Golf courses on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour since the first of the brand's layouts was created in Dalston back in 2015.

Plonk Golf in Shoreditch in 2019
Plonk Golf in Shoreditch in 2019

Tuesday, November 30, 2021

Jungle Rumble Adventure Golf in Putney, London

A look at the Jungle Rumble Adventure Golf course in Putney, London.


Jungle Rumble Adventure Golf in Putney, London. Photo by Matt Dodd, 30 November 2021
Jungle Rumble Adventure Golf in Putney

A BIG thank you to our friend and fellow minigolf adventurer Matt Dodd for sending over these photos from his visit to Jungle Rumble Adventure Golf in Putney, London.

Jungle Rumble Adventure Golf in Putney, London. Photo by Matt Dodd, 30 November 2021
That's some cool UV minigolf!

Jungle Rumble Adventure Golf in Putney, London. Photo by Matt Dodd, 30 November 2021
Shark bumps!

Jungle Rumble Adventure Golf in Putney, London. Photo by Matt Dodd, 30 November 2021
Jungle Rumble Putney

Jungle Rumble Adventure Golf in Putney, London. Photo by Matt Dodd, 30 November 2021
Underwater glow-in-the-dark golf


Visit the Jungle Rumble Adventure Golf website for more information.


There are also Jungle Rumble Adventure Golf courses in London, Bristol, Glasgow and Brighton.

We've played the Bristol course on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour and also played at the Liverpool venue before it closed. There was a location in Leeds for a little while as well.

There are plans for a new Jungle Rumble Adventure Golf course to open in Liverpool too.

Thursday, November 25, 2021

Adventure Golf course at the Bannister Outdoor Sports Centre in Harrow

Plans for a new Adventure Golf course at Roger Bannister Sports Centre in Harrow, London have been approved.


A new Adventure Golf course is opening at the Roger Bannister Sports Centre in Harrow

The outdoor adventure golf course at the Bannister Outdoor Sports Centre will have a dinosaur theme.

Visit the Bannister Outdoor Sports Centre website for more information.


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

Putt Putt Crazy Golf opening in Streatham Hill, London

A new indoor Crazy Golf venue is opening in Streatham Hill, London.


Putt Putt Crazy Golf is opening in Streatham Hill, London on Wednesday 1st December 2021

Putt Putt Crazy Golf is opening in Streatham Hill, London on Wednesday 1st December.

The minigolf course claims it will be London's Biggest Indoor Crazy Golf course.

As well as the Crazy Golf course the venue will have a bar, food and karaoke rooms.

Visit the Putt Putt Streatham Hill website for more information.


Putt Putt Streatham Hill will be another new course for us to visit on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Friday, October 01, 2021

New Crazy Golf course open in Edmonton, London

A new motorsport-themed Crazy Golf course has opened in Edmonton, North London.


A new Putt Club Crazy Golf course has opened in Edmonton, North London

The new 9-hole indoor Crazy Golf course has been created by the team at Putt Club.

Putt Club London Edmonton joins other Putt Club courses in Hull, Watford and London Docklands. A new location is opening in Leicester in November 2021.

Visit the Putt Club website for more information.


Minigolf in London

There has been a real boom in minigolf courses opening in London. When we worked in the city there were very few options for minigolfing, but a number of new indoor, late night competitive socialising style venues have opened in London over the last seven years.

Competitive socialising

Before the coronavirus pandemic the phrase 'competitive socialising' had become a popular way to describe going out and having fun, with a number of new businesses catering to the demand of a public who wanted to compete at something while eating and drinking in a nice setting.

Whether it was table tennis, darts, shuffleboard, bingo, tenpin bowling, arcade games, or our personal favourite crazy golf, people were finding new ways to quench their thirst, have fun and compete without signing-up to a full sports league or taking things too seriously.

Retailtainment

Minigolf has grown in popularity in the last nine years and has moved from being seen as a traditional outdoor seaside summer activity to become a year-round game that can be played indoors, outdoors and at pretty much any time of the day.

A number of high streets, retail parks and shopping malls are now home to minigolf courses, with more new venues planned to open.

Our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

We've played minigolf in London a number of times on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour over the last 15 years. We're looking forward to a return visit to the capital for a few rounds in the future.