7-Eleven in Canada

Spotting a 7-Eleven convenience store sign in Canada.

The closest I've been to a 7-Eleven in the last few years is the 8-Twelve in Nottingham!

Related blog posts:

• 7-Eleven
• Canada

41 years of Blockbuster Video

The first Blockbuster Video store opened on the 19th October 1985.

A sign at the former Blockbuster Video shop at Fallowfield Retail Park Manchester, England in 2020

The first Blockbuster Video store opened in Dallas, Texas, USA on this day in 1985.

The former Blockbuster Video store in Nuneaton, England in 2021

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

The former Blockbuster Video Express store in Billingham, England in 2021

From 9,000 to 1.

There is now just one Blockbuster Video store left open. It's in Bend, Oregon, USA.

There has been a boom in nostalgia for the brand in recent years. The Bend store is now a destination for people wanting to rekindle some of that 90's spirit.

Blockbuster 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.

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

Related blog posts:

• Blockbuster Video
• Video Stores
• Video Shops

Videos:

• Blockbuster Video in the UK YouTube Playlist

Jason Voorhees at Spookapalooza at Killmonster Underground Market

Meeting Jason Voorhees at Spookapalooza at the Killmonster Underground Market in Manchester.

Spookapalooza launched the Killmonster Underground Market in Manchester city centre on Saturday 17th October.

Links:

• Spookapalooza
• Killmonster Underground Market

Related blog posts:

• Friday the 13th
• Jason Voorhees

Blockbuster Video themed crazy golf hole at Golf Fang minigolf in Nottingham

A look at the Blockbuster Video Themed Minigolf Hole at Golf Fang Indoor Crazy Golf in Nottingham, England on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour in August 2025.

The Golf Fang indoor crazy golf course in Nottingham was the 1,088th course visited and 587th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour since September 2006.

Related blog posts:

• Blockbuster Video
• Minigolf

Check out my YouTube Channel for more minigolf, Blockbuster (and train!) videos.

Crazy Golf on the roof of Selfridges Oxford Street in London

A look back at the Bompas & Parr rooftop crazy golf course at Selfridges Oxford Street in London.

Back in the summer of 2012 Bompas & Parr created a brilliant 'London Landmark in Cake Creations' crazy golf course on the roof of Selfridges on Oxford Street!

The course harked back to the early 1930's when the department store had a miniature golf course as part of the rooftop garden.

The Selfridges rooftop crazy golf course was the 298th course played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour back in June 2012.

The 2012 edition was a brilliant idea and a tricky, but fun 9-hole layout. We played a number of tournaments up there and I became the Crazy Golf with Bompas & Parr Champion in August 2012.

The former Blockbuster Video store in Nuneaton

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

Emily briefly revisited Nuneaton recently and while there took a photo of the former Blockbuster Video store on Regent Street in the town.

Back in 2021 the old sign at the former Blockbuster Video store was uncovered when the tenant of the building moved out. And we went along for a look.

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.

Even now 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.

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

Indoor Adventure Golf at Atriwm in Carmarthen, Wales

There will be an indoor adventure golf course at the new Atriwm centre in Carmarthen, Wales.

The Atriwm centre in Carmarthen is being created in a former Debenhams in St Catherine's Walk Shopping Centre.

An indoor adventure golf course will be one of several sport and leisure activities to feature in the centre.

Visit the Carmarthen County Council website for more information.

Rooftop Crazy Golf at Yum Yum World in Rugby

There's a rooftop crazy golf course at Yum Yum World in Rugby, Warwickshire.

Find out more on the Yum Yum World website.

Art Deco in Lichfield, Staffordshire

A look at The former Regal Cinema in Lichfield, Staffordshire.

The Regal Cinema opened on Tamworth Street in Lichfield in 1932. It closed in 1972, later becoming a Kwik Save supermarket.

The building now consists of residential apartments and retail units.

Northgate Video & DVD in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk

There's a video and DVD rental shop in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk.

While visiting family in Bury St Edmunds in 2024 we spotted the sign for Northgate Video & DVD - a video rental shop!

We returned last year and were back in town again last week and are happy to report that the shop is still there.

Link:

• Northgate Video & DVD

Related blog posts:

• Video rental shops in the UK (January 2026)

Toys R Us at TGJones in Lichfield

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

You can find a Toys R Us concession at TGJones in Lichfield, Staffordshire.

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:

• TGJones
• Toys R Us

Related blog posts:

• Toys R Us
• TGJones
• WHSmith
• Retail

TGJones (formerly WHSmith) closed in Ipswich, Suffolk

The TGJones shop (formerly WHSmith) closed down in Ipswich, Suffolk last month.

TGJones closed in Ipswich on the 9th June 2025.

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.

Pit Pat Golf at Thistles Shopping Centre in Stirling

There's a new Pit Pat Golf course at Thistles Shopping Centre in Stirling, Scotland.

Thistles Shopping Centre in Stirling is now home to a Pit Pat Golf course.

Pit Pat is similar to minigolf/crazy golf, but played on elevated tables with the ball 'putted' using cues.

Thistles Pit Pat Golf is available from the 6th July until the 2nd August.

Find out more on the Thistles Shopping Centre website.

Pit-Pat

I first saw the game of Pit-Pat (obstacle billiards) in Vienna, Austria back in 2010 - it's like minigolf but played with cues.

You can also find two permanent Pit-Pat courses outdoors at Watermouth Family Theme Park and Castle in Devon (where it is known as Crazy Snooker) and outdoors at Fairytale Farm in Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire (where it is called Queen of Hearts Crazy Cues).

There were previously Pit-Pat courses outdoor at Western Putting on Banjo Road in Littlehampton, West Sussex (where it was called Pit-Pat Crazy Snooker) and indoors at The Floodgate in Digbeth, Birmingham (where it was called Pit-Pat Table Golf).

Happy National 7-Eleven Day

It's National 7-Eleven Day.

Today is National 7-Eleven Day!

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

The first 7-Eleven Day was held in 2002.

Related blog posts:

• 7-Eleven
• The 8-Twelve in Nottingham

Crazy Golf in Beverley, Yorkshire

There are plans for a new crazy golf course in Beverley in the East Riding of Yorkshire.

A new crazy golf course could be opening as part of a new golf venue at the Flemingate shopping centre in Beverley in the East Riding of Yorkshire.

The crazy golf course at FORE! in Beverley would be an indoor 9-hole course.

Happy Shopper shops on '1980s Food: Everything We Loved & Lost' on Channel 5

Happy Shopper shops on the Channel 5 programme '1980s Food: Everything We Loved & Lost'.

A Happy Shopper shop in Ilkeston, Derbyshire (2020)

It was brilliant to be able to contribute to the Channel 5 documentary '1980s Food: Everything We Loved & Lost' and help to tell the story of Happy Shopper shops.

A sign at the Pleasant News Happy Shopper in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire (2021)

The programme was broadcast on Channel 5 today and was an edit of '1980s Food: The Ones We Loved & Lost' shown last year. These programmes followed 'The 1980s Supermarket', which included a feature on Happy Shopper shops in episode 3 when it was first broadcast in 2024.

Visiting a fully branded Happy Shopper shop is like stepping back in time

One of the  brands I remember clearly from growing up in the 1980s and 1990s was Happy Shopper. The colourful sign with the happy chappy face is a lovely throwback. Happy Shopper received a rebrand in 2000, but if you are lucky you can still find the original branding and signage on some shops.

The Happy Shopper shop on Chaucer Road in Sittingbourne, Kent (2022)

You can the watch the programmes via the Channel 5 website:

• 1980s Food: The Ones We Loved & Lost
• The 1980s Supermarket

A ghost sign at the old Happy Shopper shop in Ormesby St Margaret, Norfolk (2020)

Check out my Happy Shopper shops playlist on YouTube.

The former Woolworths in Selby

Spotting a Woolworth ghost sign in Selby, North Yorkshire.

We noticed the remains of a Woolworth sign on the former store on Gowthorpe in Selby while having a wander through the town.

The H of the original WOOLWORTH sign above one of the doors

Before its closure in 2009 the shop had been a Woolworths Local store.

Woolworth became Woolworths in 1984

It's now a Yorkshire Trading Company shop.

Related blog posts:

• Woolworths
• Ghost signs
• Lost shops
• Retail
• Urbex
• Selby