Blackpool Pleasure Beach Adventure Golf

We had a look at the Pleasure Beach Adventure Golf course on a return visit to Blackpool earlier this week.

In September 2009 I won the Blackpool Pleasure Beach Open minigolf tournament on the course.

I believe the course had a refresh recently. It looks to be in good condition.

.

I shot the course record - a 24 in the first round of the 2009 Pleasure Beach Open. However, Peter McGillivray's name and round of 25 shots has been up on the board since 2016! I'm not bitter about it lol

Visit the Blackpool Pleasure Beach website for more information on the course.

Putt Above Mini Golf & Bar in Blackpool

We spotted the Putt Above Mini Golf & Bar in Blackpool earlier this week.

The indoor minigolf venue is located on the promenade not too far from the Blackpool Tower.

We didn't have time to play the high-tech indoor minigolf course on the nice and sweltering hot day out, but will give it a go when we're back on a less pleasant day weather-wise in the seaside town.

Check out the Putt Above website for more information.

Hole in Wand minigolf in Blackpool

We swung by the Hole In Wand minigolf course in Blackpool on a trip to the seaside town this week.

The indoor minigolf course can be found on the promenade near the Blackpool Tower.

Check out the Hole In Wand website for more information.

Emily played the Hole In Wand Wizard Golf in York last year.

Toys R Us at the Trafford Centre

A Toys R Us is opening at the Trafford Centre.

I spotted this sign for a new Toys R Us opening inside the WH Smith at the Trafford Centre in Manchester on a recent trip to the shopping centre. 

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 plans to create 30 Toys R Us concessions in WH Smith shops during 2024.

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

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

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 the 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.

Prison Putt in Parrs Wood, Manchester

Parrs Wood Prison Putt is opening in July.

A new indoor minigolf course is opening in Parrs Wood, Manchester on Saturday 6th July.

The 10-hole crazy golf course is opening at the Tenpin centre at Parrs Wood.

Find out more on the Parrs Wood Prison Putt website.

Parrs Wood is just over the border from us so the course will be the new closest indoor minigolf to us. We'll have to check it out on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

A Crazy Golf course in Lincoln

A look at a Crazy Golf course in Lincoln.

We recently met some friends in Lincoln and booked in to do some Axe Throwing for the first time. The venue was also home to what was at the time called Urban Putters indoor crazy golf.

An axe throwing-themed crazy golf hole

The Crazy Golf course in Lincoln was the 1,056th visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

The venue was home to an escape room (Escape Lincoln), axe throwing (Axed) and crazy golf (Urban Putters)

The venue was home to axe throwing, crazy golf and an escape room

Check out the course website for more information.