Sunday, March 04, 2018

Bar Billiards at the Golden Star pub in Norwich

We had a brilliant time in Norwich last weekend and it was a nice surprise to find a Bar Billiards table to have a game on too.

We're big fans of the traditional pub sport and the tables can often take some hunting out.

Bar Billiards at the Golden Star pub in Norwich
The four-pin layout of the pegs is a tough variation on the three-pin game

The table at the Golden Star pub used the four-pin set-up, a variation on the rules that makes the game trickier to play as two of the pegs/mushrooms partially block the 'easy route' into the 50-pockets.

Bar Billiards at the Golden Star pub in Norwich
It's a neat set-up at the Golden Star

The table had some nice features, including the cue holders at the baulk end.

Bar Billiards at the Golden Star pub in Norwich
I really like the cue holders built into the end of the table

It was a very old table owned by Alfred Sams & Sons of Hoddesdon, Herts. We hadn't seen that particular badge on other tables we've played on our travels.

Bar Billiards at the Golden Star pub in Norwich
Some lovely old design and features

Bar Billiards at the Golden Star pub in Norwich
An old National Bar Billiards Association badge

In our game (played using three-pins) I won with a score of 980 to Emily's 0. Emily had knocked down the black peg with her shot at the 200-hole to wipeout her tally of 510.

Bar Billiards at the Golden Star pub in Norwich
Emily in action

Bar Billiards at the Golden Star pub in Norwich
The final score

Bar Billiards at the Golden Star pub in Norwich
Emily going for it on the final black mushroom shot

The Golden Star is worth a visit and the Bar Billiards table there is well worth a play. It's only 50p a game too.

The Golden Star pub in Norwich
The Golden Star pub - you'll find the Bar Billiards table at the back of the pub, by the blue door on the left hand side of the photo

It's great to know that the pub plays host to competitive events as part of the Norwich Bar Billiards League too. Check out the links below for more info.

Bar Billiards rules at the Golden Star pub in Norwich
League Rules

Links:
- Golden Star, Norwich
- Norwich Bar Billiards League

Related blog posts:
- Bar Billiards
- Norwich

Wednesday, February 28, 2018

Barber King in Norwich

Another weekend, another city and another bootleg!

While on our visit to Norwich we spotted this great business name and typeface on a barbers.

Barber King on Prince of Wales Road in Norwich
By night

Barber King on Prince of Wales Road in Norwich
By day

Related blog posts:
- Bootleg
- Norwich

Sunday, February 18, 2018

From Stockport to Stockholm on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

A Crazy World of Minigolf Tour update from our trip to Sweden.


Swing by Golfbaren
The 800th course we've visited - Swing by Golfbaren

Last weekend we headed to Stockholm for a mini-minigolfing trip to celebrate the 1st anniversary of the opening of the excellent Swing by Golfbaren miniature golf course run by our friend and minigolf rival Hans Olofsson.

Golfbaren Aspudden
Hans and me at his minigolf course in Aspudden

While in Sweden we managed to visit nine courses in 42 hours. The visit to Swing by Golfbaren was also the 800th course visit on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Golfbaren Aspudden
At Golfbaren Aspudden

The nine minigolf courses we visited on the trip were:

  • 798 (29th overseas) Solna, Sweden (Solna Bangolfklubb) - Eternit Miniature Golf
Solna Bangolfklubb
The Eternit Miniature Golf course at Solna Bangolfklubb
  • 799 (30th overseas) Solna, Sweden (Solna Bangolfklubb) - NIFO Steel Minigolf
Solna Bangolfklubb
This was the first NIFO Steel minigolf course we've seen
Swing by Golfbaren
Emily on the 'secret' downstairs course at Swing by Golfbaren 
  • 801 (32nd overseas and 473rd played) Solna, Sweden (Mall of Scandinavia) - Sports World Minigolf at O'Leary's
Indoor minigolf at the Mall of Scandinavia
Playing Ice Hockey on the indoor minigolf course at the Mall of Scandinavia
Bangolf Vasaparken
The Bangolf course at the Vasaparken in Stockholm
  • 803 (34th overseas) Kristineberg (Golfbaren Kristineberg) - Minigolf
Golfbaren Kristineberg
Golfbaren Kristineberg - it's right next to Kristineberg railway station!
  • 804 (35th overseas) Hägersten, Sweden (Golfbaren Aspudden) - Minigolf
Golfbaren Aspudden
A great looking obstacle on a downhill hole at Golfbaren Aspudden
Paradise Adventure Golf at Täby Centrum
Playing hole 2 of the Inca course at Paradise Adventure Golf course in Täby 


We're now up to 806 minigolf course visits since we began our travels in September 2006. There are a lot of new courses opening up too, so who knows what number we'll end the year on!

World of Bun Throwing: Bun Throwing in Abingdon this November

World of Bun Throwing: Bun Throwing in Abingdon this November: There will be a Bun Throwing event in Abingdon-on-Thames on Saturday 10th November to mark 100 years since the end of the First World War.




New Adventure Golf course heading to Clacton Pier

Clacton Pier in Essex is going to be getting a new indoor and outdoor Adventure Golf course as part of a £4m revamp!

Adventure Golf on Clacton Pier

Back in May 2011 we played a temporary minigolf course on Clacton Pier - it became the 217th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Mini Golf course on Clacton Pier
We love playing minigolf at the seaside and it's brilliant if the course is out to sea too!

The seaside town has a number of minigolf, crazy golf and adventure golf courses so it's ideal for a day trip or staycation.

We're looking forward to a return trip to play the new course on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Link:
- Clacton Pier

Related blog posts:
- Clacton
- Clacton Pier
Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Minigolf and Crazy Golf courses in Essex

Sunday, February 11, 2018

Minigolf course visit 800!

We've reached another big minigolf milestone - the 800th course visit on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

This weekend we were in Stockholm, Sweden to visit our friend, and minigolf legend, Hans Olofsson and help celebrate the 1st anniversary of his 1920's themed indoor minigolf course and speakeasy at Swing by Golfbaren.

Richard Gottfried playing at the Swing by Golfbaren indoor minigolf course in Stockholm, Sweden
Swinging into action on the brilliant indoor minigolf course

The course is one of the best we've ever played, it's a real must-visit venue.

Minigolf explorers Emily and Richard Gottfried at the Swing by Golfbaren indoor minigolf course in Stockholm, Sweden
We loved the 1920's theme at Swing by Golfbaren and really enjoyed the big celebration party on Saturday night

Check out the Swing by Golfbaren website for more info.

We had a brilliant time in Stockholm and visited a total of nine courses in 36-hours! What a wonderful trip on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

We've got LOTS of great photos, videos and blog posts to follow from the trip.

Sunday, February 04, 2018

Crazy Golf at Stamford Park in Stalybridge

We finally made some time to visit Stalybridge to look for the Crazy Golf course there. We're glad we did.

The 9th hole of the abandoned Crazy Golf course in Stamford Park, Stalybridge
The 9th hole of the abandoned Crazy Golf course in Stamford Park, Stalybridge - it was a unique layout!

The course became the 797th visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Check out the full blog post.

Krunchy Fried Chicken in Stalybridge

Finding another bootleg KFC!


We had a brilliant afternoon exploring Stalybridge in Tameside and it was marvellous to find another bootleg KFC in the town - this time it was a Krunchy Fried Chicken!

Krunchy Fried Chicken on Market Street in Stalybridge

Related blog posts:
- KFC
- Bootleg
- Tameside
- Kingtucky Fried Chicken in Manchester
- Another week and another KFC

The Tripe Shop in Stalybridge

A Tripe Advisor trip visit to Stalybridge.


We'd heard that the last remaining tripe shop could be found in Stalybridge, Tameside, so we had to have a look. Unfortunately as we visited on a Sunday the shop was closed.

The Tripe Shop in Stalybridge
The Tripe Marketing Board tells me that The Tripe & Sandwich Shop on Melbourne Street in Stalybridge is the country's last remaining Tripe Shop!

I am yet to try tripe.

Related blog posts:
- Tripe
- Stalybridge

Link:
- Tripe Advisor

Crazy Golf at Charlotte's Ice Cream Parlour in Dewsbury

A visit to play Crazy Golf at Charlotte's Ice Cream Parlour in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire.


A view of the Crazy Golf course at Charlotte's Ice Cream Parlour

On Saturday 27th January we headed to Charlotte's Ice Cream Parlour in Whitley, Dewsbury, West Yorkshire to play the 18-hole Crazy Golf course there.

Emily playing the 6th hole

We'd heard about the course via our friend and Professional Darts Commentator Rod Studd
and as it's just up the road from us and en route to Leeds we had to swing by for a game.

Crazy Golf at Charlotte's Ice Cream Parlour in Dewsbury
Playing the 9th hole

Crazy Golf at Charlotte's Ice Cream Parlour in Dewsbury
Another miniature golf course ticked off our list!

The Crazy Golf course at Charlotte's Ice Cream Parlour was the 796th we've visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour and the 471st played. It was also the first new course we've played this year.

Crazy Golf at Charlotte's Ice Cream Parlour in Dewsbury
Hole 1

Crazy Golf at Charlotte's Ice Cream Parlour in Dewsbury
Hole 2

Crazy Golf at Charlotte's Ice Cream Parlour in Dewsbury
Hole 3 

Crazy Golf at Charlotte's Ice Cream Parlour in Dewsbury
Hole 4 

Crazy Golf at Charlotte's Ice Cream Parlour in Dewsbury
Hole 5 

Crazy Golf at Charlotte's Ice Cream Parlour in Dewsbury
Hole 6

Crazy Golf at Charlotte's Ice Cream Parlour in Dewsbury
Hole 7

Crazy Golf at Charlotte's Ice Cream Parlour in Dewsbury
Hole 8 

Crazy Golf at Charlotte's Ice Cream Parlour in Dewsbury
Hole 9

Crazy Golf at Charlotte's Ice Cream Parlour in Dewsbury
Hole 10

Crazy Golf at Charlotte's Ice Cream Parlour in Dewsbury
Hole 11 

Crazy Golf at Charlotte's Ice Cream Parlour in Dewsbury
Hole 12

Crazy Golf at Charlotte's Ice Cream Parlour in Dewsbury
Hole 13 

Crazy Golf at Charlotte's Ice Cream Parlour in Dewsbury
Hole 14

Crazy Golf at Charlotte's Ice Cream Parlour in Dewsbury
Hole 15

Crazy Golf at Charlotte's Ice Cream Parlour in Dewsbury
Hole 15's 'green'

Crazy Golf at Charlotte's Ice Cream Parlour in Dewsbury
Hole 16

Crazy Golf at Charlotte's Ice Cream Parlour in Dewsbury
Hole 17 

Crazy Golf at Charlotte's Ice Cream Parlour in Dewsbury
Hole 18

In our match-up I shot a 61 to Emily's 63 to squeak a narrow victory on the tricky layout!

Crazy Golf at Charlotte's Ice Cream Parlour in Dewsbury
There's a great view from the course and meadow

Crazy Golf at Charlotte's Ice Cream Parlour in Dewsbury
Emily in action on the colourful course

Charlotte's Ice Cream Parlour is open 7-days-a-week. In addition to the Crazy Golf there's a small farm, miniature railway and play area. Check out Charlotte's Ice Cream Parlour website for more information.

Link:
- Charlotte's Ice Cream Parlour

Related blog posts:
- Crazy Golf
- West Yorkshire
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Friday, February 02, 2018

Mini Golf in Playa Blanca, Lanzarote

Much like buses, you wait ages to write another blog post about minigolf in Lanzarote and then two come along at once!

Minigolf in Lanzarote by Richard Rochester January 2018
I love seeing oversized golf ball obstacles / decorations on miniature golf courses

My friend Richard Rochester has sent me some snaps of the Mini Golf course outside the Rubicon shopping centre, near the marina in Playa Blanca, Lanzarote.

It looks like a nice layout

It looks like we may have to arrange a Crazy World of Minigolf Tour trip there one day...

Related blog posts:
- Lanzarote

Thursday, February 01, 2018

McTucky's Fried Chicken in Manchester

There's another bootleg chicken shop in Manchester - McTucky's Fried Chicken!


McTucky's Fried Chicken in Manchester
McTucky's Fried Chicken can be found on Canal Street

Related blog posts:
Bootleg
Krunchy Fried Chicken in Stalybridge
Kingtucky Fried Chicken in Manchester
Another week and another KFC