Saturday, October 17, 2026

Bee Network branded Northern Class 323 train at Stockport railway station (October 2026)

A Bee Network branded Northern Class 323 train (323239) in the sidings at Stockport railway station in Greater Manchester on Saturday 17th October 2026.

The Bee Network branded Northern Class 323 train at Stockport railway station

Unit 323239 is currently the only Northern train in Bee Network livery.

I've seen it at Stockport station and Cheadle Hulme stations before.

The Bee Network is an integrated transport network in Greater Manchester comprised of bus, tram, cycling and walking routes. Commuter rail routes are planned to join the Bee Network in 2028.

Today is Video Store Day.

This year is the 16th 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?

This was Northgate Video & DVD in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, England earlier this year

Check out my blog post from Video Store Day 2025 where I wrote about the video stores we've visited on our travels, Blockbuster Video, video shop speakeasies, Blockbuster-themed crazy golf holes, non-rental video shops, 'Free Blockbuster', and more!

Friday, October 16, 2026

Blockbuster Video themed crazy golf hole at Golf Fang minigolf in Nottingham

A look at the Blockbuster Video Themed Minigolf Hole at Golf Fang Indoor Crazy Golf in Nottingham, England on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour in August 2025.

The Golf Fang indoor crazy golf course in Nottingham was the 1,088th course visited and 587th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour since September 2006.

A new mini golf activity will be at FullSwing Sports, Bar & Grill in Chichester, West Sussex.

FullSwing Sports, Bar & Grill is opening in Chichester this month.

One of the games available will be interactive mini golf.

Find out more on the FullSwing Sports, Bar & Grill website.

Richard Gottfried

Wednesday, October 14, 2026

Interactive Mini Golf at PLAYBOX 2.0 at BOXPARK Croydon

There's a new mini golf game at PLAYBOX 2.0 at BOXPARK Croydon in London.

PLAYBOX 2.0 at BOXPARK Croydon has opened with an interactive mini golf game.

PLAYBOX 2.0 is also home to a number of other games and activities.

Find out more.

Visit the PLAYBOX Croydon website for more information.

Richard Gottfried

Monday, October 12, 2026

Winning the Weymouth Mini Golf Open tournament

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

Richard Gottfried - 2008 Weymouth Open Adventure Golf Champion

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.

The Pirate Adventure Mini Golf course at Weymouth Sea Life Centre at Lodmoor Country Park in Weymouth

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.

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.

Sunday, October 11, 2026

Mini Golf at The Wine Chambers in St Helens, Merseyside

A new mini golf course has opened in St Helens.

The Wine Chambers pop-up wine bar in St Helens, Merseyside has opened a 12-hole mini golf course.

Find out more on The Wine Chambers Facebook page.

Richard Gottfried

New Adventure Golf at the Thatched Hamlet in Lancashire

There are plans for a new adventure golf course at the Thatched Hamlet near Preston in Lancashire.

The course would be an 18-hole outdoor mini-golf layout.

Find out more on the Thatched Hamlet website.

Richard Gottfried

Wednesday, October 07, 2026

Trains at Stockport railway station (October 2026)

A variety of trains spotted at Stockport railway station in Greater Manchester on Wednesday 7th October 2026.

The Plaza Super Cinema and Variety Theatre in Stockport opened on this day in 1932.

Link:

The Plaza Super Cinema and Variety Theatre

Destination...

...Final!

Richard Gottfried

Sunday, October 04, 2026

'The Rio Revival' InterCity 125 train in Shaw Heath, Stockport (October 2026)

Spotting an InterCity 125 train in Shaw Heath, Stockport.

An InterCity 125 train - 43025 'Exeter' - passing underneath Adswood Road in Shaw Heath, Stockport, Greater Manchester at 15:26 on Sunday 4th October 2026. This was on the Buxton Line between Davenport and Stockport stations.

The train was 'The Rio Revival' InterCity 125 12:06 service from St Pancras International to Manchester Piccadilly.

The train was a celebration of 50 years of trains travelling at 125 mph on the railways of Great Britain. The first public trains operated at 125 mph on the 4th October 1976.

'The Rio Revival' InterCity 125 was operated by the 125 Group.

Check out my rail playlists for more:

Videos:

Richard Gottfried

Saturday, October 03, 2026

Liminal space in Leeds

A look at a liminal space in Leeds.

It looks like it could be an area of a Resident Evil game!

Richard Gottfried

Thursday, October 01, 2026

The Tyne and Wear Metro in Newcastle upon Tyne (October 2026)

A look at various Class 555 trains and the Tyne and Wear Metro in Newcastle upon Tyne on Thursday 1st October 2026.

Class 555 trains at West Jesmond station on the Tyne and Wear Metro in Newcastle upon Tyne

A look at some of the Finish & End holes we've seen on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Crazy Golf course at Gynn Gardens in Blackpool, 5th September 2009

Our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour travels have taken us around the UK and to several countries overseas. During the last 20 years we've seen a few courses clearly spell out where the end of a round is!

Crazy Golf course at Singleton Park in Swansea, Wales 14th August 2009

Crazy Golf at Singleton Park in Swansea, Wales 14th August 2009

Crazy Golf at Gynn Gardens in Blackpool, 5th September 2009 (now a lost course)

Crazy Golf course at Kings Parade Gardens in New Brighton, 19th March 2011

Crazy Golf at Kings Parade Gardens in New Brighton, 19th March 2011

Putting course at the Wales National Crown Green Centre in Rhyl, 29th September 2014

Crazy Golf course at Stanley Park in Blackpool, 27 August 2018

Crazy Golf at Stanley Park in Blackpool, 27 August 2018

Crazy Golf course at Marine Gardens in Fleetwood, 28th May 2021

Crazy Golf at Marine Gardens in Fleetwood, 28th May 2021

A look at some 1980's Putt-Putt tokens from the USA.

Putt-Putt tokens from the USA. From the Crazy Golf Museum's collection

Putt-Putt Golf.

The very first Putt-Putt Golf course was created by Don Clayton in Fayetteville, North Carolina, USA back in 1954.

In the 1960's Putt-Putt franchises began opening outside of the US, in locations such as South Africa, Australia and Japan. There were also courses in the UK, the first of which opened in Sunderland in 1968. Others followed at Flamingo Land in Yorkshire and in Buxton, Derbyshire. However, information on these UK courses is limited.

Minigolf tokens today?

Do you know of any adventure golf, crazy golf or minigolf courses that still have tokens nowadays?

Richard Gottfried

Wednesday, September 30, 2026

Trams in Warsaw, Poland (September 2026)

A look at trams in Warsaw, Poland in September 2026.

A tram in Warsaw, Poland in September 2026

Trams on Marcina Kasprzaka in Warsaw, Poland. Operated by Tramwaje Warszawskie.

Hitting the 'Top Hole' in minigolf.

Lucky Last Hole at the Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk in 2011

Lucky 19th Hole at the Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Great Yarmouth in 2011

One of the aims of the game of minigolf is - once the 9, 12 or 18-holes of regulation play is done, and if they have one - to 'WIN A FREE GAME' on the 'Lucky Last Hole', aka the 'Top Hole'.

Lucky Last Hole at the Arnold Palmer Mini Crazy Golf Putting Course in Whitby, North Yorkshire in 2015

Lucky 10 Hole at the Arnold Palmer Mini Crazy Golf Putting Course in Whitby in 2015

Not every minigolf course has one of these 'Lucky Last Holes', but those that do come with a variety of obstacles in your way to the top hole, and that prized free game!

Lucky 13 Hole - Top Hole - at Broadstairs Minigolf in 2008

When you do 'Ace' the top hole you may find a cannon is fired, a bell rung, or a voice talks to you!

On our very first minigolf course visit on the 30th September 2006 I managed to Fire the Cannon and win a free game at the Treasure Island Adventure Golf in Southsea - that was one of the things that really sparked off our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour!

Emily about to win a FREE GAME on the Lucky Last Hole at Treasure Island Adventure Golf in Southsea

I seem to have had a lot of luck winning FREE GAMES at Treasure Island Adventure Golf in Southsea over the years

But I then had to wait until the 4th of September 2009 and my 150th course visit, at the Arnold Palmer Masters Putting Course, aka Crazee Golf, in Southport until my next win!