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

Adventure Golf at the Greensward Cafe in Clacton-on-Sea

A visit to the Adventure Golf course at the Greensward Cafe in Clacton-on-Sea.

We swung by the Adventure Golf course at the Greensward Cafe in Clacton-on-Sea during our East Anglian Road-Trip.

The course opened in May 2016 and replaced the Carpeted Miniature Golf course that had been on the same spot for many many years. We played that layout in May 2009 when it became the 93rd we visited on our travels and revisited in May 2011 and June 2015.

The Adventure Golf course at the Greensward Cafe in Clacton-on-Sea became the 973rd visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

We're looking forward to a return visit to Clacton and a game there in the future.

Check out the Greensward Cafe and Adventure Golf website for more information.

Rules and regulations at the course

New Crazy Golf course planned for Canvey Island

A new dinosaur-themed Crazy Golf course is opening on Canvey Island, Essex.

An 18-hole dinosaur-themed Crazy Golf course is being created at Leisure Island on Canvey Island in Essex.

Visit the Leisure Island website for more information.

It'll be another new course for us to play on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour on a revisit to Canvey Island.

New mini golf course on Canvey Island

There's a new mini golf course at Fantasy Island on Canvey Island in Essex.

Fantasy Island on Canvey Island is now home to a new 18-hole mini golf course.

Visit the Fantasy Island Facebook Page for more information.

Fantasy Island (previously Cheeky Monkey's) was home to an Arnold Palmer Putting Course. That layout was the 87th visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. When we played it the classic course had been cut from 18-holes to 9.

The former Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf course at Fantasy Island

We're looking forward to a return to Canvey Island in the future and a game on the new mini golf course at Fantasy Island.

Check out some of my previous posts about Canvey Island:

• 10 Minutes in Canvey Island
• Minigolf Course Visit No. 87 - Canvey Island
• Crazy Golf at Fantasy Island on Canvey Island (re-visit Dec 11)

Mini Golf at Hutleys Caravan Park in St Osyth

Spotting a Mini Golf course at Hutleys Caravan Park in St Osyth.

My cousin Elaine spotted a new Mini Golf course while in St Osyth recently. It looks like a nice layout.

Visit the Hutleys Caravan Park website for more information.

Miniature Golf at Dunton Hills in Essex

A look at the Miniature Golf course at Dunton Hills Golf Centre in West Horndon, Essex.

A big thank you to my friend and crazy golf rival Stephen Skinner for these photos of the Miniature Golf course Dunton Hills golf centre in West Horndon, Essex.

Check out the Dunton Hills Family Golf Centre website for more information, opening times and prices.

Playing minigolf at Dunton Hills

The 18-hole miniature golf course at Dunton Hills was the 499th Miniature Golf course visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour in July 2012. We've now been to 958 courses since 2006.

The layout at Dunton Hills is an incredibly tricky, long and wide minigolf course, but great fun and a good test to play.

Rascal Bay Adventure Golf in Chelmsford

The new Rascal Bay Adventure Golf course at West Park in Chelmsford opens this Saturday, 24th April.

Chelmsford's West Park is home to a new minigolf course.

Rascal Bay Adventure Golf is located at the Pitch & Putt centre in the park.

Visit the Rascal Bay Adventure Golf Facebook Page for more information.

We played the old Crazy Golf course at West Park Pitch & Putt in December 2009. The layout was the 157th course played on our travels.

New Crazy Golf course at Barleylands in Billericay

There are plans for a new Crazy Golf course at Barleylands farm park in Billericay, Essex.

Barleylands farm park in Billericay, Essex is planning to create a new 18-hole crazy golf course.

The layout will have a number of themed area including farm yard, jungle, desert, arctic and antarctic zones.

For more information visit the Barleylands Farm Park & Village website.

New indoor crazy golf course in Billericay

A new crazy golf course and escape room is planned to open in Billericay, Essex.

The indoor venue will be located in the former Argos store in the town centre.

Check out the Hackers website for more information.

Retailtainment and minigolf

A number of shopping malls, town centres and retail parks are adding minigolf, crazy golf, adventure golf and other experiential entertainment and activity leisure offerings to their sites to attract and retain customers.

Boom: Battle Bar heading to Lakeside

The Lakeside Shopping Centre in West Thurrock, Essex will be home to a new Boom: Battle Bar.

Boom: Battle Bars are competitive socialising venues and home to minigolf (known as crazier golf), axe throwing, electric darts, shuffleboard and more.

There are other Boom: Battle Bars in Norwich and Cardiff and plans for others in Liverpool, Glasgow, Oxford and Coventry.

Visit the Boom: Battle Bar Lakeside Facebook Page for more information.

Boom: Battle Bars are a relatively new entrant to the world of competitive socialising and retailtainment. A number of shopping malls, town centres and retail parks are adding minigolf, crazy golf, adventure golf and other experiential entertainment and activity leisure offerings to their sites to attract and retain customers.

Read more in my blog post about the retailtainment and minigolf boom.

Rascal Bay Adventure Golf opening in Chelmsford, Essex

New Adventure Golf course heading to Chelmsford.

West Park Golf Centre in Chelmsford, Essex will soon be home to a new adventure golf course.

The centre will be creating an 18-hole adventure golf course planned to open in January next year.

The course will be called Rascal Bay Adventure Golf and it'll be the third in the brand following the Brentwood, Essex and Manston, Kent locations.

Check out the West Park Golf Centre Facebook Page for more information.

Visiting West Park Golf Centre

We visited West Park Golf Centre on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour way back in December 2009. The old Crazy Golf course there was the 157th course played on our travels. We've now been to 956 courses since 2006.

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Minigolfing at Blake End in Essex

A look back at the minigolf course we played at Blake End in Essex.

We played the 9-hole Swedish Felt Mini Golf course at Blake End Craft Centre near Braintree, Essex back in 2009.

It was the 95th course played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Related blog posts:
- Swedish Felt Mini Golf courses in Essex
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Essex

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Blockbuster Video Express in Westcliff-on-Sea

A look at the old Blockbuster Video Express in Westcliff-on-Sea, Southend.

Many thanks to my friend and fellow blogger Mark Routh for sending me these photos of the old Blockbuster Video Express store in Westcliff on Sea, Essex.

It's amazing the signs are still up seven years since the demise of the brand.

Since I found the remains of the Blockbuster Video store in Fallowfield, Manchester last October I've been intrigued to see the brand still has a lingering presence on the high street. It's always fun to see ghost signs, remnants of old & dead brands and interesting signage while out and about on our travels.

I found out the Blockbuster signage was still in place at the Westcliff-on-Sea store via this post on Instagram.

We should've been visiting family in Southend-on-Sea this summer but that trip has been postponed. Hopefully we'll get back down there soon so I can check out the old Blockbuster store too.

Check out Mark's superb postcard blog at Mark's Postcard Chat and his Facebook Page. The blog is a wonderful insight into the world of postcard collecting and social history.

Minigolfing in Dovercourt, Essex

A look back at the minigolf course we played in Dovercourt, Essex.

We played the 6-hole Swedish Felt Mini Golf course on Low Road in Dovercourt, Essex back in 2009.

It was the 92nd played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Related blog posts:
- Swedish Felt Mini Golf courses in Essex
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Essex

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Enchanted Garden Adventure Golf course proposed for Raphael Park, Romford

A planning proposal has been submitted for a new Enchanted Garden Adventure Golf course at Raphael Park in Romford, Essex.

The themed minigolf course would be an 18-hole layout located at the Raphael Park Cafe.

The course would be created by Saturn Rock Creative.

It'll be interesting to see what the course looks and plays like. It'll be another new place to play on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

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Crazy Golf at Walton on the Naze in Essex

A look back at the Crazy Golf course we visited at Walton on the Naze in Essex.

We visited the Crazy Golf course at Coronation Gardens in Walton on the Naze, Essex back in 2013.

It was the 535th visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

There was also a grass Putting layout next to the Crazy Golf.

Sadly both were closed because of bad weather. It was a shame as Swedish Felt type courses are always interesting to play. The Putting Green looked fun too.

Related blog posts:
- Swedish Felt Mini Golf courses in Essex
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Essex

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