The Cyberdrome Crystal Maze

Playing The Crystal Maze game at CC2000, near Narbeth, Wales.

The Cyberdrome Crystal Maze in 2009

Challenge TV are showing repeats of The Crystal Maze every weekday evening at 6pm and I'm addicted to watching it. It was a staple of my childhood and teenage years, and it would've been brilliant to go on the show. Perhaps I should apply if and when a new series is made.

Rewatching the show has reminded me of our holiday around the Welsh coast in 2009 when we took a break from playing Crazy Golf to visit the Oakwood Indoor Family Entertainment Centre - where we entered The Crystal Maze!

At that time it was the last remaining Cyberdrome Crystal Maze game in the UK. Sadly it closed for good in June 2010. It would've been brilliant to return for a few more games there.

The Cyberdrome Crystal Maze was absolutely awesome to play. More of them should have been built back in the day. There were a total of eight built - five in the UK, two in Japan, and one in Dubai.

Just like the TV show, games were played in four themed zones - Aztec, Futuristic Medieval, and Ocean. But unlike the TV, show players were guided around the maze by Merlin - a computerised Maze Master.

Being set a task by Merlin

Aztec Zone

Futuristic Zone

Medieval Zone

Ocean Zone

We managed to win six of the nine games we played, and in the Crystal Dome itself we collected 103 Gold and 28 Silver 'tokens' for a grand total of 75. So we didn't win the the "super-duper" prize, but we were first on the leaderboard for the day and got 1st of 1 on our souvenir certificate!

Inside the Crystal Dome

At that time the Cyberdrome Crystal Maze was the closest you could get to playing the real Crystal Maze. Now you can play The Crystal Maze LIVE Experience in London and Manchester. We Manchester venue is so close, we really ought to get a team together for a game there.

Photos of The Cyberdrome Crystal Maze in Tenby

The Cyberdrome Crystal Maze in 2009

The Cyberdrome Crystal Maze in 2009

The Cyberdrome Crystal Maze in 2009

The Cyberdrome Crystal Maze in 2009

The Cyberdrome Crystal Maze in 2009

The Cyberdrome Crystal Maze in 2009

The Cyberdrome Crystal Maze in 2009

The Cyberdrome Crystal Maze in 2009

Toys R Us at St James Retail Park in Northampton

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

I made a trip to see the old Toys R Us at St James Retail Park in Northampton back in June 2021.

A Home Bargains shop has now opened in the unit.

Toys R Us closed in the UK in April 2018.

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 a number of these closed, abandoned, derelict and demolished Toys R Us locations on our travels.

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

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

• 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

Refurbishment of the Adventure Golf at Four Ashes Golf Centre in Dorridge, Solihull

The Adventure Golf course at Four Ashes Golf Centre in Dorridge, Solihull is getting a makeover.

The 18-hole outdoor Adventure Golf course at the Four Ashes Golf Centre is closing for a refurbishment on Monday 8th April. Following approximately two weeks of work the venue will be unveiling a brand new course!

Adventure Golf at the Four Ashes Golf Centre in Dorridge, Solihull. September 2017

Visit the Four Ashes Golf Centre website for more information.

Playing the Adventure Golf course at the Four Ashes Golf Centre in Dorridge, Solihull. September 2017

We played the Adventure Golf course at Four Ashes Golf Centre in September 2017. The layout was the 770th visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

We've visited the Four Ashes Golf Centre a lot over the years to play tournaments on the centre's 12-hole Mini Golf course. It was originally course number 72 visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour back in September 2008.

The old 12-hole minigolf course at the Four Ashes Golf Centre in Dorridge, Solihull. March 2015

Bermuda Falls Adventure Golf in Henlow, Bedfordshire is now open

The new Bermuda Falls Adventure Golf course at Perfect Aquatics in Henlow, Bedfordshire has opened.

The 18-hole outdoor Adventure Golf layout is another new course for us to visit on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Check out the Perfect Aquatics and Bermuda Falls Adventure Golf websites for more information.

Golf Môn Mini-Golf on Anglesey

A new Adventure Mini Golf course is being built on Anglesey, Wales.

The 18-hole outdoor Adventure Mini Golf course will open at the Mon Golf Complex in Llangefni.

Visit the Golf Môn website for more information.

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

Putt Putt Social now open in Gloucester

A new indoor minigolf venue has opened in Gloucester.

Putt Putt Social in Norwich - photo by Christopher Gottfried from his visit in September 2023

Putt Putt Social, formerly Putt Putt Noodle, has opened it's latest indoor minigolf venue on Eastgate Street in Gloucester.

Putt Putt Social in Norwich - photo by Christopher Gottfried from his visit in September 2023

Putt Putt Social Gloucester is home to two 9-hole indoor crazy golf courses. The venue opened on Saturday 9th March.

Putt Putt Social in Norwich - photo by Christopher Gottfried from his visit in September 2023

You can find Putt Putt Social courses in Bedford, Gloucester, Norwich, Poole and Telford.

Putt Putt Social in Norwich - photo by Christopher Gottfried from his visit in September 2023

Visit the Putt Putt Social website for more information.

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

Adventure Golf at Lydiard Park in Swindon

A new Adventure Golf course is planned for Lydiard House in Swindon, Wiltshire.

Lydiard House at Lydiard Park in Swindon could soon be home to an Adventure Golf course.

Lydiard Adventure Golf would be an outdoor course with a wildlife-theme.

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

Toys R Us on the Western Esplanade in Southampton

Visiting the old Toys R Us store on the Western Esplanade in Southampton, Hampshire.

We made a trip to the former Toys R Us store at Western Esplanade in Southampton in May 2021.

There was still a lot of signs on display at the large old unit.

Toys R Us closed in the UK in April 2018.

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 a number of these closed, abandoned, derelict and demolished Toys R Us locations on our travels.

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

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

• 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

New crazy golf courses in the UK

Information about new adventure golf, crazy golf and miniature golf courses in the UK.

For information about new minigolf, crazy golf, and adventure golf courses opening in the UK take a look at the posts with the New course tag here on the Ham & Egger Files minigolf blog.

Our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Up to Saturday 30th December 2023 we had visited a total of 1,044 miniature golf courses on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. 997 of these have been in the British Isles.

Visiting the Crazy Golf course at the end of the Pier in Southend-on-Sea

Our minigolfing adventures began on the 30th September 2006 and in that time we've been able to play a total of 573 courses. Many locations have been found to be abandoned, closed, out-of-season or derelict on our initial visit. Luckily some courses that were closed on our original visit have since been played. And there are some course we've revisited and replayed many many times!

When we originally set off to visit as many courses as possible the target list was 600 in the British Isles. We've still got around 50 of those original courses to visit.

Only two of those original courses were indoor venues. Now the indoor game is booming and you can find minigolf courses indoors at shopping centres, retail parks, and in town and city centres around the country.

Together with my brother Christopher - a charter member of the tour - and his family, we've visited a total of 1,090 courses.

Our travels have been recognised by the Guinness World Records, and I'm a record holder for "Most miniature golf courses visited" (902 at the time of going to press). Check out the Guinness World Records 2024 book to see a lot more minigolf records too!

Check out the full list of courses we've visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

World Book Day - The Minigolfer's Guide to Marketing

Today is World Book Day.

My ebook to help minigolf players better market themselves, their clubs, tournaments and courses is available to purchase from Amazon.

The Minigolfer's Guide to Marketing

I’ve been really pleased to see the ebook bought and used by a number of minigolf associations and federations, course owners and managers, bloggers, course reviewers and competition players around the world.

As a minigolfer with over a decade of experience as a tournament competitor and years of experience in marketing and communications I designed the guide so that anyone interested or involved in minigolf could help promote the game. It’s a niche title, but an audience and subject I know a lot about.

Writing the book was brilliant and enabled me to bring two areas of my life together. I’ve worked in marketing since 2003 and have played minigolf since I was a child. Stepping up to compete on the national minigolf tour circuit and in international tournaments opened my eyes to the potential of the game. I’ve also had the honour of serving on the committees of the British Minigolf Association (BMGA) and the World Minigolf Sport Federation (WMF).

Minigolf is a sport for all. People of all ages, sexes, backgrounds and abilities can pick up a putter and play the game.

When Emily and I began travelling around the country on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour there were around 600 courses in the UK. We’ve now visited more than 1,000 courses, including 47 overseas.

My sports, games and travel blog at the Ham & Egger Files contains over 5,400 posts that have attracted 3.1 million page views.

There are a huge amount of interesting and fun stories to tell and positive aspects to highlight to potential players, the media, sponsors and the wider sporting community. The Minigolfer’s Guide to Marketing should give federations, associations, courses, clubs and fellow players ideas, inspiration and support in their marketing efforts.

Much of the guidance could also be applied to a number of other sports clubs and organisations to help raise their profile and boost memberships.

Buy The Minigolfer’s Guide to Marketing ebook on Amazon.

Other minigolf books

While you're at it I also recommend checking out the following books about miniature golf:

• Amazing Strokes by Gretchen Smith
• Tilting at Windmills: How I Tried to Stop Worrying and Love Sport by Andy Miller
• The Path Behind the Green Jacket by Olivia Prokopová
• 10 Courses for 10 Years by The Putting Penguin
• Mini Golf by photographer Simon Martin

There are a number of other books about the game listed at the Crazy Golf Museum.

Crazy Golf in Midsomer Norton, Somerset

A new Crazy Golf course is planned for Midsomer Norton in Somerset.

A new Crazy Golf course has been proposed to replace a derelict public toilet block in the town of Midsomer Norton in Somerset.

The new Adventure Golf layout will be an outdoor course created on the spot where the public conveniences were outside the leisure centre.

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

Adventure Golf at Jimmy G's amusement arcade in Leysdown

A new Adventure Golf course is planned for Leysdown-on-Sea, Isle of Sheppey.

The new adventure golf course at Jimmy G’s Amusements on The Promenade in Leysdown will be created as part of a refurbishment of the amusement arcade.

Visit the Jimmy G's Amusements website for more information.

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

Toys R Us at Brighton Hill Retail Park in Basingstoke

Visiting the old Toys R Us store at the Brighton Hill Retail Park in Basingstoke, Hampshire.

We visited the old Toys R Us store in Basingstoke in May 2021.

There was still a lot of signage on display at the former store.

Toys R Us closed in the UK in April 2018.

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 a number of these closed, abandoned, derelict and demolished Toys R Us locations on our travels.

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

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

• 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

Cherry Blossom at Putt Putt Noodle

There's always Sakura at Putt Putt Noodle.

Cherry Blossom at Putt Putt Noodle

Cherry Blossom at Putt Putt Noodle Mini Golf at the Castle Quarter shopping and entertainment centre in Norwich, Norfolk.

Cherry Blossom at Putt Putt Noodle

These snaps were by my brother Christopher - a charter member of our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. Together we've visited a combined 1,090 courses since September 2006.

Putt Putt Noodle Mini Golf in Norwich

Gluten free at The Oxford Place in Leeds

We had another amazing meal at The Oxford Place in Leeds last Sunday.

Pan-Fried North Sea Cod with Crushed New Potatoes, Lilliput Capers and a Prosecco and Brown Shrimp Sauce - this was one of the best things I've ever eaten

It was my first meal out since last September!

Mozzarella Carozza with a Rich Basil and Tomato Sauce - note the side order of Skinny Fries, another must have to share before the main courses

I've had some brilliant meals there before, and this was right up there with the best food I've had. Delicious.

As someone with Coeliac Disease it's always nice to be able to eat out-of-the-home with safety and peace of mind. And when that is combined with delicious and interesting food (such as the Carozza) and a variety of drink options it makes the experience absolutely marvellous.

Emily had the Tempura Battered Vegetables with Homemade Sweet Chilli Sauce for her starter

The Oxford Place is a must visit restaurant if you're a Coeliac or on a gluten free diet. I've dined there with people with Coeliac Disease as well as people on 'normal' diets and we've always been impressed by the food and service.

Emily's main course of Slow Cooked Belly Pork with Baked Apple, Celeriac Purée, Crackling and a Red Wine Jus

I'm really looking forward to my next visit already.

99.9% of the time I have the Sticky Toffee Pudding for my dessert when I'm at The Oxford Place

Check out The Oxford Place's website for more information.

Our friend had the Vanilla Cheesecake - and I nabbed a bit of the ice cream. It's so nice to be able to share meals with friend, something that is very tough for people dining gluten free, unless they're somewhere that is 100% like The Oxford Place

Mini Golf at Westminster Park in Chester

A new 18-hole outdoor mini golf course is opening in Chester, Cheshire.

The course at Chester's Westminster Park is opening on Saturday 9th March.

Check out the Green Day Café and Golf Facebook Page for more information.

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

Pop Playrooms Mini-Golf in Kingston Upon Thames

A new indoor minigolf course is opening in Kingston Upon Thames, Greater London.

Pop Playrooms Mini-Golf is opening at The Rotunda in Kingston Upon Thames on Thursday 7th March.

The indoor course is a 9-hole layout.

Check out the Pop Playrooms website for more information.

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