Toys R Us in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent

A look at the old Toys R Us store at Festival retail park in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent.

I've never seen cleaner and brighter signs on an abandoned shop.

There are three large branded Toys R Us signs on the store, this is one of two on the side of the building. They differ from the more commonly see signs as the brand name is printed onto one board, rather that the lettering being made out of individual 3D pieces

Toys R Us ceased trading in the UK in April 2018. I worked there back in the year 2000.

I was once one of Geoffrey's Helpers at Toys R Us

It was a lucky find as this month the unit will be opened as a Go Outdoors store and so the Toys R Us branding will be disappearing.

This scene won't be the same next month and the Toys R Us branding will be lost forever

Remains of other Toys R Us stores

We've also been to the abandoned Toys R Us in Warrington, Cheshire and had a look at what remained of the old store at the Central Retail Park in Ancoats, Manchester.

Lost shops - Burger King in Chester

Spotting a fast food ghost sign in Chester.

We spotted this ghost sign of a former Burger King while having a walk round Chester.

Krunchy Fried Chicken in Fallowfield, Manchester

Finding a 'KFC' in Fallowfield.

Krunched in sign!

We've seen a number of 'KFCs' on our travels, including this Krunchy Fried Chicken in Fallowfield, Manchester.

There are Krunchy Fried Chicken shops in Liverpool and Stalybridge too.

FINGER LICKING CHICKEN in Withington, Manchester

Finger Licking Chicken in Withington, Manchester.

We've seen quite a few 'KFCs' on our travels, but the only Finger Licking Chicken we've spotted is in Withington, Manchester.

The Movie Box in Manchester

A look at a Manchester video shop.

You don't see video shops all that often any more

The shop is also called The Corner Store

And the Mac & PC Centre

Some lost brand shop signs from my travels

A look at some lost brand shop signs from my travels.

Clockwise from top left Woolworths Big W in Brunstane, Edinburgh; Toys R Us in Ancoats, Manchester; Tandy in Hitchin; Blockbuster in Fallowfield, Manhester; Woolworths in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent; BHS in Stockport; Blockbuster Video Express in Colne; Kwik Save in Barrow-in-Furness; RadioShack in Saint Annes on the Sea

Do you have a favourite brand from the past?

Jubilee Films video shop in Ashton-under-Lyne

A look at the Jubilee Films video shop in Ashton-under-Lyne.

Video, DVD and Laser Disks!

While doing some grocery shopping in Ashton-under-Lyne we took a look at the old Jubilee Films video shop on Old Street.

Jubilee Films closed its doors in 2013, the same year as Blockbuster

 

I wonder how many Laser Disks (sic) were still being rented or sold before the shop closed its doors for the final time?

Kansas Fried Chicken in Didsbury Village

Finding a 'KFC' in Didsbury Village, Manchester.

Another of the 'KFCs' we've seen on our travels is this Kansas Fried Chicken in Didsbury Village, Manchester.

There are other Kansas Fried Chicken shops in the Manchester and Cheshire area, including one in Handforth.

Kansas Fried Chicken in Handforth

Finding a 'KFC' in Handforth, Cheshire.

Another of the 'KFCs' we've seen on our travels is this Kansas Fried Chicken in Handforth.

There are other Kansas Fried Chicken shops in the Manchester and Cheshire area, including one in Didsbury Village.

Hidden in plain sight

It's funny what you see when you look back on your travels.

With my current, new found interest in seeking out old Blockbuster Video stores while there are still traces of them, I checked out if there used to be any in Suffolk ahead of our next visit to see family and friends in the area.

In a normal year we'd have been to Ipswich and Felixstowe a number of times already by now. Felixstowe is probably our most visited seaside of all time, with the minigolf courses in the town our most revisited.

Sadly we've been there a grand total of zero times in 2020.

Looking online Felixstowe was once home to a Blockbuster Video store on Crescent Road.

Strangely I inadvertently blogged about it in 2017! In a way.

When I saw the location of the former store I knew I'd seen it before.

Back in 2017 I was alerted to the fact there was a new American Diner in Felixstowe that served a 98% gluten free menu. Something that intrigued me as it's a strange thing to offer as everyone with Coeliac Disease needs 100% gluten free food!

Looking at that blog post I noticed a remnant of its time as a Blockbuster. Can you see what it is?

Look closely^

Yes, the original Blockbuster Video sign was still in place and the big torn ticket outline is clear to see!

Blockbuster!

It's always interesting to see shadows, ghosts and remnants from a bygone time. Here in Cheadle Hulme you can still see the outline of the old Blockbuster Video logo on what is now a Majestic Wine Warehouse.

What a 'Steals' in Chorley

A look at a Steals store in Chorley.

We had a nice walk around Chorley town centre yesterday evening and one of the interesting shops we spotted was Steals. It's got some superb signage.

What a shop front - that orange and black colour scheme has a really retro look to it

I hadn't heard of Steals before but looking online it's a bargain clothes shop with branches in Blackpool, Preston, Accrington, Poulton-le-Fylde and Chorley.

The Steals store in Chorley opened on the site of a former Littlewoods Clearance store last year.

What a sign

Check out the Steals Facebook Page for more information.

Social Distancing Minigolf

Seeing new signs at miniature golf courses.

While we're still in lockdown some outdoor minigolf courses have been allowed to reopen as long as they have put in place social distancing measures.

We've seen examples of these measures at our local Pitch & Putt course at Bruntwood Park in Cheadle Hulme.

While out on our daily outdoor exercise we've been photographing social media signs, posters and messages and logging them on Instagram as a record of the times we're living through.

We'd be interested to see the different Covid-19 / social distancing posters and signs at minigolf courses in the UK and around the world.

Take a look at the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour Newsletter archive and sign-up to receive future editions

Social distancing at Cheadle Makers Market

We went to our first outdoor market during the coronavirus pandemic on Saturday morning.

It was an interesting experience indeed.

There was a lot of social distancing signage and a good range of stalls.

There were lots of people out and about too too. Unfortunately not everyone understands what arrows and warning signs mean.

We didn't stay there for too long, but did buy some nice gin and mixers from DS Artisan Food & Drink before we scarpered.

I've been posting snaps of the wide-range of social distancing posters and signs I see on my daily outdoor exercise during the time of coronavirus. You can see them here on the blog and on my Instagram. I've seen some interesting, colourful and clear ones. And some really terrible ones too.

Pubs of Stockport during the coronavirus pandemic lockdown

A look at Stockport's pubs during the lockdown.

I've been photographing the pubs of Stockport while out on my daily exercise.

This is No. 131 - The Jolly Sailor in Davenport.

The Jolly Sailor is the first of the pubs we've seen open during lockdown, albeit in a very limited manner. They are serving takeaway coffee and cakes.

Here are the social distancing signs and measures they have put in place.

You can see more of my Stopfordian Pub photos on Instagram.

We're looking forward to when pubs reopen and it's safe to visit them again.

We've missed going to the pub for pub quizzes, but have been doing quite a few during lockdown.

Social distancing and Covid-19 signs

Have you seen any particularly good, bad, or downright ugly social distancing signage during the pandemic?

I think the signs at Stockport bus station are nice and clear.

It's going to be interesting to see how social distancing signs change and develop over time and as more places reopen.

Recording the signs

I've been snapping signs I see during my daily outdoor exercise and logging them on Instagram.

Social distancing minigolf

The first social distancing signs at a miniature golf course we've seen in person were at Bruntwood Park's Pitch & Putt course last month.