Mini Golf at Camperland RV Resort & Cabins in Rosedale, British Columbia, Canada

A look at the mini golf course at Camperland RV Resort & Cabins in Rosedale, British Columbia, Canada.

My brother and his family stayed at the Camperland RV Resort & Cabins in Rosedale, British Columbia on their recent holiday in Canada.

The parking space for their RV was right next to the mini golf course at Camperland RV Resort & Cabins!

Find out more on the Camperland RV Resort & Cabins website.

Toys R Us at TGJones in Oxford

There's a Toys R Us at TGJones in Oxford city centre.

You can find a Toys R Us concession at TGJones in Oxford, Oxfordshire.

The end of WHSmith, and the start of TGJones

The start of July 2025 marked the end of WHSmith on the British high street after 233 years. Following the sale of the business to Hobbycraft owner Modella Capital WHSmith shops underwent a rebrand to the new name of TGJones.

Toys R Us in the UK

Toys R Us returned to the UK shopping scene with an online presence in 2022 and with concessions opening inside some WHSmith shops in 2023. There are currently Toys R Us concessions open at TGJones and WHSmith at Welcome Break shops.

Toys R Us at Hobbycraft.

You can also find Toys R Us concessions at Hobbycraft stores.

Working at Toys R Us

My first job while at university in the year 2000 was as one of Geoffrey's helpers at the Luton Toys R Us store. I worked on the video game and electronics section.

The old Toys R Us

At its peak there were 105 Toys R Us stores in the UK. It's been very interesting to find that there are still remnants of the brand on some retail parks in the UK and we've visited several of these closed, abandoned, derelict and demolished Toys R Us locations on our travels.

Links:

• Toys R Us
• TGJones

Related blog posts:

• Toys R Us
• TGJones
• WHSmith
• Retail

Crazy Golfing on a football pitch in Luton

A look back at a pop-up crazy golf course in Luton, Bedfordshire.

We played a pop-up crazy golf course on a football pitch at a Charity Fun Day at Kent Athletic Club in Luton back in August 2011.

When we lived in Luton Kent Athletic F.C. was our nearest football team.

Bring back unique posters like this for fun day type events! It's far better than AI slop

Looking online it appears that the club's home ground closed at the end of 2015. Kent Athletic F.C. does still exist though and this year celebrates its centenary.

Have you seen Final Destination: Bloodlines yet?

We were lucky enough to see a special double-bill screening alongside the original Final Destination from the year 2000 last week.

It was superb to see both films, and the new one lived up to my expectations - and more!

While we haven't had anywhere near as much outdoor or experiential advertising or marketing for the film here in the UK as there has been in the USA - there's been a real-life logging truck rolling along the roads over there with promos for the movie for example! - I've seen a lot of buzz for the film online and on social media.

We've spotted two pieces of outdoor advertising for Final Destination: Bloodlines at the Trafford Centre in Manchester, and there was one poster at The Light cinema where we saw the film.

Is there any other advertising for the film I've missed?

A sign of the times

A sign from the 2021 fuel shortage crisis.

What a sign!

They didn't have any petrol there.

Covid-19 social distancing signage with 1970s branding

One of the best finds during my 'retail archaeology' expeditions this year is the social distancing signage using the original Happy Shopper branding from the 1970's, 80's and 90's at The Happy Shopper convenience store in Sheffield.

A slightly unexpected sight on a sign of the times in 2020

I remember seeing the Happy Shopper shops and buying their own-branded products a lot when I was a kid growing up in Oxfordshire back in the 80's and 90's.

The Happy Shopper on Page Hall Road in Sheffield

The Happy Shopper branding from the 1970's was changed in the year 2000 and became a lot simpler design. I think it certainly lost a lot of its character.

The original Happy Shopper branding has the smiling blond haired face appearing before the word 'Happy' rather than in place of the 'o' in the word 'Shopper' as seen in the second, and probably more widespread, incarnation of the logo.

The two other Happy Shopper shops I've seen this year have both been closed. The first was in Preston and the second was also in Sheffield.

Check out my Instagram account for more social distancing signs I've spotted on my urban walks during the coronavirus pandemic.

Junkyard Golf minigolf advertising in Manchester

A look at some Junkyard Golf advertising in Manchester.

I saw some more advertising for Junkyard Golf's First Street venue in Manchester while having a walk round the city centre yesterday.

On Whitworth Street West

At Oxford Road

At Oxford Road

Junkyard Golf's First Street venue in Manchester was the last course I played before the Coronavirus pandemic lockdown back on the 9th March 2020.

Hole 6 of the Pablo course at Junkyard Golf in Manchester

Visit the Junkyard Golf website for more information.

------------------

Join our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour enewsletter mailing list

Junkyard Golf advertising in Manchester

Spotting some new Junkyard Golf advertising in Manchester.

We saw some new Junkyard Golf posters on our first walk round Manchester in a while.

The indoor crazy golf venue in Manchester has now reopened and we saw people queuing to get in when we walked past on Saturday afternoon.

Visit the Junkyard Golf website for more information.

Playing at Junkyard Golf

The last course I played before the Coronavirus pandemic lockdown was at Junkyard Golf's First Street venue in Manchester back on the 9th March 2020.

------------------

Join our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour enewsletter mailing list

---------

With over twenty years of marketing and sales experience each we 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.

National Miniature Golf Day

A look at a pair of National Miniature Golf Day posters.

A few years ago I spotted these two posters for National Miniature Golf Day on Twitter and Facebook.

National Miniature golf Day
Annually the second Saturday in May celebrates National Minia… https://t.co/QcVnMUzMEQ pic.twitter.com/ZZBZjLgntJ

— Police Heart (@police1091heart) May 14, 2016

National Miniature Golf Day
Annually the second Saturday in May celebrates National Minia… https://t.co/EJEEVYidwa pic.twitter.com/F8mdpABz3a

— Ruzan Khambatta (@ruzankhambatta) May 14, 2016

The posters use one of my photos taken during the National Miniature Golf Day competition we played at the Pebble Beach Adventure Golf course in Skegness in May 2015.

National Miniature Golf Day at the Pebble Beach Adventure Golf course in Skegness

Mr Sparkle in Hitchin

Continuing the funny Homer Simpson bootlegs thread, we spotted this Mr Sparkle poster in Hitchin a few years ago.

Fishbulb