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?"

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:

• Preston
• Sheffield (Sharrow Lane)
• Sheffield (Page Hall Road)
• Ilkeston
• Hitchin
• Ashwellthorpe
• Ormesby St Margaret
• Lowestoft (2011)
• Lowestoft (2021)
• Wisbech
• Sittingbourne
• Burton-on-Trent 1
• Burton-on-Trent 2

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.

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.

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!

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 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!

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:

• Abingdon, Oxfordshire
• Ashton, Bristol
• Barnsley, South Yorkshire
• Basingstoke, Hampshire
• Billingham, Teesside
• Cheadle Hulme, Greater Manchester
• Chester, Cheshire
• Chorley, Lancashire
• Colne, Lancashire
• Fallowfield, Manchester
• Felixstowe, Suffolk
• Filton, Bristol
• Great Moor, Stockport, Greater Manchester
• Hastings, East Sussex
• Leigh, Greater Manchester
• Luton, Bedfordshire
• Marple, Greater Manchester
• Nuneaton, Warwickshire
• Oldham, Greater Manchester
• Prescot, Lancashire
• Shanklin, Isle of Wight
• Southampton, Hampshire
• Telford, Shropshire
• Wythenshawe, Manchester

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

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:

• Preston
• Sheffield (Sharrow Lane)
• Sheffield (Page Hall Road)
• Ilkeston
• Hitchin
• Ashwellthorpe
• Lowestoft (2011)
• Lowestoft (2021)

Stonehenge - The BIG mini golf in Hemsby, Norfolk

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

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

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.

Social distancing footprints next to the entrance sign

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

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.

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.

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

• Lowestoft (2011)
• Preston
• Sheffield (Sharrow Lane)
• Sheffield (Page Hall Road)
• Ilkeston
• Hitchin
• Ashwellthorpe
• Ormesby St Margaret

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.

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.

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

The old Happy Shopper shop in Ashwellthorpe, Norfolk

Finding an old Happy Shopper shop in Ashwellthorpe, Norfolk.

During the pandemic we've been feeling very nostalgic. One of the brands we thought about was Happy Shopper - the name alone conjures up images of the 1980's and the classic logo is a wonderful sight.

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 (while en route to check out an abandoned Toys R Us store) last September.

Since then we've been lucky enough to spot and snap a few others on our limited travels outside of lockdown.

This one in Ashwellthorpe, Norfolk is a definite favourite. We were lucky enough to visit it during our East Anglian minigolf road-trip last month.

A happy shopper at the, sadly now closed, Ashwellthorpe Stores in Norfolk

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

• Lowestoft (2011)
• Preston
• Sheffield (Sharrow Lane)
• Sheffield (Page Hall Road)
• Ilkeston
• Hitchin
• Fallowfield, Manchester
• Ormesby St Margaret
• Lowestoft (2021)

An East Anglian Minigolf Road-Trip

Visiting and playing some minigolf in Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex.

We've just returned from a trip to East Anglia to visit family and friends in the area. It's the first time we've been there since 2019 and there were a few new minigolf courses to swing by on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. We also managed to revisit some of our favourite layouts on the trip.

Before the holiday Emily and I had visited a combined total of 967 courses since September 2006. My little brother Christopher is a founding member of the tour and with the courses he has been to we were at 998 courses. With his wife Nina joining the adventures the tally stood at 999 courses before the trip!

In total we managed to visit thirteen courses, with six of them being new to our tour. Some of the courses we had played at before had undergone some changes, with new names and the addition of new holes to extend the layouts.

We also hit the 1,000th course visit milestone on the trip. Twice. The first was at Glo Golf in Peterborough, the second was at Crazier Golf at Boom: Battle Bar in Norwich.

Here's a look at the lucky thirteen courses and the stats from our trip.

Pitch & Putt at Orton Meadows Golf Course in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire

• Course visit 968 by Richard & Emily Gottfried.
• Number 929 in the British Isles.
• The 998th visited on the three founding members Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.
• The 999th visited on our combined travels.

Glo Golf in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire

• Course visit 969 by Richard & Emily.
• Number 930 in the British Isles.
• The 551st course we've played.
• The 999th visited on the founders tour.
• The 1000th visited on the combined tour.

Crazier Golf at Boom: Battle Bar in Norwich, Norfolk

• Course visit 970 by Richard & Emily.
• Number 931 in the British Isles.
• The 552nd played.
• The 1000th visited on the founders tour.
• The 1001st visited on the combined tour.

Pirates Island Adventure Golf at Norfolk Premier Golf in Blofield, Norfolk

• Course visit numbers 971 / 1001 / 1002.

Lost World Adventure Golf in Hemsby, Norfolk

• A revisit to the 88th course played.

Stonehenge Mini Golf in Hemsby, Norfolk

• A revisit to the 174th course played.

Thatched Roof Putting / Kirkley Cliff Putting Green in Lowestoft, Suffolk

• A revisit to the 264th course played.
• The easternmost Putting course in the British Isles.

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

• A revisit to the 20th course played.
• The easternmost Adventure Golf course in the British Isles.

Magical Golf at Mannings in Felixstowe, Suffolk

• A revisit to the 5th course played.

Fantasia Adventure Golf in Felixstowe, Suffolk

• A revisit to the 7th course played.

Skull Point Adventure Golf in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex

• Course visit numbers 972 / 1002 / 1003.

Greensward Adventure Golf in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex

• Course visit numbers 973 / 1003 / 1004.

Pavilion Adventure Golf at the Pavilion Fun Park in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex

• A revisit to the 94th course played.
• It was an 11-hole course, now a 14-hole Adventure Golf course with a different theme.

Check out our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour page to see details of all the courses we've been to since September 2006.

New minigolf course at Alton Water

A new miniature golf course is opening soon at Alton Water in Suffolk.

The team at UrbanCrazy are putting the finishing touches to a new minigolf course at Alton Water in Suffolk.

Each hole will have an information board with details of Alton Water and Anglian Water.

You can see some photos of the course on the Alton Water Facebook Page.

Check out the Alton Water website for more about the reservoir and water park.

We're looking forward to playing the course on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. It's not too far from Ipswich so will be good to visit while in town to see family and friends.

Alton Water is one of seven Water Parks operated by Anglian Water. Rutland Water also has a minigolf course. We played there in 2015.

Playing the minigolf course at Rutland Water

Southwold Putting Championship 2019

The Southwold Putting Championship takes place this Sunday.

A lovely spot for some miniature golf

Good luck to all of the players in the Annual Southwold Putting Championship taking place in the Suffolk seaside town on Sunday 27th October.

The Southwold Putting course was the 478th played and 811th visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour in May last year.

I managed to score aces on the 7th and 11th holes. It's always nice to score holes-in-one on grass Putting courses

It's a lovely setting and a really good grass putting layout.

On our visit I shot a 41, the the low round of the week.

The course was a good test of putting skill

The course is well worth a visit. If you gain the lowest score of the week or season you earn yourself a spot in the annual tournament. You can also buy into the two-round competition with a £5 charity donation at the course.

Visit the Southwold Putting & Cafe on the Green on Facebook for more information.

Crabstix Adventure Golf course at Cromer Boating Lake in Norfolk

A visit to the new Crabstix Adventure Golf course at Cromer Boating Lake in Norfolk.

Charter member of the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour Christopher Gottfried has visited the new Crabstix Adventure Golf course at Cromer Boating Lake in Norfolk.

The new 18-hole Adventure Golf course was built by the team at Castle Golf and replaced the old Crazy Golf course that had been at the Boating Lake site for the past 27 years.

We visited Cromer in July 2016 and enjoyed our time in the seaside resort. The old Crazy Golf course at the Boating Lake was the 687th visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. We've now been to 887 courses since September 2006.

The Crazy Golf course at the Boating Lake as it looked in 2016

We're looking forward to a return visit to Cromer to play the new Crabstix Adventure Golf course on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Visit the Crabstix Adventure Golf Facebook Page for more information.

Christopher has visited 26 courses on their own branch of the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. Emily and I have also visited eight of those courses, but 18 of the courses are from travels to other courses in the UK, Turkey, Majorca, Italy, Holland, Luxembourg, Germany, France and Indonesia!

The combined total of the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour is now at a mammoth 905 courses visited!

Related blog posts:
- Cromer
- Norfolk
- Minigolf in Norfolk
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Crazy Golf on Grass in Cromer, Norfolk