Adventure Mini Golf course at Hawley Garden Centre in Sutton at Hone, Dartford

The new Adventure Mini Golf course at Hawley Garden Centre in Sutton at Hone, Dartford, Kent is now open.

Check out the Hawley Garden Centre website for more information.

Happy Groundhog Day 2026

There will be six more weeks of winter.

Punxsutawney Phil has predicted there will be six more weeks of Winter after seeing his shadow at the Groundhog Day ceremony at Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, USA.

Link:

• Punxsutawney Groundhog Club

The Crazy World of Minigolf Tour is 20 years old in 2026

This year is the 20th year playing on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

2026 sees us hit another big minigolf milestone as we mark 20 years of our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour travels.

How it started.

We played the Victory Trail course at Treasure Island Adventure Golf in Southsea, Hampshire, England on Saturday 30th September 2006. At the end of our 9-hole round I won a free game by firing the cannon on the lucky last hole!

When we got home from the weekend away we found a list of 600 or so minigolf courses in the UK and wider British Isles on the excellent MiniatureGolfer.com website that Tim 'Ace Man' Davies had compiled. We thought it'd be fun to see how many of them we could visit on day trips and weekends away to the seaside.

How its going.

To date we've been to 1,114 miniature golf courses. 1,053 of them have been in the British Isles.

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, Chile, Finland, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Poland, Singapore, Spain (including Lanzarote and Majorca), Sweden and the USA.

From 600 courses in the UK to more than 1,300.

When our crazy golfing travels began in 2006 there were around 600 miniature golf courses in the UK and wider British Isles.

There are now more than 1,400 - and there are lots of new places to play the game opening all the time.

Unfortunately, several courses have closed over the years. But on a brighter note, some others have been refurbished, redeveloped, or completely transformed into new layouts.

All of the changes and updates have meant that our minigolfing quest to visit every course is becoming never-ending!

When we originally set off to visit as many courses as possible the target list was 600 in the British Isles. And almost 20 years later, we've still got around 50 of those original courses to visit!

Minigolf record makers.

Our travels have been recognised by the Guinness World Records, and I'm a record holder for "Most miniature golf courses visited" (902 at the time of going to press). Check out the Guinness World Records 2024 book and the GWR website to see a lot more minigolf records too!

Where next on our crazy minigolfing adventures?

Where do you think we should visit on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour next? Do get in touch to let us know your suggestions and recommendations, or drop your top picks for minigolf places in the comments.

Related blog posts:

• Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
• Minigolf Around the World
• 19 years of our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Link:

• Treasure Island Adventure Golf in Southsea

Video rental shops in the UK (January 2026)

A look at video and movie rental shops in the UK.

You can still rent films from several video shops in the UK.

Do you still have a video store near you?

Video shop memories.

Growing up in the 1980s and 1990s I've got fond memories of visiting video shops with my family and picking out a film or two (generally one of the Police Academy films, action flicks, or horror movies as I got older!).

I found the preserved remains of a Blockbuster Video store in Fallowfield, Manchester in 2019. And during the coronavirus pandemic my interest in lost brands and retail history was piqued. Since then I've been to several former Blockbuster Video stores around the UK, as well as finding some other old, and some still open, video shops on our travels!

How many video shops are there in the UK in 2026?

Our most recent estimate shows there are seven 'video shops' still in operation offering physical media movie rentals in the UK.

TVL Allstar Video DVD rental shop in Haverhill, Suffolk in December 2024

They are:

1. 20th Century Flicks in Bristol.
2. Fast Forward in Ayr, Scotland.
3. Northgate Video & DVD in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk.
4. Playback Video in Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire.
5. Snips Movies in Bebington, Wirral.
6. Stones Video Library & Sweet Shop & Vaporiser Shop in Lowestoft, Suffolk.
7. TVL Allstar Video in Haverhill, Suffolk.

• Video Years in Leeds is a niche video shop specialising in skateboard VHS & DVDs.
• There is also VideOdyssey in Toxteth, Liverpool - however it is open to visit by appointment only.

We've been to 20th Century Flicks, Northgate Video & DVD, TVL Allstar Video and Video Years, and are looking forward to going to Fast Forward, Playback Video, Snips Movies, Stones Video Library and VideOdyssey in the future.

Northgate Video & DVD shop in Bury St Edmunds (May 2025)

While there are nowhere near as many video shops as there once were, it's still very nice to see there are businesses active in the 'video rental' sector in 2026.

Do you know of any other video shops in operation? Please do let us know.

Non-rental video shops.

There is also Straight To Video - 80s Video Shop in Alfreton, Derbyshire. While they don't actually rent physical media, the shop is a treasure trove of nostalgia. And they do have items for sale. We're looking forward to a trip there too.

Signs and traces of old video shops.

In addition to the open video shops, there are still traces of former video shops to be found on the streets, shopping centres and retail parks of the UK.

VHS tapes and DVDs to rent at B.V.C. Bolton Video Centre in Little Lever (October 2020)

While the majority of these relics and ghost signs are of old Blockbuster Video stores, there are still signs of independent video shops to be seen if you're lucky (and actually visit and rent from if you're really lucky!).

An old video rental sign inside a Happy Shopper shop in Ilkeston (November 2020)

The list below has links to those we've snapped over the years:

• Shahenshah Videos in Luton
• Deane Video Centre in Bolton
• Video Box Office at the Happy Shopper Wayfairer Discount Store in Ilkeston
• Video Future in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent
• The Movie Box in Manchester
• Jubilee Films in Ashton-under-Lyne

Jubilee Films video shop in Ashton-under-Lyne (August 2020)

• B.V.C. - Bolton Video Centre in Little Lever, Bolton (closed down in 2024)
• 20th Century Flicks in Bristol (still operating, but closed on the day of our visit)
• Video Express in Swansea
• Video Rentals at The Village Top Shop in Thorpe Hesley, Rotherham
• Northgate Video & DVD in Bury St Edmunds (still operating, but closed on the day of our visit)
• TVL Allstar Video in Haverhill (still operating)
• Video Years in Leeds (still operating)
• GTV TV & Video in Watford, Hertfordshire

TVL Allstar Video DVD rental shop in Haverhill, Suffolk last Christmas

We're looking forward to checking out the other still operating stores on our travels in the future.

Blockbuster Video shops.

I've enjoyed researching the lost brand and seeking out remnants of old Blockbuster stores over the last few years.

An ex-rental Blockbuster VHS tape with stickers

Here's a list, with links to blog posts about the former Blockbuster Video store locations we've visited to date:

• Abingdon, Oxfordshire
• Ashton, Bristol
• Barnsley, South Yorkshire
• Basingstoke, Hampshire
• Billingham, Teesside

• Cheadle Hulme, Greater Manchester
• Chester, Cheshire
• Chorley, Lancashire
• Clacton-on-Sea, Essex
• Colne, Lancashire
• Failsworth, Manchester
• Fallowfield, Manchester
• Felixstowe, Suffolk
• Filton, Bristol
• Great Moor, Stockport, Greater Manchester
• Hastings, East Sussex
• Leigh, Greater Manchester
• Luton, Bedfordshire
• Marple, Greater Manchester
• Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire
• Nuneaton, Warwickshire

• Oldham, Greater Manchester
• Prescot, Lancashire
• Shanklin, Isle of Wight
• Southampton, Hampshire
• Telford, Shropshire
• Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex
• Wisbech, Cambridgeshire
• Wythenshawe, Manchester

A sign for the old Blockbuster Video Express store in Colne, Lancashire (August 2020)

At its peak in 2004 there were more than 9,000 Blockbuster Video stores around the world. 500+ of which were in England, Scotland and Wales. Interestingly in Northern Ireland the Xtra-Vision brand was used by the owners in-line with the Republic of Ireland.

An Xtra-vision ex-rental VHS tape from Ballymena, Northern Ireland

The last Blockbuster Video shop ceased trading in the UK in December 2013.

'Free Blockbuster'.

The first Free Blockbuster was created in 2019 and since then more have been created in the USA, Canada, Australia and the UK.

Emily visited the Free Blockbuster Las Vegas at Sohn vintage shop in Las Vegas last year and swapped some of our DVDs for some wrestling VHS tapes!

The Free Blockbuster Las Vegas at Sohn vintage shop in Las Vegas (September 2024)

You can find Free Blockbusters in several locations throughout North America, one in Australia, and there is one in the UK - at Midsomer Magpie in Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England.

Check out the Free Blockbuster website for more information.

Video shop speakeasies, bars, and venues.

The nostalgia for video shops and the culture they provided back in the day has been translated to some speakeasies, bars and other venues incorporating a video shop theme.

You can't rent any of these films on VHS at RBT Video

These include:

• Pixel Busters in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire - an arcade and social gaming venue hidden behind a video store.
• Rewind NQ in Manchester's Northern Quarter - check out my blog post 'Drinking in a 'video shop'').
• RBT Video in Wakefield - take a look at the blog post from our visit.
• Vice & Co in Lincoln - here's a blog post from our visit.
• Bunga 90 - in Covent Garden, London. The venue sees you step through a video shop frontage to enter a venue full of retro games, karaoke and more.

Blockbuster Crazy Golf.

There are also 'Blockbuster Video' themed holes at some minigolf courses in the UK.

Blockbuster crazy golf in Nottingham

They're part of the Golf Fang brand of indoor crazy golf courses.

Video rental shop watch.

Do you still have a video rental store near you? Please get in touch or let us know in the comments if you do!

An ex-rental cover for what would've been our local video shop here in Edgeley, Stockport, Greater Manchester

Mini-Golf at Trowbridge Town Park in Trowbridge, Wiltshire

There are plans to refurbish the old mini-golf course at Trowbridge Town Park in Trowbridge, Wiltshire.

The current course looks to be an Eternit-style of miniature golf, with several additional obstacles on it.

It'll be interesting to see what the new course will look like.

New adventure golf at Hertfordshire Zoo in Broxbourne

A new adventure golf course is opening at Hertfordshire Zoo in Broxbourne.

Hertfordshire Zoo in Broxbourne, Hertfordshire is opening a new dinosaur-themed adventure golf course. The outdoor adventure golf course is planned to open at Easter (April) 2026.

The course is being created by RL Golf Construction Ltd.

Check out the Hertfordshire Zoo website for more information.

Hertfordshire Zoo was previously known as Paradise Wildlife Park. The 18-hole 'On Safari' Adventure Golf at Paradise Wildlife Park was the 42nd Minigolf course visited and played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour back in March 2008.

Volcano Falls Adventure Golf at the White Rose shopping centre in Leeds

Volcano Falls Adventure Golf is opening a new venue at the White Rose shopping centre in Leeds, West Yorkshire this year.

The new Volcano Falls Adventure Golf location will feature two indoor adventure golf courses.

Visit the Volcano Falls Adventure Golf website for more information.

King Pins opening in Edinburgh

King Pins will be opening a new location in Edinburgh on Friday 13th February 2026.

The King Pins Edinburgh Waverley venue will be home to tenpin bowling, mini golf, ice free curling, shuffleboard, pool and more.

Check out the King Pins website for more information.

Crazy Golf at The No Work Club at Ferry Meadows Country Park in Peterborough

Plans for an indoor Crazy Golf course as part of a new bar & leisure facility at Ferry Meadows Country Park in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire have been approved.

The No Work Club will be opening the venue in Spring 2026.

It'll be the second venue for The No Work Club brand, following the first location in Lincoln.

Alongside the mini golf course, The No Work Club in Peterborough will have escape rooms and axe throwing activities too.

Check out The No Work Club Peterborough website for more information.

The Discobowl in Burnley has a mini golf course

There's a new Scrapyard Golf indoor minigolf course at the Discobowl in Burnley, Lancashire.

The Scrapyard golf indoor crazy golf course was an addition to the venue during its renovation and reopening as a Discobowl following the brand's acquisition of the former MFA Bowl.

Visit the Discobowl website for more information.

You can find Scrapyard Golf courses at Discobowl venues in Banbury, Burnley, Chatham, Newport, Nottingham, Nuneaton, and Worcester.

There is also a crazy golf course at the Discobowl in Warrington.

Adventure Golf at the Hilton Puckrup Hotel & Golf Club in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire

There are plans for a 9-hole outdoor adventure golf course to be created at the Hilton Puckrup Hotel & Golf Club in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire.

Find out more on the Hilton Puckrup Hotel & Golf Club website.

The Cyberdrome Crystal Maze game experience

Memories of playing The Cyberdrome Crystal Maze game experience in Tenby, Wales.

We played The Crystal Maze game at the CC2000 tenpin bowling & entertainment, near Narbeth in Wales back in 2009.

The Crystal Maze was a staple part TV diet during my childhood and teenage years, and it would've been brilliant to go on the show.

During our minigolfing road-trip around the Welsh coast in 2009 we took a break from playing Crazy Golf to visit the Oakwood Indoor Family Entertainment Centre - where we entered The Crystal Maze!

At that time it was the last remaining example of the 'Cyberdrome Crystal Maze' games in the UK. Sadly it closed for good in June 2010. It would've been brilliant to return for a few more games there.

The Cyberdrome Crystal Maze was absolutely superb to play. We think more of them should have been built back in the day. There were only ever eight built - five in the UK, two in Japan, and one in Dubai.

Just like the TV show, games were played in four themed zones - Aztec, Futuristic, Medieval, and Ocean. But unlike the TV show players were guided around the maze by Merlin - a computerised Maze Master.

Aztec Zone

Futuristic Zone

Medieval Zone

Ocean Zone

We managed to win six of the nine games we played, and in the Crystal Dome itself we collected 103 Gold and 28 Silver 'tokens' for a grand total of 75. So we didn't win the "super-duper" prize.

In the Crystal Dome

However, we were first on the leaderboard for the day and got "1st of 1" printed on our souvenir certificate!

At that time the Cyberdrome Crystal Maze was the closest you could get to playing the real Crystal Maze. Now you can play The Crystal Maze LIVE Experience in London and Manchester. The Manchester venue is so close to us that we really ought to get a team together for a game there!

A minigolf course in Marrakesh, Morocco

A look at an abandoned minigolf course in Marrakesh, Morocco.

A big thank you to our friend Kieran from Putter Madness for sending us these photos of an old and abandoned minigolf course he found on his recent holiday in Marrakesh, Morocco!

Guest blog posts.

As well as the blog posts about our own crazy golf travels, we've posted guest blogs from friends and family from their visits to courses around the world.

It's excellent receiving photos, information and updates from - and about - crazy golf, minigolf, miniature golf putting, pitch & putt, adventure golf, and Putt-Putt courses around the world. There's such a wide-range and variety of courses out there.

We've met so many people and made some great friends on our travels since 2006. Many of whom have contributed to our travels by telling us about new courses, letting us know about course refurbs, or by sending over photos of courses they've been too. We've also received excellent photos of miniature golf courses from our family, friends, our networks, and course owners, managers, designers and builders themselves.

With this post about the course in Marrakesh, Morocco we've now published guest blog posts from 32 countries!

Related blog posts:

• Abandoned
• Guest blog posts

Link:

• Putter Madness portable crazy golf

The Lost City Apocalypse Adventure Golf at Belfast Odyssey

A look at The Lost City Apocalypse Adventure Golf at Belfast Odyssey in Northern Ireland.

A big thank you to our friend and minigolf rival Mark Swain for sending us these photos from his visit to The Lost City Apocalypse Adventure Golf at Belfast Odyssey during the festive season.

The Lost City Apocalypse Adventure Golf at Belfast Odyssey is home to two indoor 18-hole adventure golf courses.

I've not seen an adventure golf arcade cabinet before!

Visit The Lost City Apocalypse Adventure Golf website for more information on the venue.

The Lost City Adventure Golf.

You can find The Lost City Adventure Golf courses at Belfast Cityside, Belfast Odyssey, Nottingham, and Hull.

Check out The Lost City Adventure Golf website for more information.

Playing at The Lost City Adventure Golf.

We've played at The Lost City Adventure Golf in Nottingham, England several times on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour and in minigolf tournaments.

The Lost City Adventure Golf in Nottingham (August 2025)

Guest blog posts.

As well as the blog posts about our own crazy golf travels, we've posted guest blogs from friends and family from their visits to courses around the world.

It's excellent receiving photos, information and updates from - and about - crazy golf, minigolf, miniature golf putting, pitch & putt, adventure golf, and Putt-Putt courses around the world. There's such a wide-range and variety of courses out there.

We've met so many people and made some great friends on our travels since 2006. Many of whom have contributed to our travels by telling us about new courses, letting us know about course refurbs, or by sending over photos of courses they've been too. We've also received excellent photos of miniature golf courses from our family, friends, our networks, and course owners, managers, designers and builders themselves.

With this post about The Lost City Adventure Golf in Northern Ireland we've now published guest blog posts from 31 countries!

Link:

• The Lost City Adventure Golf

Related blog posts:

• Belfast
• Mark Swain
• Guest blog posts
• The Lost City Adventure Golf