Urban Street Golf at Gravity Social in Northampton (October 2023)

A revisit to Gravity Social in Northampton.

On my recent trip to Northampton it was sad to find that Gravity Social at Sol Central had closed down.

The venue was home to an indoor Urban Street Golf course.

Our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

The 9-hole Urban Street Golf course at Gravity Social in Northampton was the 1,019th course visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour travels back in April 2023.

A look at the Urban Street Golf course at Gravity Social.

Check out this blog post for more photos of what the course looked like then.

Urban Street Golf at Gravity Social in Northampton (April 2023)

Urban Street Golf at Gravity Social in Northampton (April 2023)

A visit to the Urban Street Golf course at Gravity Social in Northampton.

The 9-hole indoor course was the 1,019th visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Unfortunately the Gravity Social at Sol Central is no longer open.

Photos of the Urban Street Golf course at Gravity Social.

40 years of Blockbuster Video

Blockbuster Video opened on the 19th October 1985.

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

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

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!

Blockbuster Video stores we've visited.

Check out these posts about other 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.

Mini Golf at Carlton Meres Holiday Park in Saxmundham, Suffolk

A look at the Mini Golf course at Carlton Meres Holiday Park in Saxmundham, Suffolk.

A big thank you to our friend Sophia Cook for sending us these snaps of the mini golf course at Carlton Meres Holiday Park in Saxmundham, Suffolk from her family's recent break at the venue.

It's always nice to see different miniature golf courses from people's travels.

Find out more.

Visit the Park Holidays website for more information about the Carlton Meres Holiday Park in Saxmundham.

Blogging about minigolf around the world.

As well as the blog posts about our own crazy golf travels, we've posted guest blogs from friends and family from their visits to courses around the world.

It's excellent receiving photos, information and updates from - and about - crazy golf, minigolf, miniature golf putting, pitch & putt, adventure golf, and Putt-Putt courses around the world. There's such a wide-range and variety of courses out there.

We've met so many people and made some great friends on our travels since 2006. Many of whom have contributed to our travels by telling us about new courses, letting us know about course refurbs, or by sending over photos of courses they've been too. We've also received excellent photos of miniature golf courses from our family, friends, our networks, and course owners, managers, designers and builders themselves.

Minigolf guest blog posts from 30 countries - and international waters!

Over the last 19 years of blogging we've published guest blog posts about courses in England, Wales, Scotland, Belgium, Bermuda, Canada, Croatia, the Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guernsey, Indonesia, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Oman, Portugal, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Türkiye, the USA, on the high seas onboard the MSC Opera cruise ship (sailing from Italy - to Montenegro - to Greece), and even North Korea!

Related blog posts:

• Sophia Cook
• Minigolf guest blog posts
• Guest Blog
• Minigolfing Around the World

Video Store Day 2025

Today is Video Store Day.

Northgate Video & DVD Video Rental and Sales shop in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk

This year is the 15th Annual International Independent Video Store Day.

International Independent Video Store Day is observed on the third Saturday of October each year.

Do you still have a video store near you?

Video shop memories.

Growing up in the 80s and 90s I've got fond memories of visiting video shops with my family and picking out a film or two (generally one of the Police Academy films, action flicks, or horror movies as I got older!).

I found the preserved remains of a Blockbuster Video store in Fallowfield, Manchester in 2019. And during the coronavirus pandemic my interest in lost brands and retail history was piqued. Since then I've been to several former Blockbuster Video stores around the UK, as well as finding some other old, and some still open, video shops on our travels!

How many video shops are there in the UK in 2025?

Our most recent estimate in the summer showed there were seven 'video shops' still in operation offering physical media movie rentals in the UK. Since then we've also found another niche video shop in Leeds that specialises in skateboard VHS tapes and DVDs!

They are:

• 20th Century Flicks in Bristol.
• Fast Forward in Ayr, Scotland.
• Northgate Video & DVD in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk.
• Snips Movies in Bebington, Wirral.
• Stones Video Library & Sweet Shop & Vaporiser Shop in Lowestoft, Suffolk.
• TVL Allstar Video in Haverhill, Suffolk.
• VideOdyssey in Toxteth, Liverpool.
• Video Years in Leeds.

We've been to 20th Century Flicks, Northgate Video & DVD, TVL Allstar Video and Video Years, and are looking forward to going to Fast Forward, Snips Movies, Stones Video Library and VideoOdyssey in the future.

Northgate Video & DVD shop in Bury St Edmunds (May 2025)

While there are nowhere near as many video shops as there once were, it's still very nice to see there are businesses active in the 'video rental' sector in 2025.

Do you know of any other video shops in operation? Please do let us know.

Signs and traces of old video shops.

There are still traces of former video shops to be found on the streets, shopping centres and retail parks of the UK!

VHS tapes and DVDs to rent at B.V.C. Bolton Video Centre in Little Lever (October 2020)

While most of these relics and ghost signs are of old Blockbuster Video stores, there are still signs of independent video shops to be seen if you're lucky (and actually visit and rent from if you're really lucky!).

An old video rental sign inside a Happy Shopper shop in Ilkeston (November 2020)

The list below has links to those we've snapped over the years:

• Shahenshah Videos in Luton
• Deane Video Centre in Bolton
• Video Box Office at the Happy Shopper Wayfairer Discount Store in Ilkeston
• Video Future in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent
• The Movie Box in Manchester
• Jubilee Films in Ashton-under-Lyne

Jubilee Films video shop in Ashton-under-Lyne (August 2020)

• B.V.C. - Bolton Video Centre in Little Lever, Bolton (closed down in 2024)
• 20th Century Flicks in Bristol (still operating, but closed on the day of our visit)
• Video Express in Swansea
• Video Rentals at The Village Top Shop in Thorpe Hesley, Rotherham
• Northgate Video & DVD in Bury St Edmunds (still operating, but closed on the day of our visit)
• TVL Allstar Video in Haverhill (still operating)
• Video Years in Leeds (still operating)

TVL Allstar Video DVD rental shop in Haverhill, Suffolk last Christmas

We're looking forward to checking out the other still operating stores on our travels in the future.

Blockbuster Video shops.

I've enjoyed researching the lost brand and seeking out remnants of old Blockbuster stores over the last few years.

An ex-rental Blockbuster VHS tape with stickers

Here's a list, with links to blog posts about the former Blockbuster Video store locations we've visited to date:

• 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

A sign for the old Blockbuster Video Express store in Colne, Lancashire (August 2020)

At its peak in 2004 there were more than 9,000 Blockbuster Video stores around the world. 500+ of which were in England, Scotland and Wales. Interestingly in Northern Ireland the Xtra-Vision brand was used by the owners in-line with the Republic of Ireland.

An Xtra-vision ex-rental VHS tape from Ballymena, Northern Ireland

The last Blockbuster Video shop ceased trading in the UK in December 2013.

'Free Blockbuster'.

The first Free Blockbuster was created in 2019 and since then more have been created in the USA, Canada, Australia and the UK.

Emily visited the Free Blockbuster Las Vegas at Sohn vintage shop in Las Vegas last year and swapped some of our DVDs for some wrestling VHS tapes!

The Free Blockbuster Las Vegas at Sohn vintage shop in Las Vegas (September 2024)

You can find Free Blockbusters in several locations throughout North America, one in Australia, and there is one in the UK - at Midsomer Magpie in Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England.

Check out the Free Blockbuster website for more information.

Non-rental video shops.

There is also Straight To Video - 80s Video Shop in Alfreton, Derbyshire. While they don't actually rent physical media, the shop is a treasure trove of nostalgia. And they do have items for sale.

We're looking forward to a trip there too.

Video shop speakeasies, bars, and venues.

The nostalgia for video shops and the culture they provided back in the day has been translated to a few speakeasies, bars and other venues incorporating a video shop theme.

You can't rent any of these films on VHS at RBT Video

These include:

• Pixel Busters in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire - an arcade and social gaming venue hidden behind a video store.
• Rewind NQ in Manchester's Northern Quarter - check out my blog post 'Drinking in a 'video shop'')
• RBT Video in Wakefield - take a look at the blog post from our visit
• Vice & Co in Lincoln - here's a blog post from our visit
• Bunga 90 - in Covent Garden, London. The venue sees you step through a video shop frontage to enter a venue full of retro games, karaoke and more.

Blockbuster Crazy Golf.

There are also 'Blockbuster Video' themed minigolf holes in the UK!

Blockbuster crazy golf in Nottingham

They're part of Golf Fang indoor crazy golf courses.

Video rental shop watch.

Do you still have a video rental store near you? Please get in touch or let us know in the comments if you do!

An ex-rental cover for what would've been our local video shop here in Edgeley, Stockport

Kaboodle Mini-Golf in Derry, Northern Ireland

Finding out more about Kaboodle Mini-Golf in Derry, Northern Ireland.

Kaboodle Mini-Golf opened on the Strand Road in Derry / Londonderry, Northern Ireland in May this year, and the venue is proving popular.

It was nice chatting to the team at Kaboodle about Miniature Golf Day, and they kindly sent me some photos of the Kaboodle Mini-Golf course to share on the blog. It looks like a fantastic setting and layout for a game or two. Emily and I are looking forward to a trip over to Northern Ireland again in the future.

Photos of the Kaboodle Mini-Golf course in Derry / Londonderry.

More than mini-golf.

Kaboodle is just that, a mix of everything. The venue has a bar, dining options, mini-golf, karaoke, shuffleboard, arcade games, social darts and more.

Find out more.

Check out the Kaboodle website for all the details about the mini-golf course and venue.

Our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

We're really looking forward to checking out Kaboodle Mini-Golf and the whole venue on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

We haven't been to Northern Ireland for some time and haven't been to Derry before.

Winning the Weymouth Mini Golf Open

I won the Weymouth Open minigolf tournament on this day in 2008.

The inaugural Weymouth Open minigolf tournament was held on the 18-hole Pirate Adventure Mini Golf course at Weymouth Sea Life Centre at Lodmoor Country Park in Weymouth, Dorset on Sunday 12th October 2008.

Weymouth Open results.

I had an excellent career record in Weymouth Open events. As well as winning the individual title in 2008, my team-mate Chris Harding and I were the Weymouth Open doubles champions in 2011.

I was also runner-up in the 2009 and 2011 events and seventh in 2010. In the 2009 tournament Kevin Moseley and I were tied after two rounds and it took 4-holes of a sudden-death play-off to separate us.

Our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

The Pirate Adventure Mini Golf course was the 77th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. We've now been to 1,099 courses since September 2006.

Find out more about the course at Weymouth Sea Life Centre.

Visit the Weymouth Sea Life Centre website for more information on the Pirate Adventure Mini Golf course at Lodmoor Country Park.

Find out more about minigolf tournaments in the UK.

The British Minigolf Association organises several minigolf competitions each year. Visit the British Minigolf Association (BMGA) website for more information.

Find out more about minigolf tournaments around the world.

The World Minigolf Sport Federation is the world governing body for the sport of minigolf. Its national and continental member associations organise competitions around the world. Visit the World Minigolf Sport Federation (WMF) website for more information.

Related blog posts:

• Weymouth
• Competition
• Tournament
• British Minigolf Association
• Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
• Minigolf Player Profile - Richard Gottfried

Links:

• Weymouth Sea Life Centre
• British Minigolf Association

Jurassic Village Adventure Golf at Prairie Sports Village in Burnley - opening on the 14th October

Jurassic Village Adventure Golf at Prairie Sports Village in Burnley is opening on Tuesday 14th October.

The new dinosaur and volcano-themed Adventure Golf course at Prairie Sports Village in Burnley, Lancashire is opening to the public on Tuesday 14th October.

The new 18-hole outdoor adventure golf layout replaces the 9-hole mini golf and putting courses that were previously at the venue.

Find out more.

Check out the Prairie Sports Village website for more information.

Our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

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

Today is World Octopus Day

The 8th October is World Octopus Day.

We've seen quite a few octopuses on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Find out more.

Visit the World Animal Protection website for more information about World Octopus Day.