Mini Golf at Flip Out Croydon

There will be a mini golf course at the new Flip Out centre in Croydon.

Flip Out are creating a new super centre full of indoor entertainment at the Centrale Shopping Centre in Croydon, London.

The venue is planned to open this summer.

As well as mini golf the location will be home to inflatables, laser tag, an ice rink, an assualt course, interactive football, arcade games and a bumper car track.

Visit the Flip Out website for more information.

Cornhill Cove returning to Lincoln this year

The Cornhill Cove seaside-style pop-up will be returning to Lincoln city centre this summer.

Last year the outdoor retailtainment pop-up featured a crazy golf course, bar and street food vendors.

Check out the Cornhill Cove Facebook Page for more information.

Our last pre-pandemic minigolf course visit

The last pre-coronavirus pandemic lockdown minigolf course visit we made was to The Lost Valley Adventure Golf course in Bolton's Market Place shopping centre a year ago today.

That trip to Bolton was our last day out before lockdown.

It'll be great when we can once again get out and about on our travels.

Puttshack mini golf to open at The Oracle in Reading

Puttshack will be opening a new indoor minigolf venue at The Oracle shopping centre in Reading, Berkshire.

The new Puttshack mini golf location will be created in the former House of Fraser department store.

Playing at Puttshack White City in October 2019

Visit the Puttshack website for more information.

Minigolf is a big part of the retailtainment boom, with courses opening as standalone entertainment activities, or as part of large shoppingtainment leisure offerings in shopping malls, high streets and retail parks.

Crazy Golf in London

A look back at the CLUB GOLF pop-up minigolf course at Coal Drops Yard in King's Cross, London.

My last trip down to London took place on the 25th February last year and I was lucky enough to get a game in on the pop-up Crazy Golf course at Coal Drops Yard in King's Cross.

It was the last new minigolf course I played before the coronavirus pandemic lockdown.

The 9-hole rave-inspired art installation crazy golf course was the 948th course visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour and the 542nd played.

Artists Baker & Borowski created the 9-hole themed Crazy Golf layout inspired by the rave culture in the King's Cross area back in the 1980's and 1990's.

I shot a round of 23 in my game - the scorecard noted that the maximum score allowed was 63! A seven on each hole.

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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.

New Adventure Golf course in Skelmersdale

There are retailtainment plans for the Concourse Shopping Centre in Skelmersdale, Lancashire.

As well as an indoor Adventure Golf course, the WonderWorld attraction at the Concourse Shopping Centre will include a wide-range of activities for adults and children including an inflatable assault course, darts, tenpin bowling, amusements, arcade games and more.

Link:

• Concourse Shopping Centre

Retailtainment

More and more shopping centres, retail parks and high streets are adding retail entertainment offerings to increase footfall, attract and retain customers. There are a lot of new minigolf courses, competitive socialising venues and family entertainment centres in development and under construction at the moment, all gearing up to be ready for the post-covid world.

The retailtainment and minigolf boom

A look at the retail entertainment and minigolf boom.

Minigolf is a big part of the retailtainment boom, with courses opening as standalone entertainment activities, or as part of large shoppingtainment leisure offerings in malls, high streets and retail parks.

Some of these retailtainment activities are permanent, while others are pop-ups catering to a mix of audiences, from children and families, to adults looking for competitive socialising fun.

Miniature Golf has grown in popularity in the last decade and has moved from only being a traditional outdoor seaside summer activity to become a year-round game that can be played indoors, outdoors and at pretty much any time of the day.

A number of high streets, retail parks and shopping malls are now home to minigolf courses, with more new venues planned to open.

Minigolf is also a popular addition to boost footfall, create awareness and attract people to a location. Businesses also use portable and temporary minigolf layouts for product launches and promotions.

New minigolf courses in the UK

In 2020 we found out about a lot of new minigolf courses opening in the UK and already this year we've heard about four new locations in planning and development.

We know of 91 new miniature golf courses opening, in planning or under construction since the pandemic hit the UK.

Check out the new courses page for more information.

New indoor Crazy Golf opening in London

New Gravity Active Entertainment centre opening in Wandsworth, London.

A new indoor Crazy Golf course will be opening as part of a new Gravity Active Entertainment centre being created in a former Debenhams store in London.

The new Gravity Active Entertainment centre is planned to open in Summer 2021

The new Gravity Active Entertainment centre in Wandsworth will also be home to a bar & restaurant, pool, darts, high ropes, go-karting and more.

There are a number of Gravity Active Entertainment centres in the UK. The venue at Sol Central in Northampton opened last year and is home to a New York-themed minigolf course. The Maidstone venue has an Urban Street Mini Golf layout.

The retailtainment and minigolf boom

Minigolf is a big part of the retailtainment boom, with courses opening as standalone entertainment activities, or as part of large shoppingtainment leisure offerings in malls, high streets and retail parks.

Some of these retailtainment activities are permanent, while others are pop-ups catering to a mix of audiences, from children and families, to adults looking for competitive socialising fun.

Miniature Golf has grown in popularity in the last decade and has moved from only being a traditional outdoor seaside summer activity to become a year-round game that can be played indoors, outdoors and at pretty much any time of the day.

A number of high streets, retail parks and shopping malls are now home to minigolf courses, with more new venues planned to open.

Minigolf is also a popular addition to boost footfall, create awareness and attract people to a location. Businesses also use portable and temporary minigolf layouts for product launches and promotions.

Link:

• Gravity Active Entertainment

Related blog posts:

• Retailtainment
• New minigolf courses in the UK
• Gravity Active Entertainment

New Boom: Battle Bar in Glasgow

A new Boom: Battle Bar with crazy golf and other indoor games is proposed to open in Glasgow.

Boom: Battle Bar Glasgow will be the fifth venue from the brand.

As well as an indoor crazy golf course - known as 'Crazier Golf' - Boom: Battle Bar at the St Enoch Centre in Glasgow will no doubt be home to other competitive socialising sports and games such as axe throwing, darts and shuffleboard.

My friend and crazy golf rival Simon Brown played the Boom: Battle Bar 'Crazier Golf' course at the Brewery Quarter venue in Cardiff last November.

The first Boom: Battle Bar opened at the Castle Quarter shopping and entertainment centre in Norwich in July 2020.

There are also plans for Boom: Battle Bars to open in Liverpool and Oxford in 2021.

Visit the Boom: Battle Bar website 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.

New Boom: Battle Bar opening in Oxford

A new Boom: Battle Bar with crazy golf and other indoor games is planned to open in Oxford this year.

Boom: Battle Bar Oxford will be the fourth venue from the brand.

As well as a minigolf course - known as 'Crazier Golf' - Boom: Battle Bar in Oxford will no doubt be home to other competitive socialising sports and games such as axe throwing, darts and shuffleboard.

My friend and minigolf rival Simon Brown played the Boom: Battle Bar 'Crazier Golf' course at the Brewery Quarter venue in Cardiff in November last year.

The first Boom: Battle Bar opened at the Castle Quarter shopping and entertainment centre in Norwich in July 2020.

There are also plans for a Boom: Battle Bar to open in Liverpool in 2021.

Visit the Boom: Battle Bar website and Boom: Battle Bar Oxford 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.

New Crazy Golf course in Aberdeen

There are plans for a new Flip Out trampoline park to open in a former BHS store in Aberdeen. The centre will also be home to an indoor crazy golf course.

The latest Flip Out trampoline and adventure centre opened in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire last month. That too opened in a former BHS.

Visit the Flip Out website for more information.

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.

Boom: Battle Bar opening in Liverpool

A new Boom: Battle Bar with minigolf and more is planned to open in Liverpool next year.

Boom: Battle Bar Liverpool will be the third venue from the brand.

As well as a minigolf course - known as 'Crazier Golf' - the Liverpool venue will be home to axe throwing, shuffleboard and a number of other sports and games.

Boom: Battle Bar Liverpool will be located inside a former Poundland shop in St Johns shopping centre.

My friend and minigolf rival Simon Brown played the Boom: Battle Bar 'Crazier Golf' course at the Brewery Quarter venue in Cardiff last month.

The first Boom: Battle Bar opened at the Castle Quarter shopping and entertainment centre in Norwich in July this year.

Visit the Boom: Battle Bar website 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.

New Adventure Golf course at Dobbies Garden Centre in Gloucester

Dobbies Garden Centre in Gloucester will be home to a new Adventure Golf course.

A new outdoor Adventure Golf course is being built at Dobbies Garden Centre in Gloucester.

It'll be another new layout for us to play on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

We've played a few miniature golf courses at garden centres on our travels and they are a popular spot to set up a course.

Related blog posts:

- Garden Centre Minigolf

- Retailtainment

- Shopping Mall Minigolf

- Gloucestershire

- New courses

Crazier Golf at Boom: Battle Bar in Cardiff

A look at the 'Crazier Golf' course at Boom: Battle Bar in Cardiff, Wales.

Many thanks to my friend and minigolf rival Simon Brown who sent me some photos from his visit to play the 'Crazier Golf' course at the new Boom: Battle Bar in Cardiff, Wales.

The course differs from 'normal' crazy or minigolf (whatever that may be) and some of the holes include time limits, while others don't require the use of a putter at all!

You have to use hand pumps on the final hole!

For more information on the 9-hole Crazier Golf course visit the Boom: Battle Bar website.

Boom: Battle Bar in Cardiff's Brewery Quarter is the second indoor competitive socialising venue from the brand. As well as the crazy golf course you can play darts, axe throwing, ping pong, shuffleboard, VR games, arcade games and more there. The first Boom: Battle Bar opened in Norwich.

Mr Mulligans Space Golf in Birmingham

A visit to Mr Mulligans Space Golf in Birmingham.

I played the three indoor adventure golf courses at Mr Mulligans Space Golf centre at Broadway Plaza in Birmingham a year ago today.

The Supernova, Asteroid and Mars Base courses at Mr Mulligans Space Golf were the 929th, 930th and 931st visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

We've now been to 956 courses on our travels since September 2006.

Check out the Mr Mulligan website for more information, opening times and prices.

Halloween in the City - Manchester 2020

The Halloween in the City Monster Trail is up and running until Sunday 1st November.

There are seven giant inflatable monsters to track down around the city centre.

The Halloween in the City Dragon at The Printworks last year

Check out the Visit Manchester website for more information and to download the location map.

Take a look at my blog posts from last year's Halloween in the City:

• Manchester's Halloween in the City
• Halloween in the City 2019
• Manchester Monster Invasion: Return of the Monsters
• Halloween in the City monster at Screamfields in Manchester

New UV Crazy Golf course opening in Hull

A new glow-in-the-dark Crazy Golf course is opening in Hull.

Hull will soon be home to a new UV Crazy Golf course as the team from the East Park Pirate Golf course are opening a venue at the Princes Quay shopping centre in the city.

Visit the East Park Pirate Golf Facebook page for more information.

Minigolf in Hull

There has been a real boom in minigolf courses opening in Hull, with the East Park Pirate Golf course joining Putt Club and the Pirate Adventure Golf course at One Stop Golf. The city will also be home to a new Lost City Adventure Golf venue soon.

Retailtainment

Minigolf has grown in popularity in the last eight years and has moved from being seen as a traditional outdoor seaside summer activity to become a year-round game that can be played indoors, outdoors and at pretty much any time of the day.

A number of high streets, retail parks and shopping malls are now home to minigolf courses, with more new venues planned to open.

Businesses also use portable and temporary pop-up minigolf layouts to boost footfall, create awareness, product launches and promotions.

Our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Hull has been on our to visit list for a few years now. It'll be a busy trip with all of the new courses to play when we eventually get there!

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Crazy Golf in Fleet, Hampshire

There was a pop-up crazy golf course in Fleet, Hampshire yesterday.

Fleet's Business Improvement District arranged for a pop-up crazy golf course to be a part of a fun day in Fleet town centre yesterday.

   

Pop-up minigolf

During the summer Lincoln Business Improvement Group created Cornhill Cove, a seaside-style pop-up crazy golf, street food and drinking area in the city centre.

It was one of a number of pop-up minigolf courses we've seen over the last 14 years.

Retailtainment

Minigolf has grown in popularity in the last eight years and has moved from only being a traditional outdoor seaside summer activity to become a year-round game that can be played indoors, outdoors and at pretty much any time of the day.

A number of high streets, retail parks and shopping malls are now home to minigolf courses, with more new venues planned to open.

Minigolf is also a popular addition to boost footfall and create awareness and much like in the Fleet and Lincoln examples is a way to attract people to a location.

Businesses also use portable and temporary minigolf layouts for product launches and promotions.

Competitive socialising

Before the pandemic the phrase 'competitive socialising' had become a popular way to describe going out, with lots of new operators catering to the demand of a public who wanted to compete at something while eating and drinking in a nice setting.

Whether it was table tennis, darts, shuffleboard, bingo, tenpin bowling, arcade games, or minigolf, people were finding new ways to quench their thirst, have fun and compete without signing-up to a full sports league or taking things too seriously.

There are still new competitive socialising venues opening during the pandemic, including the new Roxy Ball Room at Withy Grove in Manchester.

Minigolf in the time of Coronavirus

Take a look at my blog posts about minigolf and competitive socialising in the time of coronavirus and social distancing.

You can also watch episode 1 of the InterGame Video Insights on Minigolf in the time of Covid-19.

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Minigolf marketing

With over twenty years of marketing and sales experience Emily and I offer consultancy services to people and businesses looking to set-up miniature golf courses, review their operations, hole designs, contests, tournaments and more.

Do get in touch for a chat to see how we can help and work together.

You can also buy my minigolf marketing ebook on Amazon and Kobo.

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Minigolf in the time of coronavirus - Gator Golf in Chorley

A visit to the Gator Adventure Golf course in Chorley, Lancashire.

Last month we played our first round of minigolf in the time of coronavirus when we visited Gator Adventure Golf at the Escape Entertainment Venue in Chorley.

The course was the 955th course visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour since September 2006.

After seeing the open signs we popped inside, sanitised our hands and headed upstairs for a quick look.

The process for getting us out on the course was straightforward and gave peace of mind. The three members of staff we spoke to - at a great distance - were all friendly and professional and our thanks go to them for helping us have a fun experience.

After giving our details for track and trace to one member of staff at the desk near the entrance another member of staff was getting our cleaned putters, golf balls, pencil and scorecard over by the course. We were told to leave our clubs and balls in the bucket at the exit.

After collecting our equipment we stepped onto the course and our first game of minigolf in the time of coronavirus got underway!

The venue was operating adjusted hours to normal so was closing at 8pm. We arrived at 7.30pm and luckily were able to have a quiet round with the course to ourselves. It was actually the perfect way to get back into the swing of minigolfing and nice to pick up a putter again after so long.

For more information, opening times and prices visit the Escape Entertainment website.

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