What are the 7 Dimensions?

What are the 7Ds of this 7D Cinema?

The 7D Cinema at Coney Beach in Porthcawl, Wales on the 13th May 2019

Urban exploration - Anglia Square shopping centre in Norwich

A look at a lost shopping centre in Norwich, Norfolk.

Anglia Square shopping centre in Norwich opened in 1970.

Anglia Square shopping centre has now closed and been partly demolished, with plans to build new housing, offices and retail space on the site.

The Hollywood Cinema closed in 2019

Photos of Anglia Square shopping centre in Norwich (May 2022).

The Hollywood Cinema was previously an ODEON

We visited Anglia Square shopping centre several times when in the city. Mostly to go to Sutton Toys, an excellent retro and vintage toy and videogame shop - which has now relocated to Reepham Road in Norwich.

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.

Back to the Future is 40 years old

Back to the Future was released on the big screen 40 years ago today.

Back to the Future was released on the 3rd July 1985.

Cinema audiences in the USA were treated to the first screenings of Back to the Future 40 years ago today!

I got to see a DeLorean time machine at MediaCity in Salford in March 2020

We found a (now lost) video rental shop in Little Lever, Bolton in October 2020. It was stocked with loads of VHS tapes - including Back to the Future Part II. It was like stepping back in time!

I got to see my first DeLorean in real life at the Didsbury & South Manchester Car Show in Didsbury Park in July 2019

Gremlins

The hit film Gremlins was released in the USA on this day in 1984.

What a day at the cinema that must've been - with Ghostbusters out on the same day!

Gremlins causing a scene at the Totally Stockport Comic Con a few years ago

Gizmo's in Morecambe, Lancashire is open from 4pm to late - I hope it closes before midnight

Have you seen Final Destination: Bloodlines yet?

We were lucky enough to see a special double-bill screening alongside the original Final Destination from the year 2000 last week.

It was superb to see both films, and the new one lived up to my expectations - and more!

While we haven't had anywhere near as much outdoor or experiential advertising or marketing for the film here in the UK as there has been in the USA - there's been a real-life logging truck rolling along the roads over there with promos for the movie for example! - I've seen a lot of buzz for the film online and on social media.

We've spotted two pieces of outdoor advertising for Final Destination: Bloodlines at the Trafford Centre in Manchester, and there was one poster at The Light cinema where we saw the film.

Is there any other advertising for the film I've missed?

Movie Theatre Day

Today (23rd April) is Movie Theatre Day.

Movie Theatre Day is celebrated on the 23rd April each year.

Gremlins causing a scene at the Totally Stockport Comic Con in 2022

When was the last time you visited the cinema?

Luckily for us, here in Stockport town centre we've got The Plaza Art Deco super cinema and theatre, as well as The Light. There's also The Savoy in Heaton Moor and the Regent Cinema in Marple.

There are also several former and abandoned cinemas across the town.

Kim's Video On Tour in the UK

Watching the documentary film Kim's Video at The Light cinema in Stockport.

We went to the Stockport screening of Kim's Video at The Light cinema last night and had a superb time.

It's a fascinating and intriguing documentary and was brilliant to watch on the big screen.

The documentary follows filmmaker David Redman on his quest to find and save the 55,000 strong collection of VHS tapes and DVDs from the once popular, but now defunct Kim's Video store in New York City.

You can find out more about Kim's Video On Tour in the UK on the Cinetopia website.

Check out the Kim's Video collection at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema.

Visit The Light Stockport website for more information.

A really nice touch about the screening was the addition of a mystery video swap box for customers to add an item to before the film - and to take one from after the viewing! As big fans of physical media and old video shops this was brilliant to see.

Dropping our two DVD picks in the mystery video swap box

We got a lovely Kim's Video VHS tape graphic sticker as part of our ticket too!

Lost cinemas - The ODEON in Canterbury, Kent

A look at a lost cinema in Canterbury.

The 'Now showing' / 'Coming soon' poster boards outside had posters for Covid-19 vaccines!

Back in 2022 we visited Canterbury and had a look at the ODEON cinema there.

It'd closed in March 2020 due to the Coronavirus Pandemic and in 2021 became a Covid-19 vaccination centre. It never re-opened as a cinema.

The inside of the cinema showed the foyer had been most recently used as a Covid-19 vaccination centre

New mini golf course in Huddersfield

A film-themed mini golf course is opening at The Light in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire.

Action Shots Mini Golf is a 10-hole indoor movie-themed course

The Light cinema and entertainment complex is opening in Huddersfield on Friday 11th April.

The new venue will include a film-themed mini golf course, as well as an arcade, tenpin bowling, high ropes challenge, interactive darts, skittles, street curling, batting cages, laser tag, shuffleboard, axe throwing and more!

Check out The Light Huddersfield's website for more information.

It's another new course for us to visit on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Mini Golf at The Light in Banbury

There's a mini golf course at The Light cinema in Banbury, Oxfordshire.

Visit The Light Banbury's website for more information.

New mini-golf course at Brunswick Moviebowl in Derry

There are plans for a new mini-golf course at Brunswick Moviebowl in Derry, Northern Ireland.

Visit the Brunswick Moviebowl website for more information.

We haven't been to Northern Ireland for a fair few years and the course at the Brunswick Moviebowl will be another to add to our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Mini Golf at The Light cinema in Banbury

There's a new mini golf course at The Light cinema in Banbury.

The Light cinema in Banbury, Oxfordshire is now also home to a 10-hole mini golf course.

The course is a film-themed layout.

The indoor glow-in-the-dark crazy golf course will be another new one for us to visit on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour when we're back in my home county.

Visit The Light Banbury's website for more information.

Minigolf at The Light in Redhill, Surrey

There's a new 10-hole movie-themed minigolf course at The Light in Redhill, Surrey.

The new minigolf course at the entertainment venue is planned to open on Friday 23rd June.

Visit The Light Redhill website for more information.

Gremlins

The hit film Gremlins was released in the USA on this day in 1984.

What a day at the cinema that must've been - with Ghostbusters out on the same day!

Gremlins causing a scene at the Totally Stockport Comic Con last year

Gizmo's in Morecambe, Lancashire is open from 4pm to late - I hope it closes before midnight

Mini Golf in Banbury, Oxfordshire

There are plans for a Mini Golf course to open at The Light cinema and entertainment centre at the Castle Quay Waterfront in Banbury, Oxfordshire.

Visit the Castle Quay Waterfront website for more information.

It'll be a new course for us to visit on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Ecto-1 at The Light cinema in Stockport

It was nice to see Ecto-1 at The Light cinema in Stockport on Saturday evening as part of the promotion for the new Ghostbusters film.

I saw Ecto-1a and the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man in Urmston for Halloween a couple of years ago too.

Budgens in Sheffield

A look at a Budgens supermarket in Sheffield.

The supermarket on London Road was a Sainsbury's Local until February this year.

It reopened as a Budgens shortly after.

You don't see Budgens as much as you used to.

The building really stands out and is one of the oldest in the area. A lovely sight to spot.

It opened as The Lansdowne Picture Palace in 1914 and became a Mecca dance hall called The Locarno in the 1950s. It underwent a number of name changes during its time as a nightclub.

Interestingly the building was a Marks & Spencer for a short time in the late 1940s.

Social distancing signage and the welcome mat at the entrance

Budgens was founded by John Budgen in 1872.

The company is now a subsidiary of Booker Group, part of Tesco plc.