Video rental shops in the UK (July 2025)

A look at video and movie rental shops in the UK.

You can still rent films from a number of video shops in the UK.

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!).

I found the preserved remains of a Blockbuster Video store in Fallowfield, Manchester in 2019. And during the coronavirus pandemic my interest in lost brands and retail history was piqued. Since then I've been to several former Blockbuster Video stores around the UK, as well as finding some other old, and some still open, video shops on our travels!

How many video shops are there in the UK in 2025?

Our most recent estimate shows there are currently seven 'video shops' still in operation offering physical media movie rentals in the UK as at July 2025.

They are:

• 20th Century Flicks in Bristol
• Fast Forward in Ayr, Scotland
• Northgate Video & DVD in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
• Snips Movies in Bebington, Wirral
• Stones Video Library & Sweet Shop & Vaporiser Shop in Lowestoft, Suffolk
• TVL Allstar Video in Haverhill, Suffolk
• VideOdyssey in Toxteth, Liverpool

We've been to 20th Century Flicks, Northgate Video & DVD and TVL Allstar Video, and are looking forward to going to Fast Forward, Snips Movies, Stones Video Library and VideoOdyssey.

Northgate Video & DVD shop in Bury St Edmunds (May 2025)

While there are nowhere near as many as there once were, it's still very nice to see there are businesses active in the 'video rental' sector in 2025.

Do you know of any other video shops in operation? Please do let us know.

Non-rental video shops.

There is also Straight To Video - 80s Video Shop in Alfreton, Derbyshire. While they don't actually rent physical media, the shop is a treasure trove of nostalgia. And they do have items for sale.

We're looking forward to a trip there.

Video shop speakeasies, bars, and venues.

The nostalgia for video shops and the culture they provided back in the day has been translated to a few speakeasies, bars and other venues incorporating a video shop theme.

You can't rent any of these films on VHS at RBT Video

These include:

• Pixel Busters in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire - an arcade and social gaming venue hidden behind a video store.
• Rewind NQ in Manchester's Northern Quarter - check out my blog post 'Drinking in a 'video shop'')
• RBT Video in Wakefield - take a look at the blog post from our visit
• Vice & Co in Lincoln - here's a blog post from our visit

And Bunga 90 - a re-imagining of the Bunga Bunga restaurant and entertainment venue as a 90's fever dream! - is planned to open in Covent Garden, London on the 18th September 2025. The venue will see you step through a video shop frontage to enter a venue full of retro games, karaoke and more.

Blockbuster Crazy Golf.

Interestingly there are 'Blockbuster' store-themed minigolf holes in the UK! They're part of the Golf Fang indoor crazy golf courses. This was the one at The Custard Factory in Digbeth, Birmingham back in 2017.

A Blockbuster Video themed Crazy Golf hole at Ghetto Golf (now Golf Fang) in Digbeth, Birmingham (November 2017)

Video shop pop-ups.

In April this year there was a KitKat x Blockbuster pop-up video shop that was part of a nostalgia inspired campaign to launch KitKat's new sharing bars.

KitKat x Blockbuster Video Shop pop-up in Soho, London. Photo by Gareth Holmes (April 2025)

Signs and traces of old video shops.

There are still traces of former video shops to be found on the streets, shopping centres and retail parks of the UK if you look for it!

VHS tapes and DVDs to rent at B.V.C. Bolton Video Centre in Little Lever (October 2020)

While most of these relics and ghost signs are of old Blockbuster Video stores, there are still signs of independent video shops to be seen if you're lucky (and actually visit and rent from if you're really lucky!).

An old video rental sign inside a Happy Shopper shop in Ilkeston (November 2020)

The list below has links to those we've snapped over the years:

• Shahenshah Videos in Luton
• Deane Video Centre in Bolton
• Video Box Office at the Happy Shopper Wayfairer Discount Store in Ilkeston
• Video Future in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent
• The Movie Box in Manchester
• Jubilee Films in Ashton-under-Lyne

Jubilee Films video shop in Ashton-under-Lyne (August 2020)

• B.V.C. - Bolton Video Centre in Little Lever, Bolton (closed down in 2024)
• 20th Century Flicks in Bristol (still operating, but closed on the day of our visit)
• Video Express in Swansea
• Video Rentals at The Village Top Shop in Thorpe Hesley, Rotherham
• Northgate Video & DVD in Bury St Edmunds (still operating, but closed on the day of our visit)
• TVL Allstar Video in Haverhill (still operating)

TVL Allstar Video DVD rental shop in Haverhill, Suffolk

We're looking forward to checking out the other still operating stores on our travels in the future.

Blockbuster Video shops.

I've enjoyed researching the lost brand and seeking out remnants of old Blockbuster stores over the last few years.

An ex-rental Blockbuster VHS tape with stickers

Here's a list, with links to blog posts about the former Blockbuster Video store locations we've visited to date:

• Abingdon, Oxfordshire
• Ashton, Bristol
• Barnsley, South Yorkshire
• Basingstoke, Hampshire
• Billingham, Teesside

• Cheadle Hulme, Greater Manchester
• Chester, Cheshire
• Chorley, Lancashire
• Clacton-on-Sea, Essex
• Colne, Lancashire
• Failsworth, Manchester
• Fallowfield, Manchester
• Felixstowe, Suffolk
• Filton, Bristol
• Great Moor, Stockport, Greater Manchester
• Hastings, East Sussex
• Leigh, Greater Manchester
• Luton, Bedfordshire
• Marple, Greater Manchester
• Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire
• Nuneaton, Warwickshire

• Oldham, Greater Manchester
• Prescot, Lancashire
• Shanklin, Isle of Wight
• Southampton, Hampshire
• Telford, Shropshire
• Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex
• Wisbech, Cambridgeshire
• Wythenshawe, Manchester

A sign for the old Blockbuster Video Express store in Colne, Lancashire (August 2020)

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.

An Xtra-vision ex-rental VHS tape from Ballymena, Northern Ireland

The last Blockbuster Video shop ceased trading in the UK in December 2013.

'Free Blockbuster'.

The first Free Blockbuster was created in 2019 and since then more have been created in the USA, Canada, Australia and the UK.

Emily visited the Free Blockbuster Las Vegas at Sohn vintage shop in Las Vegas last year and swapped some of our DVDs for some wrestling VHS tapes!

The Free Blockbuster Las Vegas at Sohn vintage shop in Las Vegas (September 2024)

You can find Free Blockbusters in several locations throughout North America, one in Australia, and there is one in the UK - at Midsomer Magpie in Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England.

Check out the Free Blockbuster website for more information.

Video rental shop watch.

Do you still have a video rental store near you? Please get in touch or let us know in the comments if you do!

An ex-rental cover for what would've been our local video shop here in Edgeley, Stockport

Movieland Video in Edgeley, Stockport

Finding an old DVD case from Movieland Video in Edgeley, Stockport.

Browsing the DVDs at one of our local charity shops this case leaped out to me as it's from a video rental shop!

Movieland Video in Edgeley is long gone, but this case is a nice piece of video shop history.

The reverse of the case

Were you a member of Movieland Video? Do you remember what the first and/or last films you rented there were?

Signs and traces of video shops

There are still traces of former video shops to be found on the streets, shopping centres and retail parks of the UK. Most of those are old Blockbuster Video stores. But there are still signs of independent video shops to be seen if you're lucky (and actually visit and rent from if you're really lucky!).

Free Blockbuster Las Vegas at Sohn vintage shop in Las Vegas

A visit to the 'Free Blockbuster' in Las Vegas.

Emily made a visit to the Free Blockbuster 'pop up' video and DVD exchange/library/dispenser at Sohn vintage shop on her recent trip to Las Vegas.

The first Free Blockbuster was created in 2019 and since then more have been created in the USA, Canada, and one in the UK.

It's been fun following the Free Blockbuster movement's journey, and it'll be interesting to see where they appear next.

Emily took some DVDs from our collection and swapped them out for three wrestling VHS tapes! She managed to get a Free Blockbuster sticker and one for Sohn too.

Wrestling goodness from the USA and Japan!

A happy customer of Free Blockbuster Las Vegas and Sohn

Hopefully I'll get to visit Las Vegas again in the future. It'd be superb to see the Free Blockbuster stall in person - and see what's new there to swap. The people at the store also showed Emily the vintage wrestling t-shirts they had in stock.

Check out the Sohn and Free Blockbuster websites for more information. And check out Free Blockbuster Las Vegas on Instagram.

As well as being a wrestling fan I'm a fan of ALF and Emily bought a vintage ALF keyring and badge for my collection at Sohn!

An ALF keyring, badge, and a Sohn sticker

Sohn seen from across the street in the Las Vegas heat!

Check out the blog posts about our travels to former Blockbuster video shops.

Olivia Prokopová's minigolf book

Minigolf superstar Olivia Prokopová has a book and DVD out.

My friend, minigolf rival and all-round miniature golf superstar Olivia Prokopová has a book and DVD out and I've finally added them to my collection. While my Czech language skills are non-existent the book is still well worth a look as it is a great archive and chronicle of Olivia's career.

Google Translate tells me that "Cesta za Zelenym sakem" means "The path behind the green jacket"

Flicking through the pages there are lots of brilliant photos from tournaments and courses around the world and it was great fun spotting characters from the world of minigolf - past and present - in the book.

Olivia is the reigning and two-time World Crazy Golf Champion and has won a multitude of titles over her career. Visit Olivia Prokopová's website for more information.

The First Ever Ripping Yarns Hopathon

Taking part in two Guinness World Record "Hopping" Events!

The Hoppers with Michael Palin and Terry Jones

As we are always keen to try out new sports, games and activities we jumped at the chance to take part in the first ever and possibly only, Ripping Yarns Hopathon!

Brad ‘The Fist’ Shepherd had heard word of the event through the Network DVD eNewsletter and so we set about putting a team together for the Guinness World Record attempt for the ‘Fastest 400m Relay Hop’. We would also be competing in the ‘Largest Group Hop’ Guinness World Record attempt.

The Hoppers before the off! From l-r Emily, me, Brad, David

We'd regiestered in advance so on Saturday 3rd of March 2012 we headed to Hampstead Heath Athletics Track in London to sign-in for our chance to enter the record books. The event was organised to promote the release of the “Ripping Yarns: The Complete Series” DVD on Monday 5th of March. In the Ripping Yarns episode ‘Tomkinson’s School Days’ two schools compete in a 30-mile Hop, and it was this great sporting feat we were sort of recreating on the Hampstead Heath Athletics Track!

The Ripping Yarns Hopathon Poster

Video: A trailer for the Ripping Yarns episode 'Tomkinson's School Days'

Prior to competing, all of the registered ‘athletes’ were required to put on their ‘school colours’ to represent either Graybridge or St Anthony’s.

Bedecked in the colours of Tomkinson’s school Graybridge we had a chance to speak with comedy legends Michael Palin and Terry Jones who were on hand to welcome the participants and pass on advice and wisdom in the sport of Hopping!

Best foot forward - from l-r me, Brad, David, Emily

Before the first of the two Hopping contest could begin we were taken through a thorough warm-up by a member of the Highgate Harriers Athletics Club. This was a great start to the event.

Alan 'Stormin' Norman (leather jacket) takes us through his own unofficial warm-up regimen, David, far right, almost suffered an injury during this!

The advert for the Largest Group Hop stated that you ‘only’ had to hop on the same leg for 400m! Many of the competitors found that after 100m it was going to be a really gruelling struggle! We were allowed to stop and rest as often as we liked, but had to continue on the same leg.

Michael Palin and Terry Jones check the competitors on the start line before sounding the Klaxon

In the race David Moore finished first out of our group, with me coming in second place*, Emily in third and Brad way back in fourth place. After completing the race ourselves we were all able to wait on the finishing line to welcome home the late finishers who were pushing themselves through the pain barrier to get to the end, all the while being encouraged by Michael Palin and Terry Jones!

*Emily would of easily beaten me, but we decided to ‘cross the finishing line together’ after chatting on the home straight. However by one-hop’s length and the fact that I put my chest forward across the line I took the ‘tape’ first to win by a hair’s breadth.

Our team on and off the podium. In the individual race David was the first member of our team across the line, I had pipped Emily to the post to take second and Brad lagged behind to take fourth

Here are some photos of Brad bravely pushing on to finish the race!

Brad getting closer to the end

Brad nearing home

Brad edging forward

Brad just before crossing the finishing line!

With one Guinness World Record attempt completed we had a rest, took on some water and watched the prize ceremony for the first race before starting the 4 x 100m relay. The overall winner of the Largest Group Hop 400m race was Ben Langley from Bedford who received the coveted and prestigious School Leopard Trophy, along with £500 for his nominated charity – The Stroke Association.

Brad makes a fashion statement after getting changed

Prior to the second Guinness World Record attempt two things happened. Firstly the fairly nice weather changed to bleak and rainy conditions and secondly we had a briefing from an official who went through the rules of the Relay Race.

We were informed that the race would be using official England Athletics rules. We had to remember to stay within our own lanes and were also told that if the baton was dropped during an exchange we could still continue, but would have to pick up the baton without impeding other competitors.

With the rules briefing over each of the hoppers were taken to their starting positions around the track. David was our opening runner, with Emily taking the second leg, Brad the third section, and I was to finish the race. Our friend Alan ‘Stormin’ Norman who had been coaching and advising us through the morning also took part in the relay race and made up the numbers in Team 5.

The Klaxon sounded and David was off, setting a good pace, but was overtaken by the man dressed as a banana on the first 100m. Following a clean baton exchange Emily took on the next 100m and on passing to Brad our team was looking good for a bronze medal finish. Sadly on the third leg Brad was clearly struggling following the toll the first hopping race had taken on him and was easily overtaken by a man that was hopping almost as fast as any of us could run!

With Brad running in to the encouragement of my shouting “Hurry up you git, you’ve lost us the race” I set off for the finishing line, pausing after around 70m to make sure I wasn’t likely to be overtaken and then continuing to finish our team’s race with a cracking time of 3 minutes 11 seconds and fourth place overall.

All that was left to do following the race was take on more water, try to recover and watch the prize ceremony for the Relay Race. We also got to get our team photos with Michael Palin and Terry Jones who were both really friendly and chatty and had encouraged every competitor to give it their all on the day.

Ahead of the event the organisers, Network DVD, teamed up with London and Partners (Visit London), who are looking to set 20 records in the run-up to the London 2012 Olympic Games. This meant that if either or both records were broken then the Hopathon records would have been added to their records.

Despite over 100 people taking part in the Largest Group Hop and five teams competing in the Relay Race neither of the events broke the existing Guinness World Records. The event was still great fun, utterly ridiculous and enjoyed by all, even with all of the pain and agony!

At least the race wasn’t a full 30-miles!

More photos from the Ripping Yarns Hopathon

In a league of his own - David well out in front!

Me hopping along

Brad gets overtaken by the man in the Banana outfit

Emily in her Team St Anthony's school colours passes a bunch of rivals from Graybridge

Emily and I take a breather

Links:

- Network DVD

- Ripping Yarns: The Complete Series on DVD

- Hampstead Heath Athletics Track

- Highgate Harriers Athletics Team

- The Guinness World Records

Media Links:

- Network DVD on YouTube: Ripping Yarns Hopathon

- Press Association video on MSN Video: Ripping Yarns hopathon

- ZoneOneRadio: Hopping Mad - Victoria Ferran talks to Michael Palin and Terry Jones

Guinness World Record-related Blog Posts:
- Taking part in a Guinness World Record attempt for "The most people to ‘High Five’ simultaneously"
- Huntingdon Races - a UK Conga Line Guinness World Record Attempt & Crazy Golf course played #195
- Guinness World Record Attempt - Most Brussels Sprouts Eaten in a Minute!
- New Guinness World Record set - Largest Picnic Ever
- Guinness World Record attempt - Largest Picnic Ever