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.

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.

Dealz not Poundland in a former Woolworths

A look at the Dealz shop in Douglas on the Isle of Man.

I took this snap of the Dealz shop on Strand Street in Douglas while on holiday on the Isle of Man in 2018.

Dealz is a subsidiary of Poundland, which is owned by Steinhoff International, hence the similar branding. The majority of Dealz stores can be found in the Republic of Ireland, with others in Spain and Poland. The store in Orkney opened as a Dealz but was rebranded as a Poundland.

Woolworths opened in the Art Deco building in 1924 and closed in 2008.

We've seen a few other old Woolworths shops on our travels.

Art Deco in Doncaster

We're big fans of Art Deco style, design and architecture and we've been remembering our trip to Doncaster last year and our stay at the superb Earl of Doncaster Hotel in Bennetthorpe.

Roaring twenties in the 2020s.

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We couldn't have asked for a better spot - Art Deco magnificence and the hotel was right next door to a park with a Crazy Golf course in it.

The Crazy Golf course at Elmfield Park

Danum House was another nice Art Deco building in the town centre.

We're looking forward to getting back out on our travels, exploring new places and revisiting our favourite spots when it's safe to do so in the future.

Elmfield Park Crazy Golf course in Doncaster

A visit to the Crazy Golf course at Elmfield Park in Bennetthorpe, Doncaster.

We visited our 943rd miniature golf course while in Doncaster earlier this month.

Unfortunately it was out-of-season so we couldn't game on the Crazy Golf course at Elmfield Park in Bennetthorpe.

Check out videos from our visit to the course.

The Crazy Golf course is next to the bowls greens

We had a brilliant time in Doncaster. We've previously played minigolf courses on the outskirts of the town and nearby, but never been to the centre.

We were really impressed by the town's markets and enjoyed visiting a few different pubs. We stayed at the wonderful Earl of Doncaster hotel, a marvellous Art Deco hotel right next to Elmfield Park.

The Earl of Doncaster is a fantastic Art Deco building

The lobby

The restaurant

Travelling around the UK visiting minigolf courses has taken us to so many interesting places, many of which wouldn't be considered a 'normal' tourist spot. We really enjoyed our time in Doncaster and look forward to going back again in the future.