Thursday, October 10, 2019

Happy 39th 'birthday' to Pac Man

Pac Man was first released in North American on this day in 1980.


A small selection of the Pac-Man stuff in my ever-growing collection
A small selection of the Pac-Man stuff in my ever-growing collection

The 22nd May is considered to be Pac Man's 'official' birthday.


Pac-Man merch
Waka waka waka

Back in the 1980's you could get Pac-Man breakfast cereal. I saw this old box at the Cereal Killer Cafe in Birmingham
Back in the 1980's you could get Pac-Man breakfast cereal. I saw this old box at the Cereal Killer Cafe in Birmingham

But hey, why not celebrate the brilliant video game character as often as possible!


Playing the Pac-Man arcade cabinet at Soul Bowl in Morecambe earlier this year
I've been playing Pac-Man arcade games for years

It'll soon be time to dig out my Pac-Man Christmas jumper for the festive season
It'll soon be time to dig out my Pac-Man Christmas jumper for the festive season

A Pac-Man Smash air hockey table at Namco Funscape at the Trafford Centre
A Pac-Man Smash air hockey table at Namco Funscape at the Trafford Centre

We've seen Pac-Man pop-up in a number of official and unofficial spots on our travels.

Credit Cruncher in Bristol
Credit Cruncher in Bristol

Pac-Man graffiti on the wall at Ghetto Golf in Liverpool
Pac-Man graffiti on the wall at Ghetto Golf in Liverpool

Munch Mart in Ipswich
Munch Mart in Ipswich

Munchies in Nottingham
Munchies in Nottingham

Munch in Bury
Munch in Burnley

Scof in Preston
Scof in Preston

Level in Preston
Level in Preston
 
Pac-Man graffiti in Luton
Pac-Man graffiti in Luton
 
The very nice official Pac-Man pin badge arcade cabinet set
The very nice official Pac-Man pin badge arcade cabinet set

Pac-Man ghost sticker in Düsseldorf, Germany
Pac-Man ghost sticker in Düsseldorf, Germany

Wednesday, October 09, 2019

The Brabazon Practice Putting Green at The Belfry

A look at the Brabazon Practice Putting Green at The Belfry.


The Brabazon Practice Putting Green at The Belfry

In September 2017 we visited The Belfry in Sutton Coldfield to play the Ryder Legends Mini Golf course as part of the inaugural American Golf National Adventure Golf Championship.


As well as playing the 12-hole Ryder Legends Mini Golf course we also visited the Brabazon Practice Putting Green at The Belfry.

The Brabazon Practice Putting Green at The Belfry

666 views on my Halloween minigolf guest blog post at Minigolfnews

Spooky!

Halloween minigolf guest blog post at Minigolfnews
My Halloween-themed minigolf guest blog post has had 666 views so far!

Crazy Golf at The Whitehouse Inn, Truro

There's a Crazy Golf course at The Whitehouse Inn, Truro, Cornwall.


I believe the minigolf course at The Whitehouse Inn is a fairly new addition to the pub. It's great to see a pub beer garden including the activity.


The course is a fibreglass layout made by the team at DK Fibreglass. I wonder if it's got a Humpty on it?


Crazy Golf course at Verulamium Park in St Albans
The course at The Whitehouse Inn is similar to this fibreglass layout we've seen a number of times on our travels

We've always been surprised at how few pubs have a miniature golf course set-up for customers. We'd certainly be inclined to visit more pubs and spend longer in them if they had fun activities too.

Crazy Golf at The Railway Hotel in Garswood, St Helens
The last pub beer garden Crazy Golf course we visited was at The Railway Hotel in Garswood, St Helens

We're looking forward to having a game on The Whitehouse Inn's Krazy Golf course when we're next down that way.

Back in 2015 we spent two weeks exploring the south west coast and visited 62 minigolf courses. Only one of those was at a pub.

Beer garden Crazy Golf at The Alexandra Inn Penzance, Cornwall
Beer garden Crazy Golf at The Alexandra Inn in Penzance, Cornwall

Minigolf is certainly booming at the moment and we have seen an increase in venues opening up as alternatives to the pub by offering a crazy, mini or adventure golf course combined with a bar, food and cocktails.

My Minigolf and Crazy Golf courses in Pub Beer Gardens blog post is due an update too as there have been a few more pub courses open up around the country.

Visit The Whitehouse Inn website for more information on the course.

Related blog posts:
- Pub
- Pubs
- Cornwall
- Crazy Golf

Tuesday, October 08, 2019

The last remnants of Blockbuster Video in Manchester

A look at the remains of the Blockbuster Video store in Fallowfield.


A look at what's left of Blockbuster Video on Fallowfield Retail Park
A look at what's left of Blockbuster Video on Fallowfield Retail Park

A few years ago I blogged about seeing the last signs of the Tandy in Hitchen and how it brought back memories of my first job as a Saturday Boy at a Tandy franchise in my home town.


While in Manchester today I found remnants of another dead brand - Blockbuster Video.


The last remnants of Blockbuster Video in Manchester
Oh, what happened to this sign?

The last remnants of Blockbuster Video in Manchester
Dark clouds gathered over the brand in 2013

The store sign is prominently displayed on both sides of the main sign at Fallowfield Retail Park and the windows of the shop still retain Blockbuster signage.

The last remnants of Blockbuster Video in Manchester
A sign in the shop window

Most of the shelves inside have been removed, but the walls and desks clearly retain the brand colours of Blockbuster.

The last remnants of Blockbuster Video in Manchester
These window graphics still look fresh

The last remnants of Blockbuster Video in Manchester
Clearly still recognisable as a Blockbuster

The last remnants of Blockbuster Video in Manchester
The shelves are bare

There is currently one independently owned franchise still operating as Blockbuster in the USA and you can find it in Bend, Oregon.

The last remnants of Blockbuster Video in Manchester
Quik Drop box to nowhere

A documentary about the rise and fall of the brand called The Last Blockbuster is coming soon.

Interestingly you can play through a 'Blockbuster' store at the Ghetto Golf indoor miniature golf course at The Custard Factory in Digbeth, Birmingham.

Ghetto Golf at the Custard Factory in Birmingham
The Blockbuster hole at Ghetto Golf in Birmingham

When I was a student I was one of Geoffrey's Helpers at Toys R Us. Most of the former stores have been converted into new stores, Stockport's is now The Range. I wonder if any of the old signage for the Toys R Us brand will still be visible in the next 5-10 years?

Do you have a favourite defunct brand? Are the remains of an old brand still visible near where you live or work? Do let me know.


Related posts:
Blockbuster
- Tandy in Hitchin
Remembering Tandy
- RadioShack in Lytham Saint Annes

Putting Green at The Headland Hotel in Newquay

A look at the Putting Green at The Headland Hotel in Newquay, Cornwall.


During the summer of 2015 we visited 62 miniature golf courses on a two week road trip of the South West of England.


One of those was the Putting Green at The Headland Hotel in Newquay.

Putting Green at The Headland Hotel in Newquay

Putting Green at The Headland Hotel in Newquay

Putting Green at The Headland Hotel in Newquay

Happy World Octopus Day

Today is World Octopus Day.


Octopus at Castleford Adventure Golf
The lurking octopus in Castleford

International Octopus Day is the perfect time to celebrate these creatures of the deep.


We've seen quite a few octopuses on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.


Olga the Octopus at Southend Pier Crazy Golf
Olga the Octopus at Southend Pier Crazy Golf

A kraken on the pop-up Pirate Adventure Golf at the Centre MK in Milton Keynes
A kraken on the pop-up Pirate Adventure Golf at the Centre MK in Milton Keynes

An octopus on the Pirate Island Adventure Golf course at Lyons Robin Hood Holiday Camp in Rhyl
Another kraken, this one was on the Pirate Island Adventure Golf course at Lyons Robin Hood Holiday Camp in Rhyl

Surfside Crazy Golf at Pensarn Beach in Abergele
Playing the Sea Dwellers Crazy Golf course at Pensarn Beach in Abergele

Crazy Golf course on Southend Pier
Playing the Olga the Octopus hole on Southend Pier

5 Star Crazy Golf at Bainland Country Park, near Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire
The lesser-spotted octopus obstacle on a DK Fibreglass Crazy Golf course

5 Star Crazy Golf at Bainland Country Park, near Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire
The course had five cups on each green. It's the only course of its kind we've played. It's also the only course I've shot a 'perfect' round on

A destructive octopus at the indoor Pirate Adventure Mini Golf course in Blackpool
A destructive octopus at the indoor Pirate Adventure Mini Golf course in Blackpool

A cephalopod on the Sea Dwellers Crazy Golf course at The Golden Palm Resort, Chapel St Leonards, near Skegness
A cephalopod on the Sea Dwellers Crazy Golf course at The Golden Palm Resort, Chapel St Leonards, near Skegness

An octopus on the fibreglass Crazy Golf course at the MiniLinks in St Annes on the Sea
An octopus on the fibreglass Crazy Golf course at the MiniLinks in St Annes on the Sea

An octopus in the glow-in-the-dark section of Mr Mulligan's Lost World Adventure Golf course in Stevenage
An octopus in the glow-in-the-dark section of Mr Mulligan's Lost World Adventure Golf course in Stevenage
 
The kraken on the pop-up Pirate Mini Golf course at the Galleria Shopping Centre in Hatfield
The kraken on the pop-up Pirate Mini Golf course at the Galleria Shopping Centre in Hatfield

Have you seen any octopus obstacles on a crazy, minigolf or adventure golf course? Do let us know where they were.

Monday, October 07, 2019

The Crazy World of Minigolf Tour - an infographic

A look at the last 13 years of our crazy golfing adventures.

Infographic about the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Related blog post:

Sunday, October 06, 2019

New Adventure Golf course opening in North Shields

A new Adventure Golf course is opening at the Everyone Entertained activity centre in North Shields.


There will be a new Adventure Golf course at the first Everyone Entertained leisure and activity centre in North Shields

As well as the 18-hole dinosaur Adventure Golf course Everyone Entertained will also be home to a laser tag arena, high and low rope courses, an adventure soft play centre, an arcade, high-tech quest rooms and virtual paragliding!


Everyone Entertained is planned to open in Summer 2020.


Check out the Everyone Entertained website for more information.

Crazy Golf on the cliff at Tolcarne Beach in Newquay

Another lost Crazy Golf course at Tolcarne Beach in Newquay.


During the summer of 2015 we spent two weeks on a minigolf tour of the South West of England.


There used to be a Crazy Golf course on the cliff at Tolcarne Beach in Newquay.


Tolcarne Beach in Newquay

The course has been removed and the area is now a car park.

Tolcarne Beach in Newquay
They graveled over paradise and put up a parking lot

A wacky waving inflatable arm flailing tube man in Ashton-under-Lyne

Spotting a wacky waving inflatable arm flailing tube man in Ashton-under-Lyne.


A wacky waving inflatable arm flailing tube man advertising Albion Mill Carpets in Ashton-under-Lyne
A wacky waving inflatable arm flailing tube man advertising Albion Mill Carpets in Ashton-under-Lyne

On my travels last month I saw three wacky waving inflatable arm flailing tube men. They're always fun to see and I'd gone quite a while without seeing any.


A wacky waving inflatable arm flailing tube man advertising Albion Mill Carpets in Ashton-under-Lyne
It's always fun seeing airdancer advertising

So it was a nice surprise to see one advertising Albion Mill Carpets while we were exploring Ashton-under-Lyne.



Last month I saw a wacky waving inflatable arm flailing tube man on The Clubhouse Stoke's Crazy Golf course in Newcastle-Under-Lyme, another advertising Mr Bubbli's Car Wash in Leicester and an airdancer advertising Stockport Powder Coating Ltd.

Happy National Mad Hatter Day

Today, 6th October, is National Mad Hatter Day.


Guinness World Record of 'Largest Gathering of People Wearing Boater Hats' in Luton
A lot of hats in Luton

The occurrence reminded me of the time Emily and I helped break the Guinness World Record of 'Largest Gathering of People Wearing Boater Hats' while we lived in Luton back in 2014.


The event was organised by the Museum Makers team and saw 797 people turn out for the record attempt and SMASH the previous record of 250 boater wearers.


Guinness World Record of 'Largest Gathering of People Wearing Boater Hats' in Luton
A pair of mad hatters

Luton is famous for it's hat industry. As is our new home town of Stockport!

Both football clubs are known as The Hatters and both towns have hat musuems.

The similarities don't end there as both towns are also under flight paths. You could call Stockport 'The Luton of the North', or Luton 'The Stockport of the South'. Though I can't imagine anyone would.

In fact it was the growth of the hat trade in Luton that contributed to the decline of the hat industry in Stockport.

Video from the official Guinness World Record attempt for the 'Largest Gathering of People Wearing Boater Hats' held at Wardown Park in Luton on Saturday 16th August 2014.

Saturday, October 05, 2019

Crazy Golf at Tolcarne Beach in Newquay

Looking for the Crazy Golf course at Tolcarne Beach in Newquay.


During the summer of 2015 we spent two weeks on a minigolf tour of the South West of England.


While we found the hut for the Crazy Golf at Tolcarne Beach in Newquay the course itself had gone.

Crazy Golf at Tolcarne Beach in Newquay

Friday, October 04, 2019

Junior Brown's amusements in Paignton, Devon

During the summer of 2015 we embarked on a minigolf tour of the South West of England.

We called in at Junior Brown's amusements Paignton, Devon, but unfortunately we were a year or so late to play the UV indoor Crazy Golf course there as it had been removed.

Junior Brown's amusements in Paignton, Devon

My bloggiest year to date

2019 is my bloggiest year since I first posted on the 21st December 2006. I've published 451 posts, including this one, so far this year.


My previous best was 448 posts in 2011.


It's not really surprising I've written so much this year when you consider all of the new minigolf courses opening, new gluten free places to eat at, miniature railways we've found and courses we've visited.


The Ham & Egger Files now contains 3,387 posts and has received more than 1.5 million page views.

Victoria Park Crazy Golf course in Scarborough
At the Victoria Park Crazy Golf course in Scarborough. We hit our milestone 900th minigolf course visit while in the seaside town this summer

Thank you to everyone who reads the blog, shares links on social media, comments on posts, contributes and guest blogs here. It's all very much appreciated.

I wonder if 2019 will be the first year I reach 500 blog posts?

Please do give our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour a Like on Facebook, watch our YouTube channel, follow us on Twitter @putting_gott and @Ems_Lems, and subscribe to our minigolf newsletter.

Eight years ago in Southsea

Looking back at a revisit to Treasure Island Adventure Golf in Southsea.


We recently celebrated the milestone 13th year of our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. The very first course we played was the Victory Trail at Treasure Island Adventure Golf in Southsea.


Christopher and Richard Gottfried at Treasure Island Adventure Golf in Southsea
This photo was taken eight years ago when we were celebrating five years of our Crazy Golf adventures

At the end of that road-trip to Southsea in 2011 we'd played 276 courses, with visits made to 430 courses overall.


We've now visited 925 courses, playing 528 of them - some of them multiple times.

When our travels began there were around 600 courses in the UK. That number has grown massively in recent years and the game is booming.

Thursday, October 03, 2019

Putting Green at Allen House Grounds in Guildford

Not playing the Putting Green at Allen House Grounds in Guildford, Surrey.


Allen House Grounds in Guildford

On a visit to Guildford, Surrey back in April 2012 my friend and minigolf rival Oliver 'The Machine' Florence competed in a number of sports and games. One of those wasn't playing Putting at Allen House Grounds as the course was not yet open for the season.

Jabberwocky Maze at Allen House Grounds in Guildford
The Jabberwocky Maze at Allen House Grounds in Guildford was 'open'

Pitch and Putt at Roundham Head in Goodrington Sands, Devon

A look at the Pitch and Putt course at Roundham Head in Goodrington Sands.


Pitch and Putt at Roundham Head in Goodrington Sands, Devon

During the summer of 2015 we visited 62 mini golf courses on a tour of the South West of England.


One of those was the Pitch & Putt course at Roundham Head, Goodrington Sands, Paignton, Devon.


Pitch and Putt at Roundham Head in Goodrington Sands, Devon

It wasn't open at the time of our visit.

Pitch and Putt at Roundham Head in Goodrington Sands, Devon
Bunkered

Pitch and Putt at Roundham Head in Goodrington Sands, Devon

Pitch and Putt at Roundham Head in Goodrington Sands, Devon

Luckily the Mini Golf course at Goodrington Sands was open. That became the 600th course we visited in the UK.