Sunday, October 31, 2021

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween

Friday, October 29, 2021

Putting Course in Northcliffe Park, Shipley

A visit to the Putting Course at Northcliffe Park in Shipley, West Yorkshire.


Putting Course in Northcliffe Park, Shipley

We swung by Northcliffe Park in Shipley, West Yorkshire on our recent journey back from Leeds as we'd seen the park was home to a Putting Course.

Putting Course in Northcliffe Park, Shipley
The entrance to the course

The course looked like a nice layout and in good condition.

Putting Course in Northcliffe Park, Shipley
A fine looking green

Putting Course in Northcliffe Park, Shipley
You get a lovely view of the area from the course

Putting Course in Northcliffe Park, Shipley
The course is played on a sloping layout

Putting Course in Northcliffe Park, Shipley

Putting Course in Northcliffe Park, Shipley
One of the long miniature golf holes

Putting Course in Northcliffe Park, Shipley
A view from the green of the last hole

Unfortunately the Ticket Office was closed (and looked long since abandoned!) and there was nowhere else to hire clubs and balls from.

The Putting Course at Northcliffe Park in Shipley became the 975th course visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour since September 2006.

Toys R Us is returning to the UK

New Toys R Us stores opening in the UK.


Toys R Us in Northampton
Toys R Us in Northampton, June 2021

While Toys R Us stores have been closed in the UK since 2018 the brand has lived on in one form or another in other parts of the world.

The new version of Toys R Us will be opening by Toys R Us ANZ who relaunched the business in Australia in 2019. They plan to rollout the brand with an online and physical retail presence in 2022 and 2023.

Toys R Us closed in the UK in April 2018. It's been very interesting to find that there are still remnants of the brand on some retail parks in the UK and we've visited a number of these closed, abandoned, derelict and demolished Toys R Us locations on our travels.

Toys R Us in Stockton-on-Tees
Toys R Us in Stockton-on-Tees, April 2021

Working at Toys R Us

My first job while at university in the year 2000 was as one of Geoffrey's helpers at the Luton store. I worked on the video game and electronics section.

Toys R Us in Basingstoke
Toys R Us in Basingstoke, May 2021

Visiting Toys R Us

With a keen interest in old and defunct brands we've visited a number of former Toys R Us sites over the last couple of years, the latest being in Norwich and Ipswich.


Toys R Us in Milton Keynes
Toys R Us in Milton Keynes, June 2021


Toys R Us in Southampton
Toys R Us in Southampton, May 2021

The future of Toys R Us

It'll be interesting to see what the future holds for Toys R Us and how the relaunch in the UK will go.

As can be seen, some of the former locations are still vacant, while others have been let to new shops. Some former Toys R Us stores have been pulled down, with others converted to retailtainment centres featuring trampoline parks and minigolf courses.

Toys R Us in Northampton
It'll be interesting to shop at Toys R Us again in the future

Tuesday, October 26, 2021

New mini golf course in Coventry

A new mini golf course and tenpin bowling centre is planned to open in Coventry city centre.


A new mini golf course and tenpin bowling centre is planned to open in Coventry city centre.

The former Debenhams shop unit at the West Orchards Shopping Centre in Coventry is set to become a tenpin bowling and adventure golf venue.

The retail entertainment and minigolf boom.

 

Crazy Golfing in Coventry

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

We've played minigolf at Allesley Park and Teezers Retro Golf in Coventry before. There's also a new Galaxy Quest Mini Golf at Laser Quest that we need to play and plans for a Boom: Battle Bar in the city too.

Happy National Pumpkin Day

Today is National Pumpkin Day.


Pumpkins at a Farm Shop in Handforth, Cheshire

Pumpkins at a Farm Shop in Handforth, Cheshire

Monday, October 25, 2021

Halloween in the City is back in Manchester

Halloween in the City has returned to Manchester city centre.


Halloween in the City in Manchester

We saw a few of the new Halloween monster inflatables that have popped up in Manchester during a wander round town on Saturday.

Halloween in the City in Manchester

The full Halloween in the City event is taking place in Manchester on Saturday 30th and Sunday 31st October with a number of large-scale monsters adorning buildings around the city centre as well as other themed activities.

Halloween in the City in Manchester

Check out the Halloween in the City website for more information.


Halloween in the City in Manchester

Urban Playground Mini Golf at the Arndale Centre in Manchester

A new indoor mini golf course is opening as part of the new Urban Playground at the Arndale shopping centre in Manchester.


Putters Mini Golf at the Urban Playground in the Manchester Arndale Centre

A new competitive socialising venue is opening at the Arndale Centre in Manchester and one of the activities on offer will be mini golf.

Putters Mini Golf at the Urban Playground in the Manchester Arndale Centre

The Urban Playground in Manchester is opening sometime this year and will be home to the indoor miniature golf course, The Cube Live and food & drinks.

Putters Mini Golf at the Urban Playground in the Manchester Arndale Centre

Putters Mini-Golf at the Urban Playground will be a tech-based course. Visit the Urban Playground website for more information.


Putters Mini Golf at the Urban Playground in the Manchester Arndale Centre

The Urban Playground will be another new local venue for us.

The Urban Playground entertainment centre is being created by the Mellors Group who own Skegness Pier and Fantasy Island in Ingoldmells. We've played minigolf at Fantasy Island before. The course there was underneath a rollercoaster! There's a new Lava Creek Adventure Golf course we haven't yet had a go on at Fantasy Island too.

Ghostbusting in Urmston

I saw an Ecto-1a car and the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man in Urmston, Greater Manchester two years ago today!


The Stay Puft Marshmallow Man from Ghostbusters at the Eden Square Shopping Centre in Urmston, Greater Manchester

It was a brilliant way to kick off the Halloween season.

Friday, October 22, 2021

Par-59 Crazy Golf opening in Cardiff

The new Par-59 Crazy Golf venue is opening in Cardiff next year.


Par-59 Crazy Golf is opening in Cardiff in Spring 2022

Plans are still going ahead for the Par-59 Crazy Golf venue to open in Cardiff, Wales. The location was originally going to be at the Capitol Shopping Centre in Cardiff city centre, however plans have changed with the site now opening in a former nightclub on St Mary Street.

The Par-59 brand is being opened by footballer Gareth Bale and is set to open in Spring 2022.

Par-59 will feature three 9-hole indoor crazy golf courses along with a bar and restaurant.

Visit the Par-59 website for more information.


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

Thursday, October 21, 2021

Today is Back to the Future Day

Happy Back to the Future Day.


A Back to the Future DeLorean in MediaCityUK
We saw a Back to the Future DeLorean time machine at MediaCityUK in Salford a few days before the coronavirus pandemic lockdown was put in place

A Back to the Future DeLorean in MediaCityUK
If you could travel in time would you go to the future or the past?

Visit the Back to the Future car's website for more information.

Wednesday, October 20, 2021

Mini Golf at UberBlast in North Conway, New Hampshire, USA

A look at the Mini Golf course at the UberBlast Family Entertainment Center in North Conway, New Hampshire, USA.


Mini Golf at UberBlast in North Conway, New Hampshire, USA. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, October 2021

My brother Christopher recently swung by the the UberBlast Family Entertainment Center in North Conway, New Hampshire, USA and sent me these photos of the minigolf course there.

Mini Golf at UberBlast in North Conway, New Hampshire, USA. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, October 2021

Mini Golf at UberBlast in North Conway, New Hampshire, USA. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, October 2021

Mini Golf at UberBlast in North Conway, New Hampshire, USA. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, October 2021

Mini Golf at UberBlast in North Conway, New Hampshire, USA. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, October 2021

Mini Golf at UberBlast in North Conway, New Hampshire, USA. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, October 2021

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

Jungle Rumble Adventure Golf heading back to Liverpool

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


There are plans for a new Jungle Rumble Adventure Golf course in Liverpool

Jungle Rumble Adventure Golf are planning to open a new indoor minigolf centre at The Lyceum building in Liverpool.

Jungle Rumble Adventure Golf opened its first venue in Bristol and its second location was at Liverpool ONE. There are currently four Jungle Rumble Adventure Golf sites - in Bristol, Brighton, London and Glasgow.

Visit the Jungle Rumble Adventure Golf website for more information.


We've played tournaments at the Jungle Rumble Adventure Golf courses in Bristol and Liverpool. We also visited the now closed Leeds location on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Tuesday, October 19, 2021

Mini Golf at Haven's Wild Duck Holiday Park in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk

A look at the Mini Golf course at Haven's Wild Duck Holiday Park in Belton, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk.


Mini Golf at Haven's Wild Duck Holiday Park in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk. Photo by Sophia Moles, October 2021

Our friends Sophia and Karl Moles sent over some photos of the Mini Golf course at Haven's Wild Duck Holiday Park in Belton, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk from their recent holiday there.

Mini Golf at Haven's Wild Duck Holiday Park in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk. Photo by Sophia Moles, October 2021

Sophia told us they enjoyed a couple of rounds on the course, with the best score from the group being a 25 by Karl. The course record is 24 on the 9-hole layout.

Mini Golf at Haven's Wild Duck Holiday Park in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk. Photo by Sophia Moles, October 2021

Mini Golf at Haven's Wild Duck Holiday Park in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk. Photo by Sophia Moles, October 2021

Mini Golf at Haven's Wild Duck Holiday Park in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk. Photo by Sophia Moles, October 2021

Mini Golf at Haven's Wild Duck Holiday Park in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk. Photo by Sophia Moles, October 2021

Mini Golf at Haven's Wild Duck Holiday Park in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk. Photo by Sophia Moles, October 2021

Mini Golf at Haven's Wild Duck Holiday Park in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk. Photo by Sophia Moles, October 2021

Mini Golf at Haven's Wild Duck Holiday Park in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk. Photo by Sophia Moles, October 2021

Mini Golf at Haven's Wild Duck Holiday Park in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk. Photo by Sophia Moles, October 2021


Check out the Haven website for more information on the Wild Duck Holiday Park.


Minigolfing Moles

36 years of Blockbuster Video

Gone, but not forgotten.


Blockbuster Video store in Nuneaton, Warwickshire

The first Blockbuster Video store opened in Dallas, Texas, USA on this day in 1985.

At its peak in 2004 there were more than 9,000 stores around the world. 500+ of which were in the UK.

There is now just one Blockbuster Video store left open. It's in Bend, Oregon, USA.

Blockbuster in the UK


Blockbuster Video Express in Billingham, Teesside
Blockbuster Video Express in Billingham, Teesside

Blockbuster ceased operations in the UK in December 2013. At the start of that year there were 528 Blockbuster locations in the UK. The number dwindled until October when only 264 shops remained. The remaining stores closed on the 16th December.

Blockbuster Video Express in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex
The most recent former Blockbuster store we visited was in Clacton-on-Sea. It was nice to see it had a ghost sign

There are still clearly visible remnants of the brand on the high street and on retail parks. And we've been to most of them!



Blockbuster Video Express in Shanklin on the Isle of Wight
A ghost sign at the old Blockbuster Video Express store in Shanklin on the Isle of Wight


Lost brands

I've spent a lot of the last two years reminiscing about 'the good old days' before the coronavirus pandemic hit the planet. One of my areas of interest is in old retail brands - I'm a marketer by profession and two of my first jobs in the 1990's and the year 2000 were at Tandy and Toys R Us. It's been fascinating to find remnants of a number of lost, dead and defunct brands on the high street and at retail parks.