Showing posts with label Suffolk. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Suffolk. Show all posts

Tuesday, February 18, 2025

Street Golf Felixstowe opening at Beach Street

Street Golf Felixstowe is opening at Manning's Amusements in the seaside town this year.


Street Golf Felixstowe is opening at Manning's Amusements in the seaside town this year

Felixstowe will be home to two new 9-hole indoor Crazy Golf courses as Street Golf Felixstowe opens inside Manning's Amusements at Beach Street in the Suffolk seaside town.

Construction work is underway and the former Magical Golf FX course on the site has been removed to make way for the building of the two new Crazy Golf courses.

We're looking forward to checking out the new Street Golf layouts when they open.

We've played minigolf at Manning's Amusements in Felixstowe a lot over the years. The first time we played there was back on the 19th November 2006 when it became the fifth course we ever visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. It was also the first indoor minigolf course we played.

Back then it was one of only two indoor minigolf courses in the UK!

We've now been to 1,077 courses (1,019 in the British Isles) and there are a lot more indoor minigolf venues than there were in the mid-noughties.

The Golf FX course at Manning's Amusements was a brilliant layout, with lots of optical illusions and practical effects. It was a unique course and ahead of its time with its sound and light effects. Very few courses we have been to have come close to capturing the fun of it.

Since our first visit to Manning's Amusements the course had a few upgrades, refurbishments and name changes - it was called 'Golf FX' when we first played and has been known as 'Magical Golf', 'Magical Golf FX' and 'Harry Putter and the Magical Crazy Golf'!

Harry Putter indoor Crazy Golf course at Manning's Amusements in Felixstowe in 2016
The green on the old first hole is still the only revolving one we've seen on our travels! It'll be interesting to see how the new course at Manning's evolves...

Hopefully the two new Street Golf courses being built at Manning's Amusements are as good as, or better than, the course they will be replacing.

Over the last several years the team at Manning's have transformed the amusements and leisure area to incorporate Beach Street - a container yard for dining, drinking and entertainment. You can get lovely sea views from some of the seating and we enjoyed meeting friends for tapas there on our last visit to Felixstowe. It was also fun having a go on some of the new arcade games there. Roll on Spring and Summer for our next trips to the town.

Find out more and follow the progress of the course build on the Manning's Amusements and Beach Street Felixstowe websites and social media.

Sunday, January 19, 2025

Pop-Up Adventure Mini Golf at The National Trust Ickworth Estate in Suffolk

There will be an adventure golf course in the gallery at The National Trust Ickworth Estate this February.


There will be an adventure golf course in the gallery at The National Trust Ickworth Estate this February

The National Trust Ickworth Estate in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk will have a pop-up Adventure Mini Golf course in the gallery from Saturday 15th February to Sunday 23rd February.

The pop-up 9-hole indoor minigolf course will be set-up in the West Wing Gallery.

The Ickworth Estate had a pop-up crazy golf event during Halloween last year.

Visit The National Trust Ickworth Estate website for more information, and book your Adventure Golf tickets here.


My brother Christopher, a charter member of the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour, visited and stayed at The Ickworth Estate recently and sent these snaps about the pop-up Adventure Mini Golf course.

Adventure Mini Golf course at The National Trust Ickworth Estate in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, January 2025

Adventure Mini Golf course at The National Trust Ickworth Estate in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, January 2025

Check out Christopher's Instagram account for more from his travels and adventures.

Saturday, January 18, 2025

Spring Adventure Golf at The National Trust Ickworth Estate in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk

There will be an adventure golf course in the gallery at The National Trust Ickworth Estate this February.


There will be an adventure golf course in the gallery at The National Trust Ickworth Estate this February

The National Trust Ickworth Estate in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk will have a pop-up Adventure Mini Golf course in the gallery from Saturday 15th February to Sunday 23rd February.

The pop-up 9-hole indoor miniature golf course will be set-up in the West Wing Gallery.

Visit The National Trust Ickworth Estate website for more information, and book your Adventure Golf tickets here.

Tuesday, January 07, 2025

Fantasia Adventure Golf in Felixstowe is closing

Fantasia Adventure Golf in Felixstowe, Suffolk is going to be demolished.


The Sea Road Adventure Golf course in Felixstowe will be closed and the site turned into residential properties after plans were approved for the work to go ahead.

It's a shame to see minigolf courses close down. Fantasia Adventure Golf has always been fun to play.

Adventure Golf course on Sea Road in Felixstowe
The sun is setting on the Adventure Golf course on Sea Road in Felixstowe 

It's one of our most visited courses and was originally the 7th we went to on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. We last swung by in August last year.


The course opened in 1997/98 and was one of the first adventure golf layouts to open in the UK.

Saturday, December 14, 2024

Adventure Golf at Go Wild Axe & Golf (Wild Blades) in Haverhill

There's an outdoor Adventure Golf course at the Go Wild centre in Haverhill, Suffolk.


Adventure Golf at Go Wild Axe & Golf (Wild Blades) in Haverhill

The location is home to both Axe Throwing and Adventure Golf activities.

Adventure Golf at Go Wild Axe & Golf (Wild Blades) in Haverhill

There are four Go Wild locations in Windermere, Haverhill, Bury St Edmunds and Hartlepool. Adventure Golf is available at the Haverhill and Hartlepool locations where you'll find the 12-hole lumberjack themed courses.

Adventure Golf at Go Wild Axe & Golf (Wild Blades) in Haverhill

Check out the Go Wild website for more information.


Adventure Golf at Go Wild Axe & Golf (Wild Blades) in Haverhill

Adventure Golf at Go Wild Axe & Golf (Wild Blades) in Haverhill

Adventure Golf at Go Wild Axe & Golf (Wild Blades) in Haverhill

Adventure Golf at Go Wild Axe & Golf (Wild Blades) in Haverhill

Adventure Golf at Go Wild Axe & Golf (Wild Blades) in Haverhill

A DVD rental shop in 2024: T.V.L. Allstar Video in Haverhill

Finding a DVD movie rental shop in Haverhill, Suffolk.


TVL Allstar Video in Haverhill

It was amazing to find out about TVL Allstar Video in Haverhill and brilliant to hear that in 2024 they've been celebrating their 40th year in business.

While they no longer rent out VHS tapes they hold a library of around 8,000 titles on DVD and Blu-ray, with new releases added to the collection on a weekly basis.

We've spent the last few years documenting the last traces of Blockbuster Video stores here in the UK, and we've found some other video shop signage on our travels. It's even better when we find a video shop that is still open for business!

TVL Allstar Video in Haverhill
Signs for the movie rental membership, and some of the other services provided at the shop

TVL Allstar Video in Haverhill
If you don't know what to rent, the team at TVL Allstar Video will be able to guide you to some of the top picks. Chatting with the owner and his colleague at the shop they told me how they've maintained a regular customer base over the years. This was evident in my short visit as there were several people through the door, it was excellent to see

TVL Allstar Video in Haverhill
There aren't many things better than holding an actual video shop rental membership card in your hands in 2024 - it's a link to another time!

TVL Allstar Video in Haverhill
A view of a small section of the rentals available at the shop

TVL Allstar Video in Haverhill
New releases are regularly added to the collection at TVL Allstar Video

TVL Allstar Video in Haverhill
I would've rented Beetlejuice Beetlejuice if I lived close enough to borrow and return it in time

TVL Allstar Video in Haverhill
Lovely to see rental stickers in the wild

TVL Allstar Video in Haverhill
A familiar sight back in the day

TVL Allstar Video in Haverhill

As well as film rentals, the shop has diversified over the years and now offers scratched disc repairs, a print shop, stationery, and UPS Parcels services.

TVL Allstar Video in Haverhill

Check out the TVL Allstar Video website for more information.


TVL Allstar Video in Haverhill is one of only a handful of video rental shops still operating in the UK. Long may it continue!

Tuesday, December 10, 2024

Happy Shopper shops - Lowestoft

There are still a few Happy Shopper shops around England and Wales.


Here's a look at the Happy Shopper in Lowestoft, Suffolk.


Check out this blog post looking back at our visits to Happy Shopper shops since 2020.


View my YouTube Playlist of Happy Shopper shop videos.

Saturday, December 07, 2024

Adventure Golf at The Railway Inn in Westerfield, near Ipswich (August 2024)

Playing the Adventure Golf course at The Railway Inn in Westerfield, near Ipswich, Suffolk.


We played the 9-hole outdoor Adventure Golf course in the pub beer garden of The Railway Inn in Westerfield, near Ipswich, Suffolk on a visit to the town to see family.


The Adventure Golf course at The Railway was the 1,064th course visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour, the 1,007th we've been to in the British Isles, and the 575th course we've played on our travels since 2006.

Monday, November 25, 2024

Street Golf in Manning's Amusements at Beach Street in Felixstowe

Manning's Amusements in Felixstowe, Suffolk is getting a new indoor crazy golf course.


Manning's Amusements in Felixstowe, Suffolk is getting a new indoor crazy golf course

Street Golf is planned to open at Easter 2025.

The existing Magical Golf FX course at Manning's Amusements closes for the final time today, Sunday 24th November 2024, after 25 years!

We're looking forward to checking out the new Street Golf course when it opens.

We've played crazy golf at Manning's Amusements in Felixstowe a lot over the years. The first time we played there was back on the 19th November 2006 when it became the fifth course we ever visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. It was also the first indoor minigolf course we played.

Crazy Golf at Manning's Amusements in Felixstowe
How the indoor adventure golf course at Manning's Amusements looked in December 2016

Back then it was one of only two indoor minigolf courses in the UK!

We've now been to 1,067 courses (1,009 in the British Isles) and there are a lot more indoor minigolf venues than there were in the mid-noughties.

The Golf FX course was a brilliant layout, with lots of optical illusions and practical effects. It was a unique course and ahead of its time with its sound and light effects. Very few courses have come close to capturing the fun of it.

Crazy Golf at Manning's Amusements in Felixstowe
Emily playing Golf FX in November 2014 on one of our many visits to Felixstowe over the years

Since our first visit the course has had a few upgrades, mild refurbishments and name changes - it was called 'Golf FX' when we first played and has been known as 'Magical Golf', 'Magical Golf FX' and 'Harry Putter and the Magical Crazy Golf'!

Crazy Golf at Manning's Amusements in Felixstowe
The green on the first hole is still the only rotating one we've seen on our travels!

We hope the new Street Golf course being built at Manning's Amusements upgraded Leisureland at Beach Street is as good as, or better than, the course it's replacing.

Over the last few years the team at Manning's have transformed the amusements and leisure area to incorporate Beach Street - a container yard for dining, drinking and entertainment. You can get lovely sea views from some of the seating and we enjoyed meeting friends for tapas there on our last visit to Felixstowe.

Find out more on the Manning's Amusements and Beach Street Felixstowe websites.

Thursday, November 14, 2024

Mini Golf at The Big Christmas Adventure in Ipswich

There will be a 9-hole Mini Golf course at The Big Christmas Adventure at Trinity Park in Ipswich, Suffolk this December.


There will be a 9-hole Mini Golf course at The Big Christmas Adventure at Trinity Park in Ipswich, Suffolk this December

The event runs from Friday 20th to Tuesday 24th December. Find out more on The Big Christmas Adventure website.

Tuesday, September 24, 2024

High Lodge Adventure Golf in Brandon, Suffolk

A look back at our visit to the Adventure Golf course at High Lodge in Brandon, Suffolk.


Adventure Golf course at High Lodge in Brandon, Suffolk

We visited the Adventure Golf course at High Lodge in Brandon, Thetford Forest, Suffolk back in December 2022.

Adventure Golf course at High Lodge in Brandon, Suffolk

The 18-hole woodland-themed outdoor adventure golf course at the forest centre was the 1,010th course visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Adventure Golf course at High Lodge in Brandon, Suffolk

Visit the Forestry England website for more information on the High Lodge site.


The outdoor Adventure Golf course is from the team behind Dinton Adventure Golf in Wokingham, Wardown Adventure Golf in Luton, Lightwater Country Park in Surrey and Victoria Park Adventure Golf in Newbury.

Tuesday, September 17, 2024

Jiggers Miniature Golf at Thorpeness Golf Club & Hotel in Suffolk

A look back at a visit to Jiggers Miniature Golf at Thorpeness Golf Club & Hotel in Suffolk in 2018.


Jiggers Miniature Golf at Thorpeness Golf Club & Hotel

We played the Jiggers Miniature Golf course that had recently opened at Thorpeness Golf Club & Hotel in Suffolk back in May 2018.

Jiggers Miniature Golf at Thorpeness Golf Club & Hotel

Jiggers Miniature Golf is a 9-hole minigolf course on the banks of the Meare boating lake. It was a nicely designed and fun layout to play.

Jiggers Miniature Golf at Thorpeness Golf Club & Hotel

Jiggers Miniature Golf at Thorpeness Golf Club & Hotel

Jiggers Miniature Golf at Thorpeness Golf Club & Hotel

Jiggers Miniature Golf at Thorpeness Golf Club & Hotel

Jiggers Miniature Golf at Thorpeness Golf Club & Hotel

Jiggers Miniature Golf at Thorpeness Golf Club & Hotel

Jiggers Miniature Golf at Thorpeness Golf Club & Hotel

Jiggers Miniature Golf at Thorpeness Golf Club & Hotel

Jiggers Miniature Golf at Thorpeness Golf Club & Hotel

Jiggers Miniature Golf at Thorpeness Golf Club & Hotel

The Jiggers Miniature Golf course at Thorpeness Golf Club & Hotel was the 479th played and 814th visited overall on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Scorecard from Jiggers Miniature Golf at Thorpeness Golf Club & Hotel
The scorecard from the course is a nice souvenir

Scorecard from Jiggers Miniature Golf at Thorpeness Golf Club & Hotel
We loved the postcard-style of the scorecard
 
Jiggers Miniature Golf course at Thorpeness Golf Club & Hotel

Jiggers Miniature Golf course at Thorpeness Golf Club & Hotel

Jiggers Miniature Golf course at Thorpeness Golf Club & Hotel
 
Jiggers Miniature Golf course at Thorpeness Golf Club & Hotel

Jiggers Miniature Golf course at Thorpeness Golf Club & Hotel

Jiggers Miniature Golf course at Thorpeness Golf Club & Hotel

Jiggers Miniature Golf course at Thorpeness Golf Club & Hotel

Jiggers Miniature Golf course at Thorpeness Golf Club & Hotel

Jiggers Miniature Golf course at Thorpeness Golf Club & Hotel

Visit the Thorpeness Golf Club & Hotel website for more information.


Jiggers Miniature Golf course at Thorpeness Golf Club & Hotel was built by the team at City Golf
The course was built by City Golf