A Woolworths ghost sign in Stafford

Finding a Woolworths ghost sign in Stafford.

A Woolworths ghost sign in Stafford (May 2023)

While having a wander around Stafford earlier this year my eyes were drawn to this ghost sign on the front of a building on Princess Street in the town centre.

A Woolworths ghost sign in Stafford (May 2023)

The insides of the former Woolies

The old Woolworths shop location had been home to Sports Direct in more recent times

Other former Woolworths shops

It's fun seeing old & lost brands, ghost signs and retail relics. I took a look at the ghost signs on a former Woolworths store on Blackpool promenade in September 2021.

We saw a Woolworths ghost sign in Nuneaton in May 2022 too. That was a nice surprise!

Like the Blackpool store, the Nuneaton shop site had also most recently been a Poundland and a TJ Hughes.

We also saw these old Woolworths trolleys in use at Bolton Market last year!

The last Woolworths shop in the UK closed in January 2009. Every so often remnants of the brand become visible again.

We visited the Woolworths in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent in September 2020. That store still had 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.

There's a nice Woolworths ghost sign on an Art Deco building on Abington Street in Northampton.

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

Minigolf book - The Minigolfer's Guide to Marketing

Check out my minigolf marketing ebook - The Minigolfer's Guide to Marketing.

Created after years of playing, promoting and consulting the ebook gives players, courses, federations, associations and clubs a guide to the world of marketing.

You can see the reviews, read a sample, and buy The Minigolfer's Guide to Marketing from Amazon.

Glory Holes Golf in Derby

There's a Glory Holes Golf venue in Derby.

Our friend and minigolf rival Jam Trubridge sent us this photo of a sign for the - now open - Glory Holes Golf course in Derby earlier this year.

This was a sign at the adult themed crazy golf course while it was under construction in February this year

There are now Glory Holes Golf venues in Nottingham, Derby, Sheffield and Lincoln.

Happy National Watermelon Day

It's National Watermelon Day!

Today is the day for my annual excuse to post this photo of one of my all time favourite niche business shopfronts.

Logman Ltd - a business on Caledonian Road in London that specialises in watermelons

Tandy in Stockport

Finding a Tandy ghost sign thanks to The Power of Parker!

A recent post in the excellent Tandy UK (InterTAN Ltd) Facebook Group alerted me to the fact that there's a ghost sign from an old Tandy shop in Stockport. A fellow group member had spotted in the background of a scene in the new BBC comedy The Power of Parker. The show is set in Stockport in November 1990.

Tandy lives on!

The store used to be at 111 Prince's Street. It's now home to a Betfred.

The former Tandy shop in Stockport as it is today

My first job was at a Tandy franchise shop in Abingdon, Oxfordshire back in 1996 where I remember selling a number of electronic products bearing the 'RadioShack', 'Genexxa' and 'Realistic' brand names.

Over the years I've found a few more remains of the brand on the UK high street.

A RadioShack Tandy sign at a shop in Whitstable, Kent (September 2012)

It's crazy to think this Tandy signage has been hidden in (relatively) plain sight in my new hometown!

A Tandy ghost sign in Stockport

Related blog posts:

• Tandy
• Tandy in Hitchin (June 2021)
• Lost Shops - RadioShack in Saint Annes on the Sea (August 2020)
• Long Lost High Street Shops - Tandy (July 2020)
• Tandy in Hitchin (January 2019)
• RadioShack in Lytham Saint Annes (June 2017)

The old Toys R Us at St James Retail Park in Northampton

A look at the old Toys R Us store at St James Retail Park in Northampton.

Earlier this year we had a short break to visit friends in Northampton and while there had another look at the old Toys R Us shop at St James Retail Park on Towcester Road.

Toys R Us at St James Retail Park in Northampton (April 2023)

We've since heard that Home Bargains are soon to move in to the premises.

Take a look at my blog post with a few more snaps of the location as it looked in June 2021.

I worked in the Gipsy Lane Toys R Us store in Luton, Bedfordshire back in the year 2000.

Toys R Us closed in the UK in April 2018. It's interesting to see that there are still remnants of the original brand on some retail parks in the UK. 

Toys R Us returned to the UK earlier this summer, as the brand can now be found in some branches of WH Smith. We haven't been near to any of the new version stores yet. It'll be interesting to see what they're like.

Former Toys R Us store locations we've visited on our travels to date:

• Brighton Hill Retail Park in Basingstoke
• Central Retail Park in Manchester
• Cathedral Retail Park in Norwich
• Deepdale shopping centre in Preston
• Festival retail park in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent
• Gateway retail park in Reading
• Gemini Retail Park in Warrington
• Interchange Retail Park at Copdock Mill, Ipswich
• St James Retail Park in Northampton
• Teesside Retail Park in Stockton-on-Tees
• The Leisure Plaza in Milton Keynes
• Western Esplanade in Southampton
• Wolverhampton Road in Oldbury
• Wyvern Retail Park in Derby

Crazy Golf in Seahouses, Northumberland

A look at the Crazy Golf course in Seahouses, Northumberland.

Thank you to our friend and minigolf rival Jam Trubridge for these snaps of the Crazy Golf course in Seahouses, Northumberland from his visit last summer.

Crazy Golf in Seahouses, Northumbria

Crazy Golf in Seahouses, Northumbria

We played the Crazy Golf course at The Bunker on Seafield Road in Seahouses, Northumberland on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour back in April 2012.

Minigolf book - Tilting at Windmills: How I Tried to Stop Worrying and Love Sport

We spotted another copy of Tilting at Windmills: How I Tried to Stop Worrying and Love Sport by Andy Miller while in Kendal on our recent trip to the Lake District.

If you haven't read the book it's well worth picking up.

Tilting at Windmills: How I Tried to Stop Worrying and Love Sport

Required reading for every minigolfer!

It was the first book I read about crazy golf and one of the reasons I got into playing competitive minigolf on the UK tournament circuit. I joined the British Minigolf Association back in 2006 and made my debut in the 2007 season.

Check out Andy Miller's website for more information.

Street Golf in Paignton

There's an urban themed mini golf course in Paignton, Devon.

Many thanks to our friend and minigolf rival Jam Trubridge for letting us know about Street Golf in Paignton. It's an indoor urban themed mini golf course.

Another location for us to check out on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Pop's Meadow Crazy Golf in Gorleston-on-Sea

A look at the Pop's Meadow Crazy Golf course in Gorleston-on-Sea, Norfolk.

My brother Christopher and his daughter Elena made a Crazy World of Minigolf tour visit to the Crazy Golf course at Pop's Meadow in Gorleston-on-Sea yesterday.

The 18-hole Crazy Golf course is the latest layout to exist at Pop's Meadow. Miniature Golf of one sort or another has been played on the site since the early to mid-1900's.

Emily and I played the 9-hole Arnold Palmer Putting Course that was at Pop's Meadow back in June 2010.

We originally visited Pops Meadow on the 10th May 2009, but on that occasion the course was closed. That course visit was the the 100th overall on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour!

The old Arnold Palmer Putting course at Pop's Meadow in June 2010

The combined total of the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour now stands at 1,071 courses visited since September 2006.

Christopher also swung by the old course at Pop's Meadow before the site was taken over by the new owners.

Visit the Pop’s Meadow Kids Amusement Park and Cafe Facebook Page for more information.

BUNKERS! Crazy Golf opening in Romford

A new BUNKERS! Crazy Golf venue is opening in Romford, Essex.

Two 12-hole BUNKERS! Crazy Golf courses are being created at the Brewery in Romford, Essex.

The Romford location will be the second site for the BUNKERS! brand. The first venue opened in Swansea.

BUNKERS! Crazy Golf is from Adventure Leisure Ltd, the team behind Mr Mulligans Adventure Golf.

Visit the BUNKERS! Crazy Golf website for more information.

Crazy Golf at The Fayre on the Square in Salisbury

There's a pop-up Crazy Golf course at The Fayre on the Square event in Salisbury, Wiltshire this summer.

The Fayre on the Square opened yesterday (Saturday 22nd July) and runs until Sunday 1st September.

Find out more about the event and 9-hole minigolf layout here.

Foul Play at the Seaview Hotel - a new minigolf book

There's a new murder mystery book out this year, and it features crazy golf in the plot!

Author Glenda Young has a new book out this year. Foul Play at the Seaview Hotel sounds intriguing and we look forward to reading the crazy golf murder mystery.

Foul Play at the Seaview Hotel - a new minigolf book by Glenda Young

The book will be available in the UK and internationally in both physical and e-versions.

You can find out more here.

Glenda blogs about minigolf at Two Crazy Golfers - with Scarborough a firm favourite location to play the game. It's one of our top tips to have a game too as there are so many courses there and such variety.

Adventure Golf at Iron Pitt Woods Adventure in Corby

A new Adventure Golf course has opened at Iron Pitt Woods Adventure in Corby, Northamptonshire.

The venue is also home to an aerial assault course!

Visit the Iron Pitt Woods Adventure website for more information on the 18-hole woodland-themed layout.

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

Mad Hatter's Adventure Golf at Hartford Golf Centre in Northwich

A new Mad Hatter's Adventure Golf course is opening at Hartford Golf Centre in Northwich, Cheshire.

The new 18-hole Adventure Golf course opens on Friday 21st July.

Find out more on the Hartford Golf Centre and Mad Hatter's Adventure Golf websites.

Northwich isn't too far from us and so it'll be another new local course for us to visit on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

PIAG Open Championship 2023

The Paradise Island Adventure Golf Open Championship is returning this month.

The PIAG Open tees-off this week, with Paradise Island Adventure Golf courses around the UK offering players the chance to enter the event when they play a round at the course.

The Tiki Hut Trail course at Paradise Island Adventure Golf at the Trafford Centre in Manchester

The PIAG Open Championship is taking place across Paradise Island Adventure Golf courses between the 20th and 23rd July.

Paradise Island Adventure Golf have eight venues in England and Scotland.

Find out more on the Paradise Island Adventure Golf website.

I won the PIAG Open Championship at the Manchester Trafford Centre venue in 2018, with Emily winning the event in 2019.

PIAG Open Champion in 2019

PIAG Open Champion in 2018

Visit the Paradise Island Adventure Golf website for more information on the PIAG courses in Glasgow, Livingston, Cheshire Oaks, Manchester, Sheffield, Derby, Rushden Lakes and Plymouth.

Happy 13th birthday to the Crazy Golf Museum

The Crazy Golf Museum is 13 years old today.

Many happy returns to the Crazy Golf Museum as it marks it's 13th birthday today.

I set-up the museum with Crazy Golf legend Tim 'Ace Man' Davies back on the 15th July 2010.

Since then we've continued to fill the virtual museum to make it a treasure trove and archive for all things related to minigolf.

It's certainly been a very interesting 13 years!

A massive thank you to everyone who has shared their minigolfing memories, crazy golf items and adventure golf updates over the years. We're looking forward to continuing our promotion of the game for many more years to come.

Visit the Crazy Golf Museum's website, like the Page and join the Group on Facebook, check it out on Twitter, and see Instagram for information, photos, items, ephemera, stories, videos, postcards, games and more...

If you'd like to contribute any items, merchandise, course history, current developments or guest blog posts please do get in touch.

Eaton Park Crazy Golf in Norwich

A look at the Eaton Park Crazy Golf course in Norwich.

My brother and founder member of the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour sent over these snaps of the Eaton Park Crazy Golf in Norwich, Norfolk.

Eaton Park Crazy Golf in Norwich

Eaton Park Crazy Golf in Norwich

Christopher was visiting the park with his daughter Elena for a train ride on the miniature railway there.

We visited and played the superb Crazy Golf course and Putting Green at Eaton Park in Norwich back in May 2017.

Visit the Eaton Park Crazy Golf course website for more information.

Crazy Golf in Time Square, Warrington

Time Square in Warrington will be home to a Crazy Golf course on Wednesday 26th July.

The pop-up Crazy Golf course will be open from from 12pm to 9pm.

Visit the Warrington Council website for more information.

Jurassic Golf at Cheshire Oaks

New pop-up mini golf course at Cheshire Oaks in Ellesmere Port.

A new Jurassic Golf mini golf course is opening at Cheshire Oaks in Ellesmere Port as part of the designer outlet centre's Great Summer Social event.

Visit the Cheshire Oaks website for more information.

Crazy Golf at Laser Quest Swindon

There's a new Crazy Golf course at Laser Quest Swindon.

The Laser Quest centre in Swindon, Wiltshire now has an indoor Crazy Golf course.

Visit the Laser Quest Swindon website for more information on the 9-hole Jungle Rocks Adventure Golf Trail course.

Mini Golf at No Name Bar and Games in Colchester

A new entertainment venue in Colchester, Essex is adding a mini golf course.

The new mini golf course will be inside No Name Bar and Games in Colchester.

Visit the No Name Bar and Games website for more information.

New Putt Putt Noodle Crazy Golf courses

There are new Putt Putt Noodle minigolf courses opening in several locations in the UK.

Those katakana characters on the left of the logo translate as 'Lucky'

The new Putt Putt Noodle minigolf venues will include:

• Aberdeen
• Bedford
• Basingstoke
• Bristol
• Central London
• London E6
• Colchester
• Glasgow
• Liverpool

There are currently Putt Putt Noodle courses in Norwich, Poole and Telford.

Visit the Putt Putt Noodle website for more information.

Jubilee Gardens Café Crazy Golf in Minehead

A look at the Crazy Golf course at the Jubilee Gardens Café in Minehead.

We played the Jubilee Gardens Café Crazy Golf in Minehead, Somerset on our holiday to the seaside resort last year.

Crazy Golf at the Jubilee Gardens Café in Minehead

Crazy Golf at the Jubilee Gardens Café in Minehead

The Crazy Golf course at the Jubilee Gardens Café on Minehead seafront was the 995th course visited, and 560th played, on our travels since September 2006.

Check out the Jubilee Cafe website for more information.

Where in the world would you find this minigolf course?

Where in the world would you find this Swedish Felt minigolf course?

Link:

• Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Junkyard Golf in Camden, London

A new Junkyard Golf indoor crazy golf venue is opening in Camden, London this summer.

The team at Junkyard Golf are opening a new London crazy golf venue, with their largest site being created in Camden. The location is set to open in August.

Visit the Junkyard Golf website for more information.

Obstacle Golf at Hope Park in Keswick

A look at the Obstacle Golf course at Hope Park in Keswick, Cumbria.

We've just returned from a long weekend in the Lake District where we revisited some courses on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

One of them was the Obstacle Golf course at Hope Park in Keswick, Cumbria.

Obstacle Golf - aka Crazy Golf - at Hope Park. What a view!

There's also a grass Putting layout and a Pitch & Putt at Hope Park (and Boules) and there are some wonderful views of the Skiddaw mountain from the courses.

We visited the park back in April 2012 and played the Putting course on that occasion.

Today is Summerween!

Happy Summerween.

Summerween is celebrated annually on the second to last Friday of June.

A Summerween Jack-o-Melon

The quirky holiday originated in Gravity Falls, Oregon and in some calendars is also (always!) marked on the 22nd June.

So you get two bites of the cherry (or should that be watermelon) to celebrate this made up event.

Crazy Putting Challenge at Hamptworth Golf Club

A look back at the Crazy Putting Challenge minigolf course at Hamptworth Golf Club - the 875th course we visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Crazy Putting Challenge minigolf course at Hamptworth Golf Club (May 2019)

Our 2019 trip to Southampton saw us visit 18 more courses on our tour, playing eight of them. One of the courses we had a round on was the Crazy Putting Challenge at Hamptworth Golf Club in Wiltshire.

Minigolf at The Light in Redhill, Surrey

There's a new 10-hole movie-themed minigolf course at The Light in Redhill, Surrey.

The new minigolf course at the entertainment venue is planned to open on Friday 23rd June.

Visit The Light Redhill website for more information.

Happy Summerween

Summerween is celebrated annually on the 22nd June.

A Summerween Jack-o-Melon

The quirky holiday originated in Gravity Falls, Oregon and in some calendars is also marked on the second to last Friday of the month of June. That will be tomorrow, the 23rd.

So you get two bites of the cherry (or should that be watermelon) to celebrate this made up event.

Happy birthday Putt-Putt - 69 years old today

Today marks 69 years since the world's first Putt-Putt course opened.

The first Putt-Putt Golf course was set-up by Don Clayton in Fayetteville, North Carolina, USA on this day back in 1954.

Putt-Putt is the only patented game of miniature golf and began in Fayetteville, North Carolina in 1954. In the 1960's Putt-Putt franchises began opening outside of the US, in locations such as South Africa, Australia and Japan. There were also courses in the UK, the first of which opened in Sunderland in 1968. Others followed at Flamingo Land in Yorkshire and in Buxton, Derbyshire. However, information on these UK courses is limited. You can read the Putt-Putt story on the Putt-Putt Fun Centres website.

The Putt-Putt miniature golf course in Three Anchor Bay in Moullie Point / Sea Point, Cape Town, South Africa. Photo by PJ Goedhals

Ephemera from the Putt-Putt Golf centre at Moullie Point in South Africa. From PJ Goedhals

A Putt-Putt Postcard from South Africa

A selection of Putt-Putt tokens

On the competitive side of the game, Putt-Putt tournaments have been played since 1959. You can read about the history of the PPA and APA on the Professional Putters Association website.

A Putt-Putt Puzzle of a very crazy Miniature Golf course. Published by Hallmark Cards Inc. Many thanks to our friend 'Hacksaw' Jon Drexler for sending it across the pond to live in the Crazy Golf Museum

Check out the Putt-Putt Golf website for more information on Putt-Putt brand minigolf. You can find out more information about Putt-Putt tournaments on the Professional Putters Association (PPA) website.