There has been a boom in nostalgia for the brand in recent years. The Bend store is now a destination for people wanting to rekindle some of that 90's spirit.
Blockbuster in the UK.
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 last stores closed on the 16th December.
Even now, there are still some clearly visible remnants of the brand on the high street and on retail parks. And we've been to most of them on our travels!
A look at the former Blockbuster Video store in Nuneaton, Warwickshire.
Emily briefly revisited Nuneaton recently and while there took a photo of the former Blockbuster Video store on Regent Street in the town.
Back in 2021 the old sign at the former Blockbuster Video store was uncovered when the tenant of the building moved out. And we went along for a look.
Blockbuster Video in the UK.
At its peak in 2004 there were more than 9,000 stores around the world. 500-plus of those were in the UK.
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 last stores closed on the 16th December.
Even now there are still some visible remnants of the brand on the high street and on retail parks. And we've been to most of them on our travels.
The Golf Fang indoor crazy golf course in Nottingham was the 1,088th course visited and 587th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour since September 2006.
Golf Fang was formerly known as Ghetto Golf, and we've previously been to their locations in Digbeth, Liverpool and Byker on our minigolf travels.
A look at an old Blockbuster Video shop in Hastings, East Sussex.
We spotted this old Blockbuster Video store in Hastings while in the seaside town for a minigolf tournament. The former video shop had been turned into a book store called Book-Buster.
Book-Buster former Blockbuster Video store in Hastings in October 2013
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.
The last Blockbuster Video shop ceased trading in the UK in December 2013.
Amazingly we've been able to find traces of the brand at 29 former store locations. This has ranged from QuikDrop boxes to parking signage to full shopfronts!
Posts about former Blockbuster Video stores we've been to:
Blockbuster ceased operations in the UK in December 2013, so it was interesting to see there were still signs of the brand at the old shop - including a near mint condition shop front!
Similar to the abandoned Blockbuster stores in Manchester and Colne, the inside of the abandoned shop had an eerie look to it.
There are still traces of former Blockbuster Video shops to be found on the high streets, shopping centres and retail parks of the UK.
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!).
Visiting the last bits of Blockbuster Video in the UK.
Lost brands.
Emily and I have spent the last few years reminiscing about 'the good old days'. One of our areas of interest is in old retail brands - we're both marketers by profession and two of my first jobs in the 1990's and the year 2000 were at Tandy and Toys R Us, while Emily's first job was at a Happy Shopper shop.
It's been fascinating to find remnants of these brands - and a number of other lost, dead and defunct brands - on the high street and at retail parks around the UK.
Blockbuster Video in Nuneaton in 2021
Visiting Blockbuster Video stores.
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.
The last Blockbuster Video shop ceased trading in the UK in December 2013.
Amazingly we've been able to find traces of the brand at 29 former store locations. This has ranged from QuikDrop boxes to parking signage to full shopfronts!
Posts about former Blockbuster Video stores we've been to:
Blockbuster ceased operations in the UK in December 2013 and it was interesting that lots of the branding, signage and QuikDrop box remained largely unchanged at the abandoned store in that time.
The inside of the old store had a haunting, frozen in time look to it.
Blockbuster Video closed in the UK on the 16th December 2013.
The last Blockbuster Video shop ceased trading in the UK on this day in 2013.
Blockbuster Video entered the UK video rental market in 1989 following the purchase of Ritz Video.
In 2013 there were over 500 Blockbuster locations in the UK. Throughout that year the number dwindled until October when only 264 shops remained. On the 16th December 2013 all stores ceased operations.
Even now in 2025 there are still some clearly visible remnants of the brand on the high street and on retail parks.
The first Blockbuster Video.
The first Blockbuster Video store had opened in Dallas, Texas, USA on the 19th October 1985.
The last Blockbuster Video on Earth.
The very last Blockbuster Video store in operation is in Bend, Oregon, USA.
At its peak in 2004 there were more than 9,000 Blockbuster 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.
Nowadays it you want to rent a film from Blockbuster you'll have to travel to the last Blockbuster Video on the planet - Bend Blockbuster in Oregon.
Visiting the last bits of Blockbuster Video in the UK.
Check out these posts about other former Blockbuster Video stores we've been to in:
Emily and I have spent the last few years reminiscing about 'the good old days'. One of our areas of interest is in old retail brands - we're both marketers by profession and two of my first jobs in the 1990's and the year 2000 were at Tandy and Toys R Us, while Emily's first job was at a Happy Shopper shop. It's been fascinating to find remnants of these brands - and a number of other lost, dead and defunct brands - on the high street and at retail parks around the UK.
There has been a boom in nostalgia for the brand in recent years. The Bend store is now a destination for people wanting to rekindle some of that 90's spirit.
Blockbuster in the UK.
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 last stores closed on the 16th December.
Even now, there are still some clearly visible remnants of the brand on the high street and on retail parks. And we've been to most of them on our travels!
Blockbuster Video stores we've visited.
Check out these posts about other former Blockbuster Video stores we've been to in:
Emily and I have spent the last few years reminiscing about 'the good old days'. One of our areas of interest is in old retail brands - we're both marketers by profession and two of my first jobs in the 1990's and the year 2000 were at Tandy and Toys R Us, while Emily's first job was at a Happy Shopper shop. It's been fascinating to find remnants of these brands - and a number of other lost, dead and defunct brands - on the high street and at retail parks around the UK.
We timed our visit perfectly during a wander round the city centre as the doors opened just after we arrived so we were able to be the first players on the course on a Saturday morning - a nice bonus for us as minigolf courses can get very busy, especially on weekends!
Golf Fang crazy golf in Nottingham is a themed, 18-hole indoor minigolf layout where the journey through the 18 holes gives you a wild experience of obstacles, sights and sounds!
One of those holes is a playable Blockbuster Video shop!
Find out more.
Visit the Golf Fang website for more information on the Nottingham course and other venues.
Our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.
The Golf Fang indoor crazy golf course in Nottingham was the 1,088th course visited and 587th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour since September 2006.
Golf Fang was formerly known as Ghetto Golf, and we've previously been to their locations in Digbeth, Liverpool and Byker.
Video shop memories.
Growing up in the 80s and 90s 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!).
There were some 'interesting' titles in the BARGAIN BIN at Golf Fang!
Visiting Blockbuster Video stores.
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.
The last Blockbuster Video shop ceased trading in the UK in December 2013.
Amazingly we've been able to find traces of the brand at 29 former store locations. This has ranged from QuikDrop boxes to parking signage to full shopfronts!
A QuikDrop on the Golf Fang course
Playing Blockbuster Crazy Golf.
It was brilliant to play the immersive Blockbuster Video-themed Crazy Golf hole at Golf Fang Nottingham.
.jpg "Blockbuster Video Express in Billingham town centre, Teesside (April 2021)")
.jpg "Blockbuster Video Express in Billingham town centre, Teesside (April 2021)")
.jpg "Blockbuster Video Express in Billingham town centre, Teesside (April 2021)")
.jpg "Blockbuster Video Express in Colne, Lancashire (August 2020)")
.jpg "Blockbuster Video Express in Colne, Lancashire (August 2020)")
.jpg "Blockbuster Video Express in Colne, Lancashire (August 2020)")
.jpg "Blockbuster Video Express in Colne, Lancashire (August 2020)")
.jpg "Blockbuster Video Express in Colne, Lancashire (August 2020)")
.jpg "Blockbuster Video store at Fallowfield Retail Park in Manchester, UK (June 2020)")
.jpg "Blockbuster Video store at Fallowfield Retail Park in Manchester, UK (June 2020)")
.jpg "Blockbuster Video store at Fallowfield Retail Park in Manchester, UK (June 2020)")
.jpg "Blockbuster Video store at Fallowfield Retail Park in Manchester, UK (June 2020)")
.jpg "Blockbuster Video store at Fallowfield Retail Park in Manchester, UK (June 2020)")
.jpg "Blockbuster Video store at Fallowfield Retail Park in Manchester, UK (June 2020)")
.jpg "Blockbuster Video-themed Minigolf hole at the Golf Fang Indoor Crazy Golf course in Nottingham, August 2025")
.jpg "Blockbuster Video-themed Minigolf hole at the Golf Fang Indoor Crazy Golf course in Nottingham, August 2025")
.jpg "Blockbuster Video-themed Minigolf hole at the Golf Fang Indoor Crazy Golf course in Nottingham, August 2025")
.jpg "Blockbuster Video-themed Minigolf hole at the Golf Fang Indoor Crazy Golf course in Nottingham, August 2025")
.jpg "Blockbuster Video-themed Minigolf hole at the Golf Fang Indoor Crazy Golf course in Nottingham, August 2025")
.jpg "Blockbuster Video-themed Minigolf hole at the Golf Fang Indoor Crazy Golf course in Nottingham, August 2025")
.jpg "Blockbuster Video-themed Minigolf hole at the Golf Fang Indoor Crazy Golf course in Nottingham, August 2025")
.jpg "Blockbuster Video-themed Minigolf hole at the Golf Fang Indoor Crazy Golf course in Nottingham, August 2025")
.jpg "Blockbuster Video-themed Minigolf hole at the Golf Fang Indoor Crazy Golf course in Nottingham, August 2025")
.jpg "Blockbuster Video-themed Minigolf hole at the Golf Fang Indoor Crazy Golf course in Nottingham, August 2025")
.jpg "Blockbuster Video-themed Minigolf hole at the Golf Fang Indoor Crazy Golf course in Nottingham, August 2025")
.jpg "Blockbuster Video-themed Minigolf hole at the Golf Fang Indoor Crazy Golf course in Nottingham, August 2025")