If you're in Rugby, and you feel hungry, who you gonna call...

...Gutt Busters!

We spotted Gutt Busters on a visit to Rugby in Warwickshire back in 2014.

Blockbuster Video store in Nuneaton - May 2021

The old sign at the former Blockbuster Video store on Regent Street in Nuneaton was uncovered when a tenant of the building moved out. This is how the store looked on the 2nd May 2021.

Blockbuster Video store locations we've visited on our travels

Our interest in lost brands and retail history has taken us to several former Blockbuster stores:

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

Crazy Golf at Strikes Bar in Rugby Central shopping centre

Strikes Bar at The Adventure Zone in Rugby Central shopping centre is home to a Crazy Golf course.

A sign for Strikes Bar in Rugby Central shopping centre

Check out The Adventure Zone website for more information and opening times.

Crazy Golf at Yum Yum World in Rugby

The Yum Yum Crazy Golf course at Bounce World in Rugby, Warwickshire is no longer open.

You used to be able to get a hole-in-one at Bounce World in Rugby

We visited the course location on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour last year.

There was no sign of the course this time

The building it was in used to be home to a Woolworths. You can see still see the Woolies ghost sign there.

Lost Shops - Blockbuster Video store in Nuneaton, Warwickshire (May 2021)

Taking a look at the former Blockbuster Video store in Nuneaton, Warwickshire.

In 2021 the old sign at the former Blockbuster Video store on Regent Street in Nuneaton was uncovered when the tenant of the building moved out.

It was brilliant to see such a well maintained piece of signage - it looked like the store could've re-opened that day!

Blockbuster Video in the UK

At its peak in 2004 there were more than 9,000 stores around the world. 500-plus of those were in the UK.

Blockbuster ceased operations in the UK in December 2013. At the start of that year there were 528 Blockbuster locations in the UK. The number dwindled until October when only 264 shops remained. The last stores closed on the 16th December.

There are still some visible remnants of the brand on the high street and on retail parks. And we've been to most of them on our travels!

Check out the posts about 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
• Clacton-on-Sea, Essex
• Colne, Lancashire
• Failsworth, Manchester
• Fallowfield, Manchester
• Felixstowe, Suffolk
• Filton, Bristol
• Great Moor, Stockport, Greater Manchester
• Hastings, East Sussex
• Leigh, Greater Manchester
• Luton, Bedfordshire
• Marple, Greater Manchester
• Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire
• Nuneaton, Warwickshire
• Oldham, Greater Manchester
• Prescot, Lancashire
• Shanklin, Isle of Wight
• Southampton, Hampshire
• Telford, Shropshire
• Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex
• Wisbech, Cambridgeshire
• Wythenshawe, Manchester

Lost brands

Emily and I have spent the last few years reminiscing about 'the good old days'. One of our areas of interest is in old retail brands - we're both marketers by profession and two of my first jobs in the 1990's and the year 2000 were at Tandy and Toys R Us, while Emily's first job was at a Happy Shopper shop. It's been fascinating to find remnants of these brands - and a number of other lost, dead and defunct brands - on the high street and at retail parks around the UK.

Scrapyard Golf at Nuneaton Bowl

There's a Scrapyard Golf course at the Nuneaton Bowl Discobowl venue in Nuneaton, Warwickshire.

Check out the Nuneaton Bowl website for more information.

It's another course on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour to visit list.

Scrapyard Golf at Worcester Bowl

Crazy Golf at Strikes Bar in Rugby

There's a new Crazy Golf course at Strikes Bar in Rugby, Warwickshire.

Strikes Bar is home to tenpin bowling, crazy golf, adventure softplay and AR darts.

You can find Strikes Bar at Unit LSU1C, Manning Walk, Central Shopping Centre, Rugby CV21 2JT.

Visit the Strikes Bar website for more information.

It's another new venue for us to check out on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

PAR 'N' BAR Cosmic Crazy Golf in Rugby has moved

PAR 'N' BAR Cosmic Crazy Golf in Rugby has moved location to Level 2, Rugby Central Shopping Centre, CV21 2JT.

PAR 'N' BAR Cosmic Crazy Golf in Rugby in May 2023

The old Blockbuster Video store in Nuneaton

A look at the former Blockbuster Video store in Nuneaton, Warwickshire.

Back in 2021 the old sign at the former Blockbuster Video store on Regent Street in Nuneaton was uncovered when the tenant of the building moved out.

It was brilliant to see such a well maintained piece of signage - it looked like the store could've re-opened that day!

A ghost sign of the torn ticket logo at the back of the store

Finding other old Blockbuster Video shops.

It's always fun to see ghost signs, remnants of old & dead brands and interesting signage while out and about on our travels. Since I found the remains of the Blockbuster Video store in Fallowfield, Manchester in October 2019 I've been intrigued to see the brand still has a lingering presence on the high street. The last Blockbuster Video shop ceased trading in the UK in December 2013!

Our travels have taken us to several former Blockbuster stores:

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

Crazy Golf at Yum Yum World in Rugby

We swung by the Yum Yum Crazy Golf course in Rugby, Warwickshire on our recent visit to the town.

Unfortunately the course and venue looked to be closed down. There is another Yum Yum World on the same street a stone's throw away on the other side.

The building used to be home to a Woolworths!

PAR 'N' BAR Cosmic Crazy Golf in Rugby

We recently made a stop off in Rugby, Warwickshire and spotted the PAR 'N' BAR Cosmic Crazy Golf.

We didn't have time for a round at the indoor minigolf course on this occasion.

Visit the PAR 'N' BAR Cosmic Crazy Golf website for more information on the 9-hole UV course.

Crazy Golf at Yum Yum World in Rugby

There's a Crazy Golf course at Yum Yum World in Rugby, Warwickshire.

A big thanks go to my fellow fan of retail history Mason Moore for letting me know about the Crazy Golf course at Yum Yum World in Rugby, Warwickshire.

Yum Yum Crazy Golf is an indoor course within Yum Yum World - a sweet shop, soft play centre, arcade and laser tag venue in Rugby town centre.

Mason tells me that the building Yum Yum World is in was once the town's Woolworths.

Check out the Yum Yum World website for more information.

Yum Yum Crazy Golf is another course for us to visit on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Par ‘n’ Bar mini-golf opening in Rugby

A new indoor mini-golf venue is opening Rugby, Warwickshire.

A cities of the world themed indoor minigolf course is opening at the Swan Centre in Rugby, Warwickshire.

Check out the Par ‘n’ Bar Facebook Page and website for more information.

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

The old Blockbuster Video store in Nuneaton

A look at the old Blockbuster Video store in Nuneaton, Warwickshire.

The old sign at the former Blockbuster Video store on Regent Street in Nuneaton was uncovered when the last tenant of the building moved out.

Blockbuster visits

With our interest piqued by our discovery of the abandoned Blockbuster Video store in Fallowfield in 2019 we've now visited a number of former Blockbuster locations, including:

• Abingdon, Oxfordshire
• Barnsley, South Yorkshire
• Billingham, Teesside
• Cheadle Hulme, Greater Manchester
• Chester, Cheshire
• Chorley, Lancashire
• Colne, Lancashire
• Fallowfield, Manchester
• Felixstowe, Suffolk
• Great Moor, Stockport, Greater Manchester
• Hastings, East Sussex
• Leigh, Greater Manchester
• Marple, Greater Manchester
• Oldham, Greater Manchester
• Prescot, Lancashire
• Telford, Shropshire
• Wythenshawe, Manchester

Blockbuster Video in Nuneaton

Checking out the former Blockbuster Video store in Nuneaton, Warwickshire.

Earlier this year the old sign at the former Blockbuster Video store on Regent Street in Nuneaton was uncovered when the most recent tenant of the building moved out.

The unit had been home to a 365 Bargains store which has now moved-next-door-but-one on the same retail park.

The sign at the rear of the store has also been removed and the ghost outline of the Blockbuster Big Ticket logo sign can be seen

It's always marvellous to find remnants of lost brands that evoke memories of a bygone time.

What film or game would you rent out if you could?

We were also lucky enough to spot an old Woolworths ghost sign while we were having a walk round Nuneaton town centre!

Blockbuster Video

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.

Luckily for us there are still relics of its time as a retail powerhouse on the high streets and retail parks of the UK.

Blockbuster Video Express

We recently visited one of the last remaining Blockbuster Video Express shopfronts. It's in Billingham, County Durham.

Blockbuster visits

With our retail archaeology interest piqued by our discovery of the abandoned Blockbuster Video store in Fallowfield in 2019 we've now visited a number of former Blockbuster locations, including:

• Fallowfield, Manchester
• Colne, Lancashire
• Billingham, Teesside
• Prescot, Lancashire
• Cheadle Hulme, Greater Manchester
• Marple, Greater Manchester
• Oldham, Greater Manchester
• Felixstowe, Suffolk
• Hastings, East Sussex
• Chester, Cheshire
• Barnsley, South Yorkshire
• Telford, Shropshire
• Chorley, Lancashire
• Abingdon, Oxfordshire
• Leigh, Greater Manchester
• Great Moor, Stockport, Greater Manchester
• Wythenshawe, Manchester

Woolworths in Nuneaton

Finding a Woolworths ghost sign.

We were surprised to see a Woolworths ghost sign while walking through Nuneaton town centre!

The sign was above the store's former entrance on Queens Road.

Social distancing signage alongside Woolworths branding - not something I ever thought I'd see

The shop was most recently a Poundland and before then had been a 99p Stores and a TJ Hughes.

It's always fun seeing old & lost brands, ghost signs and retail relics.

You can see some of Poundland's 'Sorry We Have Closed' messaging on the shopfront. Interestingly one of our local Poundland shops in Stockport has recently closed and where the signage has been removed you can see a British Home Stores ghost sign

Other Woolies

The last Woolworths shop in the UK closed in January 2009 so it's always nice when remnants of the brand become visible again.

We visited the Woolworths in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent last September. That store still has the signage in place and we'd originally spotted it while driving through the town the previous November.

We took a look at an old Woolworths store in Brunstane, Edinburgh in August 2011. That was a Big W Woolworths store at The Jewel retail park. It's long gone now.

You can however still see an old mosaic tile logo at the former Woolworths on Stamford Street Central in Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester.

Interestingly there's a Woolworths Pick n' Mix Crazy Golf hole at Teezers Retro Golf in Coventry!

Gutt Busters in Rugby

If you're in Rugby, and you feel hungry, who you gonna call...

Gutt Busters!

We spotted Gutt Busters on a visit to Rugby in Warwickshire seven years ago

Minigolfing in the Midlands

Earlier this month we were at The Belfry in Sutton Coldfield to compete in the American Golf Adventure Golf National Championships. Travelling there and back we ticked off a fair few more minigolf courses on our to visit list and we'll have a lot of blog posts about them to come in the next few weeks.

With Humpty at Beacon Park in Lichfield

During our road-trip we visited courses in Sutton Coldfield, Lea Marston, Dorridge, Birmingham, Tamworth, Lichfield, Walsall and Stafford.

Related blog posts:
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Adventure Golf in St Nicholas Park, Warwick

A revisit to the Adventure Golf course in Warwick's St Nicholas Park.

The 16th hole at Warwick Adventure Golf

The 18-hole Adventure Golf course at St Nicholas Park in Warwick was the 27th course played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour way back in July 2007 when we were in town for that year's BMGA English Open tournament.

We revisited the layout in April 2011 and this month Emily gave the course another play while on holiday in the midlands on the 17th of July.

Emily safely on the green on a hole with an interesting water hazard (just ask our friend and fellow Minigolf Pro Jam Trubridge!)

A new addition to the course is a four-hole practice area. It looks great

One of the loooooong holes at Warwick Adventure Golf

A downhill shot

In the match-up on the 18-hole course Emily played against her sister Jo and niece Kate, with Jo winning with a score of 45. Emily hit a 46, with Kate carding a 50

Designed by UrbanCrazy the course is very tricky indeed and well worth a play.

The Golden Putter Mini Golf course in Warwick has a very nice scorecard and pencil. A nice addition to the Crazy Golf Museum

For more information on the course, opening times and prices visit the Golden Putter website.

Prices for the Golden Putter Mini Golf course in Warwick (July 2015)

We've played the permanent Golden Putter Mini Golf courses in Staines and Wroxham, and their portable course when it was set-up on Clacton Pier. Golden Putter Mini Golf also have courses in Birmingham's Cannon Hill Park and Rotherham's Clifton Park. Both are on our 'to visit' list.

Related blog posts:
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Adventure Golf at St Nicholas Park in Warwick
- Revisit to the 18-Hole Adventure Miniature Golf Course at St Nicholas Park in Warwick

Link:
- Golden Putter website

Like the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour on Facebook, check out our YouTube channel and follow me and Emily on Twitter.

Minigolf in Stratford-upon-Avon

A revisit to Stratford-upon-Avon's minigolf course.

Minigolf in Stratford-upon-Avon

While on holiday in the midlands this week Emily made a return trip to Stratford-upon-Avon and the 18-hole Minigolf course at the Recreation Ground on Swan's Nest Lane.

  

The minigolf course can be found in the Recreation Ground on Swan's Nest Lane in Stratford-upon-Avon

The course was originally the 49th visited and played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour back in 2008. We've visited the course to play in a number of competitions including the British Doubles, Midlands Open, Midlands Invitational and the English Open. It's one of the finest courses in the country and a real skill-based course. Well worth a visit.

At the 2008 Midlands Invitational Tournament

On the course during the 2009 Midlands Invitational Tournament

In action at the 2010 Midlands Open

A view of the Stratford-upon-Avon minigolf course in 2015

Check out the Stratford Minigolf course website for more information, opening times and prices.

Upon first seeing the course it appears to be quite flat, but on closer inspection you'll find there are so many subtle lumps, bumps and obstacles it makes for a really testing round

The course was recently the setting for the MMGC Midlands Masters tournament organised by the Midlands Minigolf Club - the reigning, and two-time, BMGA British Club Champions.

Along with my MMGC team-mates Chris Harding, John Moore and Jam Trubridge the club won the national title for the first time when the Stratford course hosted the event in 2008.

Check out the links to videos from the closing stages of a 'friendly' Minigolf Doubles Match between me & Kevin Moseley and Jam Trubridge & Peter Jones played after the 2009 Midlands Invitational Tournament.

Videos:
- Minigolf Doubles Match in Stratford Upon Avon - part 1 of 2
- Minigolf Doubles Match in Stratford Upon Avon - part 2 of 2 

Related blog post:
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Links:
- Stratford Minigolf website
- Midlands Minigolf Club on Facebook

Like the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour on Facebook, check out our YouTube channel and follow me and Emily on Twitter.