Gloof - 100% gluten free in Soham, Cambridgeshire

Last Thursday we visited Gloof, the new 100% gluten free coffee shop in Soham, Cambridgeshire.

We'd heard about it online and were looking forward to our stop-off in the town while en route to Ipswich.

Look at that array of cakes. The empty spot at the front of the counter is where the sausage rolls were

We received a warm welcome and I was amazed by the selection of cakes and sweet treats on the counter. I also spotted sausage rolls and ordered one immediately.

A sign every Coeliac wants to see

We then sat down and had a look at the menu. It was superb to once again read that EVERYTHING is gluten free on the menu. As someone with Coeliac Disease I have struggled for years to find places that are 100% gluten free. Thankfully, the owner of Gloof is also a Coeliac so understands the risks and has ensured that the environment is free of cross-contamination.

We ordered a panini each - I went for Cheese & Ham, while Emily had the Mozzarella and Sun Dried Tomatoes one so we could share.

Luckily we arrived just before three other couples came in, creating a mid-afternoon rush.

All of the food looked great and the sausage rolls were proving popular, so popular that they actually ran out while we were there. Nice to see, but it did stop me from ordering a second one.

Sausage roll starter

The sausage roll arrived shortly after ordering and was served warm, with a sachet of ketchup. It's been so long since I've been able to eat something seemingly so simple for lunch. I might get to eat a sausage roll from M&S, but when I'm out and about I wouldn't be able to get a hot one. Little things like that can make a big difference and I really enjoyed this 'starter'.

Panini main

The paninis were up next and were really good. It's very rare that Emily and I get to have a lunch together where we both get to eat and it was especially nice to be able to share half of our paninis.

We still had room for dessert, so I had the double chocolate cake and Emily had a cheese scone. Both were excellent.

Double chocolate cake with a cake fork for dessert

Before leaving we also had a try of the lemon drizzle cake. It was delicious.

We both rate Gloof highly for the service, environment, range of food and general niceness. We're looking forward to our return visit already.

Check out Gloof for more information and opening times.

Related blog posts:
- Coeliac
- Gluten Free
- 100% gluten free places in the UK

Peterborough Minigolf

Playing the new Mini Golf course at Dobbies Garden Centre in Peterborough.

We had some lovely weather to play the brand new course in Peterborough

On Friday 31st July we were able to play the brand new 12-hole Peterborough Minigolf course at Dobbies Garden Centre. We'd been looking forward to playing the course since we heard about its construction back in June. We hadn't originally planned to be travelling north using the A1M, but the adverse traffic conditions on the M1 meant we had the opportunity to swing by and give the layout a play.

Emily tackling the 4th hole

The course became the 382nd played and 662nd visited overall on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

On the long 5th

When we arrived we saw fellow pro minigolfer Dave Gomm and his wife and opponent Liz Gomm finishing up a round. Dave joined us on our round. always nice to catch up with the pair

Playing hole 7

    

Playing the lucky last hole

Unfortunately we didn't win a free game

In our match-up Emily beat me by one shot, with a score of 29 to 30. Neither of us won a free game on the lucky last hole, but I did get a hole-in-one on the 6th hole.

Emily on the 8th

The Peterborough Minigolf team worked with course designers and builders UrbanCrazy to create the course and they've done a fine job. We've played a lot of UrbanCrazy's courses on our tour and always enjoyed the look and playability of them.

Hole 1

Dave Gomm on hole 1

Hole 2

The Dobbies logo forms hole 3 - it's a tricky hole too

Hole 4

Hole 5

The green on hole 5

Hole 6

Hole 7

Hole 8

Hole 9

Hole 10

Hole 11

Hole 11's main obstacle

The tricky green and water hazard on hole 11

Hole 12

Hole 12

Lucky hole 13

As a big fan of mini golf merchandise I had to snap up one of the Peterborough Minigolf t-shirts (£8) while I was there.

The Peterborough Minigolf t-shirt - it's also available in pink and white versions. The course are selling mugs in the merch range too, but the prices weren't available on our visit

The Peterborough Minigolf course scorecard is nicely done. There's a loyalty card to earn a free game after seven visits too. Hopefully we can win a free game on the 13th hole one day and add that card to our collection as well

Check out the Peterborough Minigolf website for more information, prices and opening times. We're looking forward to returning for some more games in the future.

The course gets a thumbs up

Links:
- Peterborough Minigolf website
- Peterborough Minigolf on Facebook
- Peterborough Minigolf on Twitter
- UrbanCrazy website
- Dobbies Garden Centre, Peterborough
- The UrbanCrazy World Of Miniature Golf

Related blog posts:
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Peterborough
- UrbanCrazy
- New Minigolf course opening in Peterborough
- Merchandise

Videos
- Peterborough Minigolf at Dobbies Garden Centre 1 of 2
- Peterborough Minigolf at Dobbies Garden Centre 2 of 2

Like the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour on Facebook, check out our YouTube channel and follow me and Emily on Twitter.

Crazy Golf at The Dolphin Pub in Melbourn

A revisit to a pub beer garden course in Cambridgeshire. Or not as it would turn out.

On our way home from a recent visit to Ipswich we stopped off at The Dolphin Pub in Melbourn, Cambridgeshire for a quick soft drink in the beer garden there.

Back in May 2010 we'd visited the pub to have a look at the derelict 4-hole Crazy Golf course there. It wasn't playable then (no putters or balls at the bar) and we were told it was "just there"!

The 4-hole Crazy Golf course layout at The Dolphin pub in Melbourn (May 2010)

The course is long-gone now.

In the beer garden of The Dolphin pub in Melbourn (August 2014)

However, there was a little football target game set-up so I had a kickabout on that.

Having a kickabout in the beer garden

Related blog posts:
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Course Visit #223 Overall - The Dolphin Pub, Melbourn, Cambs
- Minigolf and Crazy Golf courses in Pub Beer Gardens

Link:
- The Dolphin Pub

Christmas Crazy Golf in Peterborough

Christmas-themed Minigolf course at the Queensgate Shopping Centre in Peterborough for the festive season.

Yesterday I heard that the Mini Golf and Games 9-hole Miniature Golf course has been set-up in the Queensgate Shopping Centre in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire.

A great idea to give shoppers a fun break while out Christmas shopping, and especially for those people (like me) who would prefer to be doing anything but Christmas shopping while their partner carries on with the spending!

The 9-hole Christmas Crazy Golf course set-up at the Queensgate Shopping Centre in Peterborough. Photo by Mini Golf and Games

I played the course towards the end of the summer when it was set-up in Letchworth Garden City, Hertfordshire. It’s a very good layout and operated by the friendly team at Mini Golf and Games. Check out the links below for further details.

Links:

• Queensgate Shopping Centre
• Mini Golf and Games

Related blog posts:

• Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
• Minigolf in Letchworth Garden City
• Christmas
• Peterborough

Minigolf News - "Emily 'Lemony' Gottfried signs for the Cambridgeshire Mini Golf Club!"

In the latest Minigolf Transfer News Emily 'Coach' Gottfried has signed for the newest Minigolf Club in the UK - the Cambridgeshire Mini Golf Club.

Emily, a former member of the Midlands Minigolf Club and the reigning WMF Women's World Adventure Golf Masters Champion, sealed the deal through a series of texts with CMGC Captain James 'Ruthers' Rutherford while seated at the 'Sheen Sisters Table' during a meal out at PJ's Restaurant in Covent Garden, London.

The CMGC was formed in August 2011 by former Green Mini Golf Club member James 'TheRocket' Rutherford. Surrey-based players Oliver 'The Machine' Florence and Richard 'Gentle Touch' Skeggs are the other two current club members.

Details of how to join the Cambridgeshire Mini Golf Club can be found on the CMGC website.

Johnsons of Old Hurst - Crocodiles, Ducks with Hairstyles and Gluten Free Food

Emily and I recently made a visit to Johnsons Butchers and Farm Shop in Old Hurst near Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire. We'd searched online as we were in the area and wondered if there were any Crazy Golf courses or Gluten Free places to grab a bite to eat.

The search didn't turn up anything in particular on either of those points, but interestingly the Johnsons' site is home to a crocodile enclosure! So we had to make a visit...

Unfortunately it wasn't like the scene in the James Bond Film Live and Let Die where Roger Moore jumps over each of the crocodile's heads.

The Crocs were in their own enclosure, but it was interesting to have a look around the farm which is also home to Ostrich, Deer and Pigs!

The farm shop has a wide range of food and alcohol in stock, including a selection of Gluten Free products for Coeliacs. The Butchers stocks an array of meat, including Crocodile Tail Meat, which according to the packet "is like Monkfish"!

Right next to the Car Park is a Duck Pond with Ducks available to purchase.

One of them had the best hairstyle I've ever seen on a duck!

Unfortunately we arrived too late to visit the Tea Room which is wonderfully named 'The Eccentric Englishman Tearoom' - I'd have fitted in there!

Link:
- Johnsons of Old Hurst website

The Himalayas Putting Course at Kingsway Golf Centre, Melbourn, Cambs - course played #196

A visit to the new Putting course at Kingsway Golf Centre.


I was tipped off about a new Putting/Minigolf course at Kingsway Golf Centre in Melbourn, Cambridgeshire by my fellow BMGA Tour member Adam 'AK47' Kelly, who informed me that the old Crazy Golf course (#156) has been replaced by a new 9-hole Putting Course called 'The Himalayas'!

When we visited on Saturday 12th December 2009 the area looked like this:


Back then it was the 200th overall course location visited on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour, and the 156th course played.

The new look course was great fun and there were a few good Ace opportunities out there. There were also some nice and tricky holes there too!







It's well worth a visit to Kingsway Golf Centre and having a play on the Himalayas. It's good value too, at £3 for multiple plays.

The centre also has a 9-hole Putting Green which became course played number 197!



Melbourn continues to be a Crazy Minigolf 'hotbed' of sorts, as these are the sixth and seventh Miniature Golf courses we've played in the area on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour!

Related blog posts:
- The 'original' Crazy Golf at Kingsway Golf Centre
- Whaddon Golf Centre (Putting Green & Crazy Golf)
- The Dolphin Pub (4-hole derelict Crazy Golf)
- Melbourn Village Fete (Miniature Crazy Golf)
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- The Himalayas Putting Course at St Andrews, Scotland
- Minigolf & Crazy Golf at Wigan's Haigh Country Park

Like the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour on Facebook, check out our YouTube channel and follow me and Emily on Twitter.