Tuesday, June 10, 2025

Drinking in a 'video shop'

Recalling a visit to what is now Rewind NQ in Manchester's Northern Quarter.


Rewind NQ in Manchester's Northern Quarter
Rewind NQ in 2024


Rewind NQ in Manchester's Northern Quarter

The theming is really well done and the bar had a chilled atmosphere. It's worth a visit.

Video Box Office ex-rental VHS tape at Blockbusters NQ in Manchester

Visit the Rewind NQ website for more information on the speakeasy bar and nightclub.


Rewind NQ in Manchester's Northern Quarter

Video shop hunting in 2025

We're big fans of video, videos stores, retail history and retro stuff and have been visiting and documenting the last remaining traces of the Blockbuster brand in the UK over the last few years. We've seen a number of the brand's shopfronts, signs and QuikDrop boxes. As well as some other video shops.

Video rental shops in the UK

It's very nice to see there are still businesses active in the 'video rental' sector!

Check out this blog post for more info.

Monday, June 09, 2025

The Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich

A look at the Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar at the Buttermarket in Ipswich, Suffolk.


The Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich
Boom: Battle Bar's Crazier Golf course in Ipswich

We'd previously swung by Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich back in 2022 when it became the 1,009th course visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. On our most recent return trip to the town we had time for a game.

Crazier Golf at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich
In our minigolf match I scored the win with a round of 13 shots (including 5 holes-in-one!) to Emily's round of 19

Here's a look at the holes and obstacles on the 9-hole Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich's Buttermarket shopping & entertainment centre.

The Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich
Hole 1 - Loop De Loop

The Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich
Hole 1

The Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich
Hole 1

The Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich
Hole 1

The Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich
Hole 1

The Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich
Hole 2 - The Fan-tastic Race

The Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich
Hole 2

The Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich
Hole 2

The Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich
The 'cup' on hole 2!

The Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich
Hole 3 - Barrel O' Laughs

The Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich
Hole 3

The Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich
Hole 3

The Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich
Hole 3

The Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich
Hole 3

The Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich
Hole 3

The Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich
Hole 3

The Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich
Hole 4 - The A-maze-ing Hole

The Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich
Hole 4

The Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich
The four 'greens' on hole 4

The Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich
Hole 5 - The Puttmill

The Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich
Hole 5

The Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich
Hole 6 - Ramp It Up

The Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich
Hole 6

The Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich
Hole 7 - Helter Skelter

The Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich
Hole 7 is a very striking and imposing hole on the course!

The Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich
Hole 7

The Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich
Hole 7

The Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich
The 'green' and 'cup' on hole 7 is in an oil drum

The Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich
Hole 8 - Blame the Aim

The Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich
Hole 8

The Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich
Hole 8

The Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich
The targets and gutter holes for misfires

The Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich
This is the 'club' you use for your shot on hole 8!

The Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich
It's the first time we've used a catapult (cataputter?) to take a shot on a minigolf course!

The Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich
The green on hole 8

The Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich
Hole 9 - Over the Hill

The Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich
Hole 9

Check out the Boom: Battle Bar website for more information on the Ipswich venue, other locations, and the range of games available.


Videos from our visit (June 2025).








Playing the first Boom: Battle Bar Crazier Golf course.



The Boom: Battle Bar Crazier Golf course in Norwich was the landmark 1,000th course visited by Richard, Emily & Christopher Gottfried on the combined Crazy World of Minigolf Tour! We're now up to 1,132 courses visited since September 2006.

Orbis in Stamford is 100% gluten free

We recently found out that the Orbis restaurant in Stamford, Lincolnshire is 100% gluten free.


We recently found out that the Orbis restaurant in Stamford, Lincolnshire is 100% gluten free

Many thanks to our friend - and fellow Coeliac - Cat for letting us know that the Orbis restaurant in Stamford is 100% gluten free.

Take a look at the Orbis website for more information.


We're looking forward to checking it out in the future.

Sunday, June 08, 2025

Ghostbusters Crazy Golf

A look at Ghostbusters stuff at minigolf courses.


Ghostbusters was released in the USA on this day in 1984.

Slimer at Ghetto Golf at Hoults Yard in Byker, Newcastle
Slimer at Ghetto Golf at Hoults Yard in Byker, Newcastle

We've seen a couple of Ghostbusters-related things at miniature golf courses on our travels.

Slimer and a Stay Puft Marshmallow Man on a tenpin bowling themed hole at Ghetto Golf in Liverpool
Slimer and a Stay Puft Marshmallow Man on a tenpin bowling themed hole at Ghetto Golf in Liverpool

If you're in Rugby, and you feel hungry, who you gonna call...

...Gutt Busters!


We spotted Gutt Busters on a visit to Rugby in Warwickshire back in 2014.

Gutt Busters in Rugby (2014)

Gutt Busters in Rugby (2014)

Gremlins

The hit film Gremlins was released in the USA on this day in 1984.


What a day at the cinema that must've been - with Ghostbusters out on the same day!

Gremlins causing a scene Totally Stockport Comic Con last year
Gremlins causing a scene at the Totally Stockport Comic Con a few years ago

Gizmo's in Morecambe, Lancashire is open from 4pm to late - I hope it closes before midnight
Gizmo's in Morecambe, Lancashire is open from 4pm to late - I hope it closes before midnight

Ghostbusters Day

Happy Ghostbusters Day!

The blockbuster film was released in the USA on this day in 1984.