Toys R Us inside WH Smith in Salisbury

There's a Toys R Us at WH Smith in Salisbury, Wiltshire.

Toys R Us at WH Smith in Salisbury

Emily spotted this new Toys R Us store at WH Smith in Salisbury on a recent trip to the city.

Toys R Us inside WH Smith in Salisbury

It was a nice to see these framed pictures showing the evolution of the brand's mascot Geoffrey the Giraffe over the years inside the shop.

While the last of the original Toys R Us stores in the UK closed on the 24th April 2018 the brand returned to the UK in 2022 with an online presence, and further expanded in 2023 with the opening of nine concessions inside WH Smith.

There are currently 76 Toys R Us concessions in WH Smith shops (up from 39 in September this year), with more planned to open. Visit the Toys R Us website for more information.

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 store. I worked on the video game and electronics section.

Toys R Us concessions in the USA

Emily saw a Toys R Us at a Macy's department store in Fort Worth, Texas and a sign for one at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport on a trip to the USA earlier this year.

The old Toys R Us

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.

Former Toys R Us locations we've been to 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
• Trafford Centre in Manchester
• Western Esplanade in Southampton
• Wolverhampton Road in Oldbury
• Wyvern Retail Park in Derby

Lost Toys R Us Stores

My book about Lost Toys R Us Stores is available to buy from Amazon.

There were once 105 Toys R Us stores in the UK. The business ceased trading in 2018 and all of those shops closed. It is still possible to find traces of the brand on some retail parks and shopping centres around the UK. The book takes a look at some of those old stores between 2019 and 2021.

Buy Lost Toys R Us Stores on Amazon.

A DVD rental shop in 2024: T.V.L. Allstar Video in Haverhill

Finding a DVD movie rental shop in Haverhill, Suffolk.

It was amazing to find out about TVL Allstar Video in Haverhill and brilliant to hear that in 2024 they've been celebrating their 40th year in business.

While they no longer rent out VHS tapes they hold a library of around 8,000 titles on DVD and Blu-ray, with new releases added to the collection on a weekly basis.

We've spent the last few years documenting the last traces of Blockbuster Video stores here in the UK, and we've found some other video shop signage on our travels. It's even better when we find a video shop that is still open for business!

Signs for the movie rental membership, and some of the other services provided at the shop

If you don't know what to rent, the team at TVL Allstar Video will be able to guide you to some of the top picks. Chatting with the owner and his colleague at the shop they told me how they've maintained a regular customer base over the years. This was evident in my short visit as there were several people through the door, it was excellent to see

There aren't many things better than holding an actual video shop rental membership card in your hands in 2024 - it's a link to another time!

A view of a small section of the rentals available at the shop

New releases are regularly added to the collection at TVL Allstar Video

I would've rented Beetlejuice Beetlejuice if I lived close enough to borrow and return it in time

Lovely to see rental stickers in the wild

A familiar sight back in the day

As well as film rentals, the shop has diversified over the years and now offers scratched disc repairs, a print shop, stationery, and UPS Parcels services.

Check out the TVL Allstar Video website for more information.

TVL Allstar Video in Haverhill is one of only a handful of video rental shops still operating in the UK. Long may it continue!

Swedish Felt Mini Golf in Maryport, Cumbria

Playing minigolf at the Lake District Coast Aquarium Crazy Golf course in Maryport.

The course was originally the 469th course visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour back in April 2012. We returned in June 2023 and were able to have a round on the Swedish Felt B-Run type of minigolf course on that occasion.

Take a look at this blog post to see more of the course.

Crazy Golf at Eat N Bowl in St Neots

Eat N Bowl in St Neots, Cambridgeshire is opening a Crazy Golf course.

The indoor Crazy Golf course will be called Pins N Putt.

Visit the Eat N Bowl website for more information on the venue.

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

New Adventure Golf planned for South Shields

A new dinosaur-themed Adventure Golf course is planned to be created in South Shields, Tyneside.

The new outdoor course will be a 12-hole layout.

It'll be a new course for us to check out on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

South Shields was the location of the 100th course I played on our travels way back in June 2009.

It'll be nice to return to the seaside town.

Minigolf in Maryport, Cumbria

Playing minigolf at the Lake District Coast Aquarium Crazy Golf course in Maryport.

The course was originally the 469th course visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour back in April 2012. We returned in June 2023 and were able to have a round on the Swedish Felt B-Run type of minigolf course on that occasion.

Take a look at this blog post to see more of the course.

Happy Shopper shops - Lowestoft

There are still a few Happy Shopper shops around England and Wales.

Here's a look at the Happy Shopper in Lowestoft, Suffolk.

Check out this blog post looking back at our visits to Happy Shopper shops since 2020.

View my YouTube Playlist of Happy Shopper shop videos.

The Woolworths ghost sign in Stafford

There's a Woolworths ghost sign on the former store location in Stafford.

The exterior of the former Woolworths shop in Stafford

I first saw the ghost sign on the old Woolies in May 2023.

The Woolworths ghost sign in Stafford

We've found a few ghost signs and remains of the Woolworths brand on our travels over the years.

Playing Christmas Crazy Golf in Northwich

We recently played the Christmas-themed minigolf course from Lancashire Crazy Golf at the 2024 Northwich Christmas Extravaganza in Northwich, Cheshire.

The Christmas-themed pop-up Crazy Golf course in Northwich was the 1,068th course we've visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour, and the 580th layout we've played on our travels.

Check out the Visit Northwich website for more about the town and its various events throughout the year. We visit Northwich a few times each year, and although Crazy Golf features at several of the events until today we'd not had a chance to have a go on the course.

You can find out more about hiring the pop-up course on the Lancashire Crazy Golf website.

Adventure Golf at The Railway Inn in Westerfield, near Ipswich (August 2024)

Playing the Adventure Golf course at The Railway Inn in Westerfield, near Ipswich, Suffolk.

We played the 9-hole outdoor Adventure Golf course in the pub beer garden of The Railway Inn in Westerfield, near Ipswich, Suffolk on a visit to the town to see family.

The Adventure Golf course at The Railway was the 1,064th course visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour, the 1,007th we've been to in the British Isles, and the 575th course we've played on our travels since 2006.

More inflatable advertising in Stockport

Spotting a piece of inflatable advertising in Cheadle Village, Stockport.

Döner chef inflatable at Cappadocia Ocakbasi Turkish Restaurant in Cheadle Village, Stockport

I spotted this piece of inflatable advertising at Cappadocia Ocakbasi Turkish Restaurant while in Cheadle Village.

Döner chef inflatable at Cappadocia Ocakbasi Turkish Restaurant in Cheadle Village, Stockport

It's fun spotting airdancers (aka a wacky waving inflatable arm flailing tube man) and other types of inflatable advertising such as this kebab chef at Cappadocia Turkish restaurant in Cheadle Village.

Crazy Golf in Maryport, Cumbria

Playing minigolf at the Lake District Coast Aquarium Crazy Golf course in Maryport.

The course was originally the 469th course visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour back in April 2012. We returned in June 2023 and were able to have a round on the Swedish Felt B-Run type of minigolf course on that occasion.

Take a look at this blog post to see more of the course.

Lost Shops - Blockbuster Video store in Nuneaton, Warwickshire (May 2021)

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

In 2021 the old sign at the former Blockbuster Video store on Regent Street in Nuneaton was uncovered when the tenant of the building moved out.

It was brilliant to see such a well maintained piece of signage - it looked like the store could've re-opened that day!

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.

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!

Check out the posts about former Blockbuster Video stores we've been to in:

• Abingdon, Oxfordshire
• Ashton, Bristol
• Barnsley, South Yorkshire
• Basingstoke, Hampshire
• Billingham, Teesside
• Cheadle Hulme, Greater Manchester
• Chester, Cheshire
• Chorley, Lancashire
• Clacton-on-Sea, Essex
• Colne, Lancashire
• Failsworth, Manchester
• Fallowfield, Manchester
• Felixstowe, Suffolk
• Filton, Bristol
• Great Moor, Stockport, Greater Manchester
• Hastings, East Sussex
• Leigh, Greater Manchester
• Luton, Bedfordshire
• Marple, Greater Manchester
• Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire
• Nuneaton, Warwickshire
• Oldham, Greater Manchester
• Prescot, Lancashire
• Shanklin, Isle of Wight
• Southampton, Hampshire
• Telford, Shropshire
• Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex
• Wisbech, Cambridgeshire
• Wythenshawe, Manchester

Lost brands

Emily and I have spent the last few years reminiscing about 'the good old days'. One of our areas of interest is in old retail brands - we're both marketers by profession and two of my first jobs in the 1990's and the year 2000 were at Tandy and Toys R Us, while Emily's first job was at a Happy Shopper shop. It's been fascinating to find remnants of these brands - and a number of other lost, dead and defunct brands - on the high street and at retail parks around the UK.

Happy Shopper shops - Burton on Trent (closed)

There are still a few Happy Shopper shops around England and Wales.

Here's a look at the Happy Shopper in Burton on Trent.

Check out this blog post looking back at our visits to Happy Shopper shops since 2020.

View my YouTube Playlist of Happy Shopper shop videos.

Festive Crazy Golfing in Northwich

We recently played the Christmas-themed minigolf course from Lancashire Crazy Golf at the 2024 Northwich Christmas Extravaganza in Northwich, Cheshire.

The Christmas-themed pop-up Crazy Golf course in Northwich was the 1,068th course we've visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour, and the 580th layout we've played on our travels.

Check out the Visit Northwich website for more about the town and its various events throughout the year. We visit Northwich a few times each year, and although Crazy Golf features at several of the events until today we'd not had a chance to have a go on the course.

You can find out more about hiring the pop-up course on the Lancashire Crazy Golf website.

Merry Skipmas!

You know it's really getting festive in Stockport as soon as you see the Cheadle Skip Hire Christmas Skip Tree go up in Adswood!

Happy Shopper shops - Sittingbourne

There are still a few Happy Shopper shops around England and Wales.

Here's a look at the Happy Shopper on Chaucer Road in Sittingbourne, Kent.

Check out this blog post looking back at our visits to Happy Shopper shops since 2020.

View my YouTube Playlist of Happy Shopper shop videos.

Mini Golf in Maryport, Cumbria

Playing minigolf at the Lake District Coast Aquarium Crazy Golf course in Maryport.

The course was originally the 469th course visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour back in April 2012. We returned in June 2023 and were able to have a round on the Swedish Felt B-Run type of minigolf course on that occasion.

Take a look at this blog post to see more of the course.

Festive Home Alone hole at Teezers Retro Golf course in Coventry

Here's a look at the festive Home Alone-themed minigolf hole at Teezers Retro Golf course in Coventry.

On Easter Sunday 2019 the 18-hole indoor minigolf course at Teezers became the 865th visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. We've now been to 1,068 courses since September 2006.

Christmas Crazy Golfing in Northwich

We recently played the Christmas-themed minigolf course from Lancashire Crazy Golf at the 2024 Northwich Christmas Extravaganza in Northwich, Cheshire.

The Christmas-themed pop-up Crazy Golf course in Northwich was the 1,068th course we've visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour, and the 580th layout we've played on our travels.

Check out the Visit Northwich website for more about the town and its various events throughout the year. We visit Northwich a few times each year, and although Crazy Golf features at several of the events until today we'd not had a chance to have a go on the course.

You can find out more about hiring the pop-up course on the Lancashire Crazy Golf website.

Winter Wonderland Mini Golf at Holey Molies

Holy Molies Mini Golf course in Skelton-in-Cleveland has been given a festive makeover.

Winter Wonderland Mini Golf at Holey Molies in Skelton-in-Cleveland, North Yorkshire is now open.

Check out the Holey Molies website for more information.

The 18-hole indoor Mini Golf course at Holey Molies Leisure Complex was the 845th visited overall on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour and the 807th in the British Isles back in September 2018.

Festive Crazy Golf at the Glenpark Estate in Omagh, Northern Ireland

Glenpark Estate Festive Crazy Golf tees-off on the 6th December.

Glenpark Estate in Omagh, Northern Ireland will have an 18-hole Winter Wonderland Crazy Golf course set-up inside a marquee from Friday 6th December 2024 until Saturday 4th January 2025.

Check out the Glenpark Estate website for more information.

The Beeches Adventure Golf in Ollerton, Knutsford

There's a farmyard-themed Adventure Golf course at The Beeches Golf centre in Ollerton, Knutsford, Cheshire.

The Beeches Adventure Golf is an 18-hole outdoor course.

Check out The Beeches Golf website for more information.

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

Happy Shopper shops - Burton on Trent

There are still a few Happy Shopper shops around England and Wales.

Here's a look at the S & A Singh Happy Shopper Supermarket on Sydney Street in Burton on Trent.

Check out this blog post looking back at our visits to Happy Shopper shops since 2020.

View my YouTube Playlist of Happy Shopper shop videos.

Christmas Crazy Golf in Northwich

Playing the Christmas-themed minigolf course from Lancashire Crazy Golf at the 2024 Northwich Christmas Extravaganza in Northwich, Cheshire.

On hole 10 of the festive minigolf course in Northwich

The Christmas-themed pop-up Crazy Golf course in Northwich was the 1,068th course we've visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour, and the 580th layout we've played on our travels.

Check out the Visit Northwich website for more about the town and its various events throughout the year. We visit Northwich a few times each year, and although Crazy Golf features at several of the events until today we'd not had a chance to have a go on the course.

You can find out more about hiring the pop-up course on the Lancashire Crazy Golf website.

Scoring a hole-in-one on hole 8 of the pop-up Crazy Golf course

Crazy Golf at Vickersway Park in Northwich (November 2024)

A walk round the Crazy Golf course at Vickersway Park in Northwich, Cheshire.

We revisited the Crazy Golf course at Vickersway Park while in Northwich for the town's Christmas Extravaganza. We really like the park, it's a nice and pleasant spot just outside the town centre.

Hole 1

Hole 2

Hole 3

Hole 4

Hole 5

Hole 6

Hole 7

Hole 7

Hole 7

Hole 7

Hole 8

Hole 9

Hole 9

Hole 9

Hole 9

The 9-hole Crazy Golf layout at Vickersway Park was originally the 700th course we visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour back in September 2016.

As well as the Crazy Golf course the park is also home to a grass Putting course.

British Minigolf Association Calendar of Events 2025

The British Minigolf Association Tour Calendar of Events for the 2025 Season has been announced.

The season tees-off at Hastings Adventure Golf with the Hastings Open 25th Anniversary competition on the 2nd March and runs until the 16th November when Mr Mulligans Dino Golf in Sidcup hosts the English Open.

You can find out more about the British Minigolf Association on the BMGA website.

Farmyard Golf at Finkley Down Farm in Andover

There's a new outdoor Adventure Golf course at Finkley Down Farm in Andover, Hampshire.

The Farmyard-themed Adventure Golf course at Finkley Down Farm is a 9-hole layout.

The new Adventure Golf course is a replacement for an old minigolf course at the attraction.

Check out the Finkley Down Farm website for more information.

The Farmyard Golf course was created by the team at Theories Golf.

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