Wednesday, September 15, 2021

Lovely Jubbly

We saw this Del Boy advert at Bed Centres 146 in Clacton-on-Sea during our East Anglian road-trip last month.


Del Boy advert at Bed Centres 146 in Clacton-on-Sea
Lovely Jubbly

It's one of a number of homages to Only Fools and Horses we've seen over the years.

Tuesday, September 14, 2021

A Happy Shopper shop in Lowestoft, Suffolk

A look at a Happy Shopper shop in Lowestoft, Suffolk.


We didn't only visit minigolf courses during our East Anglian Road-Trip last month. We always try to pack in as much stuff as possible when we're out and about and one of our interests is in lost brands, retail archaeology and interesting signage.

By the time we reached Lowestoft in Suffolk we'd been to a lost Happy Shopper shop in Ashwellthorpe and been shocked to discover one in Ormesby St Margaret too. We knew there was a Happy Shopper in Lowestoft as we'd been there in 2011.

A Happy Shopper shop in Lowestoft
At a Happy Shopper shop in Lowestoft

As with most things in the seaside town, the Happy Shopper is the 'easternmost' example of its type in the British Isles.

The Happy Shopper newsagent, general store and off licence in Lowestoft retains the classic yellow and orange colours of the brand, but differs from other Happy Shopper shops as it doesn't feature the smiling face anywhere on the logo.


Only Foals and Horses in Accrington

A look at the Only Foals and Horses charity shop in the Accrington Arndale.


What a shop name!

Only Foals and Horses charity shop in the Accrington Arndale

We've found quite a few Only Fools and Horses business names, gimmicks and signs on our travels.

Packri Monster game at Retro Replay

We spotted this nice old handheld game from Bandai on display in the window of the Retro Replay Arcade, Gaming Lounge & Bar at the Castle Quarter shopping centre in Norwich last month.


Pakri Monster - a Pac-Man game from Bandai
Check out that Woolies price sticker on the box too

It's one of a number of retro gaming items in the window at the arcade bar.

Visit the Retro Replay website for more information.

Monday, September 13, 2021

Looney Golf in Bradford - new Crazy Golf course alert

A new indoor crazy golf course is opening in Bradford.


A new indoor minigolf course is opening on North Parade in Bradford, West Yorkshire

A new indoor minigolf course is opening on North Parade in Bradford, West Yorkshire.

Looney Golf is being created in a former retail unit in the city centre.

Check out the Looney Golf Facebook Page for more info.


Looney Golf will be another new course for us to visit on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Sunday, September 12, 2021

Family Adventure Golf at Little Joe's Ice Cream Shack in Lowestoft, Suffolk

A look at the easternmost Adventure Golf course in the British Isles.


Family Adventure Golf at Little Joe's Ice Cream Shack in Lowestoft, Suffolk

We visited Lowestoft in Suffolk on our East Anglian road-trip last month and revisited the 20th course we ever played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. Back then it was called East Point Family Golf.

Family Adventure Golf at Little Joe's Ice Cream Shack in Lowestoft, Suffolk

The Family Adventure Golf course at Little Joe's Ice Cream Shack in Lowestoft is the easternmost Adventure Golf course in the British Isles.

Family Adventure Golf at Little Joe's Ice Cream Shack in Lowestoft, Suffolk

Family Adventure Golf at Little Joe's Ice Cream Shack in Lowestoft, Suffolk

Family Adventure Golf at Little Joe's Ice Cream Shack in Lowestoft, Suffolk

Family Adventure Golf at Little Joe's Ice Cream Shack in Lowestoft, Suffolk

Happy National Video Game Day

Today is National Video Game Day.


Winners Don't Use Drugs

Friday, September 10, 2021

The Flintstones Crazy Golf

A look back at The Flintstones Crazy Golf course at Bowleaze Cove in Weymouth, Dorset.


The scorecard from Tee Time Miniature Golf in Ocean City, New Jersey that I recently blogged about reminded me of The Flintstones Crazy Golf course at Bowleaze Cove in Weymouth.

The Flintstones Crazy Golf course at Bowleaze Cove in Weymouth, Dorset

That course was the 77th visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour back in October 2008. It's long gone now.

Pirates Island Adventure Golf at Norfolk Premier Golf in Blofield, Norfolk

A look at the Pirates Island Adventure Golf course at Norfolk Premier Golf in Blofield, Norfolk.


Pirates Island Adventure Golf at Norfolk Premier Golf in Blofield, Norfolk

We swung by the 12-hole Pirates Island Adventure Golf course at Norfolk Premier Golf in Blofield, Norfolk on our East Anglian road-trip last month.

Pirates Island Adventure Golf at Norfolk Premier Golf in Blofield, Norfolk

The course was the 971st visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Pirates Island Adventure Golf at Norfolk Premier Golf in Blofield, Norfolk

Visit the Pirates Island Adventure Golf website for more information, opening times and prices.


Pirates Island Adventure Golf at Norfolk Premier Golf in Blofield, Norfolk
It's always fun seeing minigolf vehicles

Haunted Miniature Golf at Putt'n Around in Delray Beach, Florida

Putt'n Around in Delray Beach, Florida, USA will be having a Haunted Miniature Golf course throughout October.


Putt'n Around in Delray Beach, Florida, USA will be having a Haunted Miniature Golf course throughout October

It's always fun to hear about Halloween-themed minigolf courses and events.

Putt'n Around Delray Beach is home to two 18-hole miniature golf courses. Hopefully we'll get to play them on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour one day.

They've got a fun mascot at the course too.

Check out the Putt'n Around Delray Beach website for more information.

Thursday, September 09, 2021

Minigolf scorecards from New Jersey, USA

A big thank you to Pat Sheridan from The Putting Penguin for sending over some minigolf scorecards from New Jersey.


Pat was in New Jersey for a recent minigolf tournament with the O-Street Mini Golf team.

The first scorecard is from Tee Time Miniature Golf on the Boardwalk at Ocean City.


Minigolf scorecard from Tee Time Miniature Golf on the Boardwalk at Ocean City, New Jersey, USA. Photo by Pat Sheridan, 2021

Minigolf scorecard from Tee Time Miniature Golf on the Boardwalk at Ocean City, New Jersey, USA. Photo by Pat Sheridan, 2021

The second is from The Sandtrap at 23rd & Long Beach Boulevard in Ship Bottom.


Minigolf scorecard from The Sandtrap at 23rd & Long Beach Boulevard in Ship Bottom, New Jersey, USA. Photo by Pat Sheridan, 2021

Minigolf scorecard from The Sandtrap at 23rd & Long Beach Boulevard in Ship Bottom, New Jersey, USA. Photo by Pat Sheridan, 2021

It's always brilliant scorecards and other ephemera from miniature golf courses around the world and Pat has provided lots from his travels for fun and tournaments in the USA. They are a marvellous addition to the archives of the Crazy Golf Museum.

Check out The Putting Penguin minigolf review website for details of lots of US courses and a number of others from around the world.

Trick or Treat Mini Golf and Glow Golf at Fun Fore All Family Fun Park

The team at Fun Fore All Family Fun Park in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania, USA are getting ready to tee-off Trick or Treat Mini Golf and Glow Golf at the 18-hole miniature golf course there.


The team at Fun Fore All Family Fun Park in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania, USA are getting ready to tee-off Trick or Treat Mini Golf and Glow Golf at the 18-hole miniature golf course there

Trick or Treat Mini Golf runs from the 1st October and finishes on Halloween night itself.

Each evening at dusk the course will become a Glow Golf layout.

Check out the Fun Fore All Family Fun Park website for more information, opening times and prices.


Fun Fore All Family Fun Park is on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour 'To Visit' list and we're looking forward to a game there. Hopefully our trip to Pennsylvania co-incides with one of the themed, seasonal events at the fun park.

The World Crazy Golf Championships at Hastings Adventure Golf

Good luck to all of the players in the 2021 World Crazy Golf Championships.


The weekend of action tees-off with a team event at Hastings Adventure Golf tomorrow, followed by the two-day main event on Saturday and Sunday.

Visit the Hastings Adventure Golf website for more information.


We both made our debuts in the 2007 edition of the event back when it was known as the Virgin Money World Crazy Golf Championships. It was Emily's first ever miniature golf tournament.

The World Crazy Golf Championships at Hastings Adventure Golf
Playing hole 2 at the 2014 edition

The competition is played on the 18-hole Crazy Golf course at Hastings Seafront. The layout is of the Arnold Palmer Putting Course variety. The course was the 39th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour back in October 2007.

The World Crazy Golf Championships began in 2003. Two-time, back-to-back World Crazy Golf Champion Marc 'The Force' Chapman is defending the title in the 18th edition of the event.

Del Boy in Sudbury, Suffolk

We saw an Only Fools and Horses Reliant Regal Supervan racing through Sudbury, Suffolk last month.


Only Fools and Horses Reliant Regal Supervan in Sudbury, Suffolk

Wednesday, September 08, 2021

A Pizza Hut ghost sign in Ipswich

We spotted this modern day ghost sign on a former Pizza Hut restaurant at the Anglia Retail Park in Ipswich, Suffolk last month.


Former Pizza Hut restaurant at Anglia Retail Park in Ipswich

It is looking likely that a branch of Tim Horton's will be taking over the vacant unit in the future.

New Adventure Golf course at Clayton Caravan Park in Fife

A new Adventure Golf course is being created at Clayton Caravan Park in Fife, Scotland.


A new Adventure Golf course is being created at Clayton Caravan Park in Fife, Scotland

A new 18-hole Adventure Golf course is being built at Clayton Caravan Park in Fife, Scotland.

The course will is being themed on the Old Course at St Andrews and will open in 2022.

Visit the Clayton Caravan Park website for more information.

Tuesday, September 07, 2021

The Codfather in Sudbury

The latest Godfather-inspired business name and sign we've seen was in Sudbury, Suffolk.


The Codfather in Sudbury

Friday, September 03, 2021

Yarmouth Stores in Lowestoft

We saw this nice old shop doorway tile mosaic advertising Yarmouth Stores while in Lowestoft last month.


Mosaic tile shop doorway sign at Yarmouth Stores in Lowestoft

The company was incorporated in 1898 and is still trading today. Check out the Yarmo website for more information.

Yarmouth Stores in Lowestoft

Thursday, September 02, 2021

Toys R Us in Ipswich, Suffolk

A look at the old Toys R Us store in Ipswich, Suffolk.


Toys R Us closed it's UK stores in April 2018. However, there are still visible remnants of the old brand around the UK.

A sign at the old Toys R Us store in Ipswich
A sign at the old Toys R Us store at the Interchange Retail Park in Ipswich

Toys R Us travels

We've visited a number of former Toys R Us sites over the last couple of years, the latest being in Norwich and Ipswich.

Toys R Us in Ipswich, Suffolk
As close as you can get to the Ipswich store

Working at Toys R Us

My first job while at university in the year 2000 was at the Luton store. I worked on the video game and electronics section.

Toys R Us in Norwich, Norfolk

A look at the closed Toys R Us store in Norwich, Norfolk.


Toys R Us in Norwich
Toys R Us in Norwich

Toys R Us closed it's UK stores in April 2018. However, there are still visible remnants of the old brand around the UK.

Toys R Us in Norwich
Closed

Toys R Us travels

We've visited a number of former Toys R Us sites over the last couple of years, the latest being in Norwich and Ipswich

Toys R Us in Norwich
At another former store location

Working at Toys R Us

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

Toys R Us in Norwich
Toys R Us in Norwich

Toys R Us at the Cathedral Retail Park in Norwich (August 2021)






Toys R Us in Norwich
The sign on the side of the former store in Norwich