Showing posts with label East Anglia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label East Anglia. Show all posts

Thursday, April 02, 2026

Putting Green and Crazy Golf course in Hunstanton

A look at the Putting Green and Crazy Golf course in Hunstanton, Norfolk.


We spent a couple of hours in the seaside town of Hunstanton on our recent trip to Norwich and Norfolk to visit family and friends. While there we swung by North Promenade for a look at the miniature golf courses.

Sign for the Putting Green and Crazy Golf course in Hunstanton

Photos of the Putting Green and Crazy Golf course in Hunstanton.


Putting Green and Crazy Golf in Hunstanton

Putting Green in Hunstanton

Putting Green and Crazy Golf in Hunstanton

Crazy Golf in Hunstanton

The 9-hole Crazy Golf course at the Victorian Pavilion on the seafront in Hunstanton became the 1,116th course visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour since 2006.

Sign for the Putting Green and Crazy Golf course in Hunstanton

The last time we visited Hunstanton was in 2011. Back then there was a different crazy golf course on the other side of the path. This new crazy golf course also takes up the lower part of what was a two-tier grass putting green.

Sign showing prices for the Putting Green and Crazy Golf course in Hunstanton

Videos of the miniature golf courses.



Wednesday, April 01, 2026

Crazy Golf in Hunstanton, Norfolk

A look at the Crazy Golf course on North Promenade in Hunstanton, Norfolk.


The 9-hole Crazy Golf course at the Victorian Pavilion on the seafront in Hunstanton became the 1,116th course visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour since 2006 when we visited the seaside town on Sunday 29th March 2026.

The Crazy Golf course on North Promenade in Hunstanton, Norfolk

Photos of the 9-hole crazy golf course in Hunstanton.

Crazy Golf in Hunstanton, Norfolk
Hole 1

Crazy Golf in Hunstanton, Norfolk
Hole 1

Crazy Golf in Hunstanton, Norfolk
Hole 2

Crazy Golf in Hunstanton, Norfolk
Hole 2

Crazy Golf in Hunstanton, Norfolk
Hole 3

Hole 4

Crazy Golf in Hunstanton, Norfolk
Hole 5

Crazy Golf in Hunstanton, Norfolk
Hole 5

Crazy Golf in Hunstanton, Norfolk
Hole 5

Crazy Golf in Hunstanton, Norfolk
Hole 6

Crazy Golf in Hunstanton, Norfolk
Hole 6

Crazy Golf in Hunstanton, Norfolk
Hole 7

Crazy Golf in Hunstanton, Norfolk
Hole 7

Crazy Golf in Hunstanton, Norfolk
Hole 8

Crazy Golf in Hunstanton, Norfolk
Hole 8

Crazy Golf in Hunstanton, Norfolk
Hole 9

Crazy Golf in Hunstanton, Norfolk
Hole 9

Videos of the Hunstanton crazy golf course.




Our previous visit to Hunstanton.

The last time we visited Hunstanton was in 2011. Back then there was a different crazy golf course on the other side of the path. This new crazy golf course also takes up the lower part of what was a two-tier grass putting green.



Related blog posts:

Tuesday, March 31, 2026

Crazy Golf on North Promenade in Hunstanton, Norfolk

Revisiting Hunstanton, Norfolk on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.


We spent a couple of hours in the seaside town of Hunstanton on our recent trip to Norwich and Norfolk to visit family and friends. While there we swung by North Promenade for a look at the miniature golf courses.

Crazy Golf course at the Victorian Pavilion in Hunstanton, Norfolk

The 9-hole Crazy Golf course at the Victorian Pavilion on the seafront in Hunstanton became the 1,116th course visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour since 2006.



The last time we visited Hunstanton was in 2011. Back then there was a different crazy golf course on the other side of the path. This new crazy golf course also takes up the lower part of what was a two-tier grass putting green.



Related blog posts:

Saturday, February 24, 2024

Remains of a Happy Shopper shop in Ormesby St Margaret, Norfolk

A ghost sign at the old Happy Shopper shop in Ormesby St Margaret, Norfolk.


We were surprised and amazed to see an old Happy Shopper sign while en route to Hemsby during an East Anglian Road-Trip.

We had taken a couple of detours because of traffic and ended up on a different road towards the seaside that took us through the village of Ormesby St Margaret. We're always looking for points of interest and new things to spot when on our travels and as we drove past the village shop we both said to each other jokingly "I wonder if that used to be a Happy Shopper?"

A ghost sign at the old Happy Shopper shop in Ormesby St Margaret, Norfolk

Imagine our shock when we saw a really old, classic Happy Shopper sign in one of the shop windows!


Other Happy Shopper shops


We didn't think there would be many - or any - of the original orange and yellow branded shops still around, but we were proven wrong when we saw one in Preston in September 2020.

Since then we've been lucky enough to spot and snap a few more.

Take a look at my posts about other Happy Shopper shops in:

Friday, October 08, 2021

Blockbuster Video Express in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex

A look at the ghost signs on the former Blockbuster Video Express store in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex.


QuikDrop box at the former Blockbuster Video Express store in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex

We found some brilliant ghost signs and a QuikDrop box at the former Blockbuster Video Express store in Clacton-on-Sea during our trip to the seaside town in August.

The former Blockbuster Video Express store in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex

We had a good idea that the QuikDrop video return box would still be visible on the front of what is now a Tendring Community Clothing charity shop. Partly from our research in advance, and partly because the day before the charity's spokesperson had been interviewed on BBC Look East news outside of the shop and you could clearly see the QuikDrop box there!

The former Blockbuster Video Express store in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex

What we hadn't expected was that the side and front of the shop would still have ghost signs on them! It's wonderful to see these pieces of retail history on display.

The former Blockbuster Video Express store in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex

The former Blockbuster Video Express store in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex

The former Blockbuster Video Express store in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex

The former Blockbuster Video Express store in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex

The former Blockbuster Video Express store in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex

The inside of the charity shop itself has had very few changes made to it since it was a Blockbuster, with the colour scheme, walls and till desk all looking very Blockbustery!

Inside the former Blockbuster Video Express store in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex



Blockbuster Video

Our interest in old Blockbuster Video stores was piqued when I found one close by in Fallowfield, Manchester in October 2019.

Since then we've found quite a few more signs of the brand on the high streets and retail parks of the UK.

Blockbuster ceased operations in the UK in December 2013. At the start of the year there were 528 Blockbuster locations in the UK. The number dwindled until October when only 264 shops remained. The remaining stores closed on the 16th December that year.

At its peak in 2004 there were more than 9,000 Blockbuster stores around the world. There is now just one remaining store open. It's in Bend, Oregon, USA.

Blockbuster Video stores we've visited

Check out the posts about other former Blockbuster Video stores we've been to in:

Friday, September 17, 2021

Happy Shopper in Ormesby St Margaret, Norfolk

Finding a ghost sign at the old Happy Shopper shop in Ormesby St Margaret, Norfolk.


We were surprised and amazed to see an old Happy Shopper sign while en route to Hemsby during our East Anglian Road-Trip last month.

We had taken a couple of detours because of traffic and ended up on a different road towards the seaside that took us through the village of Ormesby St Margaret. We're always looking for points of interest and new things to spot when on our travels and as we drove past the village shop we both said to each other jokingly "I wonder if that used to be a Happy Shopper?"

Imagine our shock when we saw a really old, classic Happy Shopper sign in one of the shop windows!

Fletchers Mini Market in Ormesby St Margaret used to be a Happy Shopper shop
Fletchers Mini Market in Ormesby St Margaret used to be a Happy Shopper shop


I almost crashed into the village pond such was the excitement of our discovery.


During the pandemic we've been feeling very nostalgic. One of the brands we've been thinking about is Happy Shopper - the name alone conjures up images of the 1980's.

We didn't think there would be many - or any - of the original orange and yellow branded shops still around, but we were happy to find out we were wrong when we saw one in Preston last September.

Since then we've been lucky enough to spot and snap a few more on our limited travels outside of lockdown. Take a look at my posts about other Happy Shopper shops in:

Thursday, September 16, 2021

Stonehenge - The BIG mini golf in Hemsby, Norfolk

A revisit to the Stonehenge minigolf course in Hemsby, Norfolk.


Stonehenge - The BIG mini golf in Hemsby, Norfolk

Last month we swung by the 18-hole Stonehenge-themed miniature golf course in the seaside town of Hemsby.

Stonehenge - The BIG mini golf in Hemsby, Norfolk

Stonehenge Big Mini Golf was the 174th course played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour in June 2010 when it was a 15-hole layout. We first visited it in May 2009 when it was a 12-hole course.

Stonehenge - The BIG mini golf in Hemsby, Norfolk

Stonehenge - The BIG mini golf in Hemsby, Norfolk

Stonehenge - The BIG mini golf in Hemsby, Norfolk

Stonehenge - The BIG mini golf in Hemsby, Norfolk

Stonehenge - The BIG mini golf in Hemsby, Norfolk

Stonehenge - The BIG mini golf in Hemsby, Norfolk

Stonehenge - The BIG mini golf in Hemsby, Norfolk
Social distancing footprints next to the entrance sign

We were back in Hemsby during our East Anglian road-trip.

Tuesday, September 14, 2021

A Happy Shopper shop in Lowestoft, Suffolk

A look at a Happy Shopper shop in Lowestoft, Suffolk.


We didn't only visit minigolf courses during our East Anglian Road-Trip last month. We always try to pack in as much stuff as possible when we're out and about and one of our interests is in lost brands, retail archaeology and interesting signage.

By the time we reached Lowestoft in Suffolk we'd been to a lost Happy Shopper shop in Ashwellthorpe and been shocked to discover one in Ormesby St Margaret too. We knew there was a Happy Shopper in Lowestoft as we'd been there in 2011.

A Happy Shopper shop in Lowestoft
At a Happy Shopper shop in Lowestoft

As with most things in the seaside town, the Happy Shopper is the 'easternmost' example of its type in the British Isles.

The Happy Shopper newsagent, general store and off licence in Lowestoft retains the classic yellow and orange colours of the brand, but differs from other Happy Shopper shops as it doesn't feature the smiling face anywhere on the logo.


Sunday, September 12, 2021

Family Adventure Golf at Little Joe's Ice Cream Shack in Lowestoft, Suffolk

A look at the easternmost Adventure Golf course in the British Isles.


Family Adventure Golf at Little Joe's Ice Cream Shack in Lowestoft, Suffolk

We visited Lowestoft in Suffolk on our East Anglian road-trip last month and revisited the 20th course we ever played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. Back then it was called East Point Family Golf.

Family Adventure Golf at Little Joe's Ice Cream Shack in Lowestoft, Suffolk

The Family Adventure Golf course at Little Joe's Ice Cream Shack in Lowestoft is the easternmost Adventure Golf course in the British Isles.

Family Adventure Golf at Little Joe's Ice Cream Shack in Lowestoft, Suffolk

Family Adventure Golf at Little Joe's Ice Cream Shack in Lowestoft, Suffolk

Family Adventure Golf at Little Joe's Ice Cream Shack in Lowestoft, Suffolk

Family Adventure Golf at Little Joe's Ice Cream Shack in Lowestoft, Suffolk