Showing posts with label covid-19. Show all posts
Showing posts with label covid-19. Show all posts

Monday, April 01, 2024

Pubs of Stockport during the coronavirus pandemic

A look at Stopfordian Pubs during the Coronavirus Pandemic.


Four years ago today we photographed The Kings Tap on Station Road in Cheadle Hulme. It became the first of 265 pubs, bars and clubs we visited in the borough between April and the 4th of July when the first coronavirus pandemic lockdown ended.

Pub number 1 - The Kings Tap on Station Road in Cheadle Hulme. A lovely Art Deco building. We'd never seen it shuttered before the lockdown
Pub number 1 - The Kings Tap on Station Road in Cheadle Hulme. A lovely Art Deco building. We'd never seen it shuttered before the lockdown

We visited each of the pubs while on our daily outdoor exercise between Wednesday 1st April and before pubs were allowed to reopen with social distancing measures on Saturday 4th July.

It gave us something to do during the lockdowns and it was interesting to see the variety of architecture, different signage, parts of the town we haven't been to for a long time and other parts of the area we've never been to. I documented the pubs on Instagram using the #StopfordianPubs tag.

At the 265th pub on our lockdown 'pub crawl'. Not a drop was drunk on our daily walks in April, May, June and July
At the 265th pub on our lockdown 'pub crawl'. Not a drop was drunk on our daily walks in April, May, June and July

Saturday, April 01, 2023

Pubs of Stockport during the coronavirus pandemic

A look at Stopfordian Pubs.


Three years ago today we photographed The Kings Tap on Station Road in Cheadle Hulme. It became the first of 265 pubs, bars and clubs we visited in the borough between April and the 4th of July when the first lockdown ended.

Pub number 1 - The Kings Tap on Station Road in Cheadle Hulme. A lovely Art Deco building. We'd never seen it shuttered before the lockdown
Pub number 1 - The Kings Tap on Station Road in Cheadle Hulme. A lovely Art Deco building. We'd never seen it shuttered before the lockdown

We visited each of the pubs while on our daily outdoor exercise between Wednesday 1st April and before pubs were allowed to reopen with social distancing measures on Saturday 4th July.

It gave us something to do during the lockdowns and it was interesting to see the variety of architecture, different signage, parts of the town we haven't been to for a long time and other parts of the area we've never been to. I documented the pubs on Instagram using the #StopfordianPubs tag.

At the 265th pub on our lockdown 'pub crawl'. Not a drop was drunk on our daily walks in April, May, June and July
At the 265th pub on our lockdown 'pub crawl'. Not a drop was drunk on our daily walks in April, May, June and July

Sunday, June 19, 2022

Dr Pac-Man's Covid-19 Testing Centre in Lanzarote

We've been documenting the signs of the covid times since the pandemic began in 2020 and have seen a number of different, interesting and fun ways to promote social distancing, testing and getting a jab.


Doctors Covid-19 Testing in Lanzarote
Doctors Covid-19 Testing in Lanzarote

This escalator advertising for a Covid-19 Testing Centre that Emily spotted in Lanzarote last month is one of the best!

Doctors Covid-19 Testing in Lanzarote
Surely Pac-Man should be avoiding the covvy though!

Doctors Covid-19 Testing in Lanzarote
Doctors Covid-19 Testing in Lanzarote

Wednesday, March 16, 2022

Herne Bay Mini Golf

A look at the Mini Golf course on the seafront in Herne Bay, Kent.


Herne Bay Mini Golf
Herne Bay Mini Golf

We revisited the 78th course on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour last month.

Herne Bay Mini Golf
Mini Golf Rules

Herne Bay Mini Golf

Herne Bay Mini Golf

Herne Bay Mini Golf



Visit the iFun Family Entertainment Centre website for more info on the Herne Bay Mini Golf course.


Herne Bay Mini Golf

I've been documenting coronavirus signs during the pandemic and it was interesting to see some social distancing signs at the Herne Bay course.

A Covid-19 sign at Herne Bay Mini Golf
A Covid-19 sign at Herne Bay Mini Golf

A social distancing sign on the Herne Bay Mini Golf course
A social distancing sign on the Herne Bay Mini Golf course

A Coronavirus social distancing sign at Herne Bay Mini Golf
A Coronavirus social distancing sign at Herne Bay Mini Golf

Monday, October 04, 2021

Social Distancing signs at SEA LIFE Blackpool

A look at the social distancing signs at the SEA LIFE centre in Blackpool.


Social distancing signs at the SEA LIFE centre in Blackpool

I spotted these nice social distancing signs outside the SEA LIFE centre on the promenade in Blackpool on my trip to the seaside town last month.

Social distancing sign at the SEA LIFE centre in Blackpool

Social distancing sign at the SEA LIFE centre in Blackpool

Social distancing sign at the SEA LIFE centre in Blackpool

Social distancing sign at the SEA LIFE centre in Blackpool

I've been documenting all of the Covid-19 signs I've seen during the pandemic on my Instagram account and here on the blog.

Tuesday, September 28, 2021

Social distancing at Freeman, Hardy & Willis

A look at some new decals on an old shop doorway mosaic.


We saw these modern day social distancing floor markings at the entrance of a charity shop while having a walk along Magdalen Street in Norwich last month.

Social distancing signs at a former Freeman, Hardy and Willis in Norwich, August 2021

The shop was once a branch of the national footwear chain Freeman, Hardy & Willis. All that remains of that brand is the lovely old advertising mosaic in the doorway.

Tuesday, June 15, 2021

Covid-19 signage at Puttstars Mini Golf in Rochdale

I've been blogging about minigolf during the time of coronavirus and posting examples of Covid-19 and social distancing signage that I've seen or had shared with me during the pandemic.


During the pandemic we've played four minigolf courses, two of which were indoors. Last August we played our first game following lockdown at Gator Adventure Golf in Chorley. In September we played at Cae Glas Park in Oswestry. Last month we played at the newly refurbished Princess Parade Crazy Golf in Blackpool and earlier this month we played two of the three indoor courses at Puttstars in Rochdale.

Covid-19 signage at Puttstars Mini Golf in Rochdale
A social distancing sign at the entrance to Rochdale Riverside

Covid-19 signage at Puttstars Mini Golf in Rochdale
We didn't take the lift

Covid-19 signage at Puttstars Mini Golf in Rochdale
The approach to Puttstars

Covid-19 signage at Puttstars Mini Golf in Rochdale
A welcome sign

Puttstars Mini Golf in Rochdale
Hole one of the Slingshot course

Covid-19 signage at Puttstars Mini Golf in Rochdale
A sign at the end of the round

Away from minigolf I've been documenting all of the Covid-19 signs I've seen on my Instagram account.

Monday, June 07, 2021

Covid-19 signage at Lofty's Crazy Golf course in Seaton Carew

I've been writing about minigolf during the time of coronavirus and blogging examples of Covid-19 and social distancing signage and measures that I've seen or had shared with me during the pandemic.


Lofty's Crazy Golf course in Seaton Carew
It was lovely to be back at the seaside

During the pandemic we've visited ten new minigolf courses to us (as well as a few revisits). Our first new course visit of 2021 was in April when we swung by Lofty's Crazy Golf course in Seaton Carew, Hartlepool, Teesside.

Lofty's Crazy Golf course in Seaton Carew
Covid-19 guidelines

Lofty's Crazy Golf course in Seaton Carew
Course rules

Lofty's Crazy Golf course in Seaton Carew
Social distancing markings at the entrance

Lofty's Crazy Golf course in Seaton Carew
Hole 1

It'll be nice to have a round on the 10-hole seafront course in the future.

Lofty's Crazy Golf course in Seaton Carew

In addition to the minigolf signs I've been documenting all of the Covid-19 signs I've seen on my Instagram account.

Tuesday, March 23, 2021

Signs of the coronavirus pandemic times

A look at signs of the Coronavirus pandemic, social distancing and lockdown.


Social distancing world champion floor sticker at a pub in Chesterfield

I've been documenting the coronavirus pandemic in a number of ways, one of which is by photographing the different signs and posters I see on my walks and limited travels.

We're one year into lockdown in the UK and in that time I've collated some 922 of these (and counting) on my Instagram account.

One of the very first signs I snapped was this one during a local walk that passed by Cheadle Angling Club on Demmings Road in Cheadle.

Coronavirus sign at Cheadle Angling Club


Social distancing at Bruntwood Park Pitch & Putt in Cheadle

There is certainly a real variety of warnings, instructions and directional signage to do with social distancing, and I was amused by this photo Emily took of the social distancing measures in place on an escalator in M&S!

Social distancing on an escalator in M&S, Chesterfield

Surely the 2 metre apart distance stickers should be on the moving walkway as well, rather than the static sides of the escalator? I wonder how many people adhere to the rule and wait for the person ahead of them to reach the first marker?

Have you seen any interesting, quirky or amusing signs during these pandemic times? Do let me know.

Sunday, December 20, 2020

A Mask Vending Machine

We saw our first Mask Vending Machine at the Spinning Gate shopping centre in Leigh, Greater Manchester on Saturday.

A Mask Vending Machine at the Spinning Gate shopping centre in Leigh
A #maskbox PPE vending machine

What a time we're living through!

I've been documenting the Covid-19 and social distancing signs I've seen during the pandemic here on my blog as well as on my Instagram account.

Related blog posts:

- Vending

- Leigh

- Shopping

COVID-19 Buster in Leigh

We spotted this interesting shop while in Leigh, Greater Manchester on Saturday.

COVID-19 Buster in Leigh

It's the best shop name I've seen during the pandemic.

COVID-19 Buster in Leigh

COVID-19 Buster sells PPE to businesses and individuals.

2020 is Out of Order

If 2020 was a sanitising station in a shop.


Covid-19 hand sanitiser at a charity shop in Leigh

Thursday, November 19, 2020

Social distancing signs in Abingdon's Market Place

I've been documenting the Covid-19 social distancing signs I've seen during the coronavirus pandemic here and on my Instagram.

The ones in my home town's Market Place are nice and clear. They also include the Abingdon-on-Thames town crest which I think is a nice touch.

Social distancing sign in Abingdon's Market Place

The Market Place is famous as the location for Bun Throwing and the starting point for the Michaelmas Fair. Both events normally see thousands of people pack in or pass through to be a part of the occasions.

Tuesday, November 10, 2020

The Arden Arms in Bredbury, Stockport

Erratum - we missed a pub on our lockdown pub crawl of Stockport Borough.

We visited 265 pubs, bars and clubs during the national lockdown between April and July of this year. Some of those places were long established, others were new venues, a few were getting ready to open for the first time in 2020, while a number of others were lost pubs.

One of the pubs we missed during the first lockdown was the Arden Arms at Bredbury!

The Arden Arms in Bredbury, Stockport
The Arden Arms in Bredbury

We knew there was an Arden Arms in the town centre (pub #51), but as the Bredbury location is right on the border with Denton in Tameside it completely slipped off our radar.

The Arden Arms in Bredbury, Stockport
The sign of pub #266 on our travels 

We rectified the matter on Saturday though as we took our day's outdoor exercise at Hulmes Wood and walked back across the border into Stockport to snap the Arden Arms.

The Arden Arms in Bredbury, Stockport
Approaching Stockport from Tameside

The Arden Arms in Bredbury, Stockport
Right on the border

The Arden Arms in Bredbury, Stockport
Looking back towards Tameside

Related blog posts:

Tuesday, October 06, 2020

Pubs of Stockport

Check out the interview in The Viaduct magazine about our mission to visit every pub, club and bar in Stockport during lockdown this year.

The Kings Tap in Cheadle Hulme
The first pub we visited - The Kings Tap in Cheadle Hulme

The Crown Inn in Stockport town centre
Pub number 73 - The Crown Inn in Stockport town centre with the viaduct behind it

The Nursery Inn in Heaton Norris
Pub number 265 - The Nursery Inn in Heaton Norris