Art Deco - The Odeon cinema in Worcester

A look at the Odeon cinema in Worcester, Worcestershire.

The Odeon cinema in Worcester was built in the Art Deco style and opened in 1935.

Check out the Odeon website for more information.

The Regal Cinema in Kettering, Northamptonshire

This Art Deco building in Kettering, Northamptonshire opened as The Regal Cinema in December 1936.

It had been a bingo club since 1975, most recently as a Gala Bingo. It closed in 2018.

Art Deco - The Plaza in Port Talbot, Wales

This was the Plaza in Port Talbot, Wales in May 2019.

It was built in 1939 and opened in April 1940.

Thankfully the building was reopened as The New Plaza and retained the Modern & Art Deco influenced frontage.

Check it out on The New Plaza website.

Art Deco - The former Odeon Cinema in Chorley, Lancashire.

A look at the former Odeon Cinema in Chorley, Lancashire.

The Art Deco building opened in February 1938.

This was how it looked in August 2020 when it had most recently been a Buzz Bingo.

The business (and building) never re-opened after the Coronavirus pandemic.

Sadly the building was demolished and there is now a car park where it once stood.

New Art Deco style architecture in Hunstanton

Edgewater Apartments in Hunstanton, Norfolk have been created in a nice Art Deco style.

We're big fans of Art Deco style, design and architecture, so it was nice to see the new building on the seafront while visiting Sunny Hunny.

Art Deco - The Old Savoy in Northampton

A look at The Old Savoy in Northampton, Northamptonshire.

It opened in 1936.

Check out The Old Savoy website for more information.

Stafford Cinema on Newport Road

A look at Stafford Cinema.

Stafford Cinema on Newport Road in Stafford, Staffordshire opened as an Odeon in 1936 and closed in 2021.

This is how the Art Deco building looked in November 2024.

Art Deco former cinema in Worthing, West Sussex

A look at an Art Deco building in Worthing, West Sussex.

This Art Deco building in Worthing opened as The Plaza in 1933 and was a theatre and cinema.

Buzz Bingo permanently closed in 2025.

The building had been a bingo hall since the 1970s.

Art Deco - Lost cinema in Gloucester

A look at The Top Rank Club in Gloucester, Gloucestershire.

It opened as a Plaza Super Cinema in 1935 and later became an Odeon.

After its life as a cinema it became a Mecca Bingo Hall until it closed in 2022.

Electric Greens Crazy Golf at The Tivoli in Cambridge

A look at the Electric Greens Crazy Golf courses at The Tivoli in Cambridge.

We recently swung by The Tivoli indoor entertainment venue in Cambridge and took a look at the two 9-hole minigolf courses there.

Visit The Tivoli website for more information and booking details.

We arrived in time to have a drink, but not to have a round on either course.

One to play another day on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

The Tivoli is a former cinema - and in the Art Deco style. It's a very nice looking venue.

Crazy Golf at The Tivoli in Cambridge

Two 9-hole indoor Crazy Golf courses have opened at The Tivoli in Cambridge.

We first heard about the plans back in 2019 and it's good to hear the venue has opened.

The Tivoli building looks wonderful. It's a former cinema. We're big fans of Art Deco and look forward to visiting on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Check out The Tivoli website for more information.

Art Deco - The Ritz Cinema in Nuneaton, Warwickshire

A look at The Ritz Cinema in Nuneaton, Warwickshire.

It opened in 1937 and after being a cinema it was a Gala Bingo until it closed in 2007.

Art Deco - The Regent Bingo Hall in Spalding

A look at The Regent Bingo Hall in Spalding, Lincolnshire.

It opened as the Savoy Cinema in 1937, but closed in 1970. It then operated as the Regent Bingo Club until a fire in May 2021.

Blockbuster Video in Southampton

A visit to the former Blockbuster Video store in Southampton.

We made a visit to the old Blockbuster Video store on Portswood Road in Southampton, Hampshire last month.

Work was underway to open the location as a new business but luckily there were still some traces of the Blockbuster brand on the wonderful Art Deco building.

One of the best things still visible was this elaborate QuikDrop box!

With our interest piqued by the discovery of the abandoned Blockbuster Video store in Fallowfield in 2019 we've now visited a number of former Blockbuster locations, including:

• Abingdon, Oxfordshire
• Barnsley, South Yorkshire
• Basingstoke, Hampshire
• Billingham, Teesside
• Cheadle Hulme, Greater Manchester
• Chester, Cheshire
• Chorley, Lancashire
• Colne, Lancashire
• Fallowfield, Manchester
• Felixstowe, Suffolk
• Great Moor, Stockport, Greater Manchester
• Hastings, East Sussex
• Leigh, Greater Manchester
• Marple, Greater Manchester
• Nuneaton, Warwickshire
• Oldham, Greater Manchester
• Prescot, Lancashire
• Southampton, Hampshire
• Telford, Shropshire
• Wythenshawe, Manchester

Lost shops - Debenhams

Debenhams recently became the latest retail casualty as the brand ceased trading on the high street in May 2021 after 243 years of operation. More than 100 bricks & mortar stores closed and Debenhams will continue as an online-only brand as it is now owned by online retailer Boohoo.

Debenhams in Stockport

The lights were still on in December 2020

A view of the store during lockdown in April 2021

In the store in April 2021

In January 2021

Debenhams in Nuneaton

In May 2021

Debenhams in Manchester

Debenhams on Market Street in Manchester one day after the store's closure

Covid-19 signs

Covid-19 signage in January 2021

A Covid-19 sign in August 2020

What next for the former shops?

As with other collapsed chains it'll be interesting to see who moves in to the former Debenhams shops and how long the last traces of the brand will linger on the high street.

There are already plans for one former store to become an indoor entertainment venue. Gravity Active Entertainment will be opening a new centre in Wandsworth, London. The four-floor site will be home to a crazy golf course, bar & restaurant, pool, tenpin bowling, darts, high ropes, go-karting and more.

The retailtainment and minigolf boom

Miniature Golf is a big part of the retailtainment boom, with courses opening as standalone entertainment activities, or as part of large shoppingtainment leisure offerings in malls, high streets and retail parks.

Some of these retailtainment activities are permanent, while others are pop-ups catering to a mix of audiences, from children and families, to adults looking for competitive socialising fun.

Minigolf has really grown in popularity in the last decade and has moved from only being 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.

Minigolf is also a popular addition to boost footfall, create awareness and attract people to a location. Businesses also use portable and temporary minigolf layouts for product launches and promotions.

Other lost shops

We've seen traces, remnants and signage of a number of lost shop brands on our travels including Blockbuster Video, Toys R Us, Woolworths, British Home Stores, Kwik Save, Tandy, RadioShack, Grainger Games, Carphone Warehouse and JJB Sports.