Mr Mutleys in Blackpool

Muttley and Dick Dastardly on the sign at Mr Mutley's in Blackpool.

The Godfather in Rhyl

Not the first Godfather takeaway we've seen on our travels.

The Godfather takeaway in Rhyl

Pickle Rick's in Stockport

There's a Pickle Rick's Pizza place in Hazel Grove, Stockport!

Long Lost High Street Shops - Tandy

A look back at Tandy.

I was lucky enough to spot Tandy branding on some signage at a shop while in Hitchin last year. The Tandy signs had been uncovered as the shop on Churchgate was being refurbished following the closure of Electronic Universe. The reveal showed that Electronic Universe had at one point been a Tandy dealer.

In 2016 I spotted this Tandy sign at the back of the shop.

It's always a shame to see CRT tellys going to waste

Working at Tandy

My first job was at a Tandy franchise shop in Abingdon, Oxfordshire where I remember selling a number of electronic products bearing the 'RadioShack', 'Genexxa' and 'Realistic' brand names.

It's always fun spotting old brands & signage and a treat when it's something rare like Tandy.

Tandy said goodbye to the UK high street in 2001 as the last of the shops was converted after acquisition by Carphone Warehouse.

RadioShack

Until fairly recently there was a RadioShack in Lytham Saint Annes. Unfortunately that store closed its doors in 2019.

I bought a VHS tape in there when I first found the shop in 2017

Other relics of the high street

We've also seen the remnants of Woolworths, Toys R Us and Kwik Save on our travels.

Our most local, still visible 'dead brand' can be seen at the old Blockbuster Video store in Fallowfield, Manchester.

Old Iceland

Spotting some old Iceland signage on a modern Iceland store.

I had to take a second look when I saw these signs on the Iceland supermarket in Holywell, North Wales.

Iceland with pre-year 2000 branding. In 2018

I hadn't seen Iceland signage and branding like this for a while!

There can't be many other branches of Iceland still carrying this old style can there...?

It's always interesting finding quirky signs and old shopfronts on my travels. In recent years I've seen the ghostly remnants of Tandy, Radioshack, Woolworths, Blockbuster Video, Toys R Us and Kwik Save on the high street.

Bart the Plumber!

My recent post about the Itchy & Scratchy graffiti in Manchester reminded me I spotted this bit of Simpsons bootleggery in Rhyl last year.

If Bart doesn't fix your plumbing you'll have to wash yourself with a rag on a stick

Blade in the place, Didsbury

Spotting the Blade barber shop in Didsbury, Manchester.

We spotted Blade Brown barbers while having a wander last week.

I wasn't familiar with this shop before last week. A sign I need a haircut perhaps...

We recently saw the Resident Needle tattoo studio in Woodley, Stockport too.

Bookbuster in Hastings

Back in 2013 we spotted this old Blockbuster Video store in Hastings that had been turned into a book store called Bookbuster.

Check out Bookbuster on Facebook for more information.

Do you know of any Blockbuster branding that still exists on old stores in the UK? Do let me know.

You can still see the remnants of Blockbuster Video in Fallowfield, Manchester.

Related blog posts:
- Blockbuster
- Hastings
- Shops

National 7-Eleven Day

Today is National 7-Eleven Day.

7-Eleven convenience stores celebrate National 7-Eleven Day on when else but the 11th July.

We were surprised to see a number of 7-Eleven stores in Stockholm on our last trip there in 2018. We'd only ever seen them in the USA before that

Normally customers receive free or discounted Slurpees on 7/11. However this year 7-Eleven have cancelled the promotion because of the coronavirus pandemic and will instead be donating 1 million meals to the charity Feeding America.

The first 7-Eleven Day was held in 2002.

Urban Exploration - Blockbuster Video in Fallowfield, Manchester

A look at the old Blockbuster Video store in Fallowfield, Manchester.

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 in the retail world. It's always interesting to see ghost signs, remnants of old & dead brands and signage while out and about on our travels.

It's so odd to see Blockbuster branding along with social distancing signage and notices 

Blockbuster ceased operations in the UK in December 2013.

A notice on the door at the old Fallowfield branch. Some retail history

As well as the Fallowfield Blockbuster there are still signs of the stores in Westcliff-on-Sea in Essex, Chiswick in London and Norwich in Norfolk.

A view inside the old store

Related blog posts:
- Blockbuster
- Fallowfield
- Urban Exploration

Resident Needle

I don't think I could've seen a better business name, sign and shopfront during my pandemic lockdown daily outdoor exercise than this one in Woodley Precinct, Stockport!

What voice would you use to say this shop name out loud?

Link:
- Resident Needle Tattoo Studio

NO GOLF in Compstall, Stockport

We saw this NO GOLF sign on our daily outdoor walk at Pleasant View in Compstall, Stockport.

No horses allowed either

How to play mini golf (in Swedish)

A look at a minigolf guide in Sweden.

We saw this minigolf instructions sign at Solna Bangolfklubb while on a trip to Sweden in February 2018.

Så här spelar vi bangolf

"Så här spelar vi bangolf" translates as "This is how we play golf".

During that trip we managed to visit nine minigolf courses in 42 hours!

Unfortunately the outdoor minigolf courses at at Solna Bangolfklubb were closed as it was out-of-season and they were covered in snow.

Related blog posts:
- How to play mini golf (on Southend Pier)
- How to play mini golf (in three languages)

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Pirate Island Adventure Golf in the Forest of Dean

A look at the social distancing measures in place on the Pirate Island Adventure Golf course in the Forest of Dean.

A view of the Pirate Island Adventure Golf course in the Forest of Dean

The team at Pirate Island Adventure Golf in the Forest of Dean have kindly sent over some photos of the social distancing measures in place on their course.

Find out more

For more information, opening times, booking details and prices visit the Pirate Island Adventure Golf website and Facebook Page.

Playing Pirate Island Adventure Golf

We played at Pirate Island Adventure Golf in the Forest of Dean back in October 2017. It doesn't seem that long ago!

Playing the course in 2017

We had a very close game on the tricky 12-hole course. Emily scored 37, while I shot a game winning 36.

The course was the 786th visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. We've now been to a total of 949 courses since September 2006.

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How to play mini golf

Do you know how to play mini golf?

This City Golf Group scorecard holder gives instructions on how to play mini golf.

This was at the Swedish Felt Mini Golf course on Southend Pier in Essex in 2016.

Related blog posts:
- How to play minigolf - in three languages
- City Golf
- Swedish Felt

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Social distancing at a railway station in Finland

Many thanks to my friend and minigolf rival John Mittler for sending me this social distancing sign from Tikkurila railway station in Vantaa, Helsinki metropolitan area. He noticed it while making an essential journey into Tampere.

As John put it "Please socially distance yourself from the train, for your own safety."

He knows me well.

I enjoy seeing different and funny signs around the world, I'm a train nerd and I'm also documenting as many social distancing / Covid-19 signs & posters during the time of the coronavirus pandemic.

NO GOLF signs in Poynton

We saw a number of NO GOLF signs on our daily walk in Poynton yesterday.

NO GOLF in Poynton

NO GOLF ALLOWED in this Poynton Park

A closer look at the NO GOLF ALLOWED sign

  

A NO GOLF ALLOWED sign at the top of the steps leading from the Middlewood Way in Poynton

A faded NO GOLF ALLOWED sign next to the Macclesfield Canal in Poynton

How to play minigolf - in three languages

Whereabouts on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour did we find this sign?

How to play minigolf

So wird bahnengolf gespielt

Jouer au minigolf

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NO GOLF in Hawk Green, Marple

We saw this NO GOLF sign on our daily walk on The Green in Hawk Green, Marple, Stockport.

Social distancing since 2009

Looking back through our photo archive I noticed this interesting sign on a minigolf course we played back in May 2009.

A precursor to social distancing.

WHEN PUTTING MAKE SURE NOBODY IS NEAR YOU

The 9-hole Swedish Felt Mini Golf course was at Blake End Craft Centre, near Braintree, Essex. It was the 95th course visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. We've now been to 948 since September 2006.