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.
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.
The old sign at the former Blockbuster Video store on Regent Street in Nuneaton was uncovered when a tenant of the building moved out. This is how the store looked on the 2nd May 2021.
Blockbuster Video store locations we've visited on our travels
Our interest in lost brands and retail history has taken us to several former Blockbuster stores:
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.
It's amazing that there are still clearly visible remnants of the brand on the high street and on retail parks eleven years later.
The sign about the closure was still visible on the window there before it was demolished.
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.
Blockbuster certainly wasn't the first video rental shop brand, but it was at one time the market leader.
Blockbuster Video store locations we've visited on our travels
Our interest in lost brands and retail history has taken us to several former Blockbuster stores:
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.
Taking a look at the former Blockbuster Video Express store in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex.
The signage at the old Blockbuster Video Express store in Westcliff-on-Sea is no more, and work is underway on the unit to create two new shops and flats.
Here's what it looked like when we visited in April last year.
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.
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!
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 - which back in the day was seen as something of a 'category killer' that saw off many smaller operators.
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.
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 on our travels!
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.
The shopfront was very well maintained and it was nice to see the original signage.
Finding other old Blockbuster Video shops.
It's always fun to see ghost signs, remnants of old & dead brands and interesting signage while out and about on our travels. Since I found the remains of the Blockbuster Video store in Fallowfield, Manchester in October 2019 I've been intrigued to see the brand still has a lingering presence on the high street. The last Blockbuster Video shop ceased trading in the UK in December 2013!
Our travels have taken us to several former Blockbuster stores:
.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)")
I’m a Champion Miniature Golfer on a tour of the UK’s minigolf and crazy golf courses. Guinness World Record Holder for 'Most miniature golf courses visited'. Coeliac living a gluten free life. Mediocre polymath. Train nerd. Retro gamer. Urban explorer. Always feeling nostalgic about something.
.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 Express store in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex (April 2023)")
.jpg "Blockbuster Video Express store in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex (April 2023)")
.jpg "Blockbuster Video Express store in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex (April 2023)")
.jpg "Blockbuster Video Express store in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex (April 2023)")
.jpg "Blockbuster Video Express store in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex (April 2023)")
.jpg "Blockbuster Video Express store in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex (April 2023)")
.jpg "The old Blockbuster Video Express store in Billingham")
.jpg "The old Blockbuster Video Express store in Billingham")
.jpg "The old Blockbuster Video Express store in Billingham")
.jpg "The old Blockbuster Video Express store in Billingham")
.jpg "The old Blockbuster Video Express store in Billingham")
