Sunday, December 06, 2020

Deane Video Centre - a lost video shop

A look at Deane Video Centre aka Valji's Convenience Store on Wigan Road in Deane, Bolton, Greater Manchester.

Dean Video Centre in Bolton

The Premier Express convenience shop isn't a video shop anymore.

Premier Stores is another convenience store brand owned by Tesco.

Last month we found a Video Box Office sign in a Happy Shopper shop in Ilkeston.

There is still a video shop - with lots of VHS tapes - operating in Bolton. You can find B.V.C - Bolton Video Centre in Little Lever. It's well worth a visit to step back in time.

Related blog posts:

- Video Shops

Saturday, December 05, 2020

Hot tapes

You can't get burnt at that price.

VHS video tapes in a Stockport charity shop

Minigolf course visit 900 - a year ago today

We visited our 900th miniature golf course in the British Isles a year ago today.



Pirate Cove Adventure Golf at New York Thunderbowl in Kettering
We had a brilliant time at the New York Thunderbowl. The 9-hole adventure golf layout was a good challenge and we'd visit again 

Check out the New York Thunderbowl website for more information, opening times and prices for all of the activities at the centre.

Our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour


When our minigolfing adventures began in 2006 there were 600 miniature golf courses in the UK. We visited our 600th course at Goodrington Sands in Paignton, Devon. There are now well over a thousand places to play the game.

We've been to a total of 956 courses to date. In the last 14 years a number of new courses have come and gone, older courses have been updated or refurbished, while some layouts have been lost forever.

Our 900th course visit, including overseas venues, was at the North Bay Crazy Golf course in Scarborough in the summer of 2019.

We've been to 39 minigolf courses in eleven overseas countries including Australia, Austria, Belgium, Finland, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Poland, Singapore, Spain, Sweden and the USA.

Our stop off at the Thunderbowl was en route to visit family and friends in Suffolk. Something we haven't been able to do this year.

Last year we hit 82 courses. This year we've been to 46 courses, including revisits, with 15 of the layouts being new courses to us. During the coronavirus pandemic we've been able to visit eight courses, playing two of them.

We had been on schedule to reach our 1,000th course this year and had a very strong start to 2020, visiting 20 courses in the first 20 days of January!

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Friday, December 04, 2020

Travel in 2020

I've barely travelled outside of Greater Manchester this year so it was nice to 'get away from it all' with a trip to Miami, California and Italy this afternoon.

Miami Sun Centre, California Wines Express and Little Italy on Wigan Road in Deane, Bolton
Miami Sun Centre, California Wines Express and Little Italy on Wigan Road in Deane, Bolton

These shops are all on the Wigan Road in Deane, Bolton.

Related blog posts:

- Holidays at home - Stockport, 2020

- A postcard from Stockport

Wednesday, December 02, 2020

Toys R Us at the Riverside Retail Park in Nottingham

A look at a lost shop in Nottingham.

Many thanks to my friend and minigolf rival Jam Trubridge for sending over a snap of the old Toys R Us store at the Riverside Retail Park in Nottingham.

Toys R Us in Nottingham. Photo by James Trubridge, November 2020

It's great to see the signage is still up.

It's another store for us to visit in the future as soon as it's safe to do so.

It'll be nice to meet up with Jam too as there are a lot of minigolf courses in Nottinghamshire we have yet to play on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Former Toys R Us stores

Sadly Toys R Us closed in the UK in April 2018. Luckily there are still remnants of the brand on some retail parks in the UK. I worked in the Gipsy Lane store in Luton, Bedfordshire back in the year 2000.


We took at look at the old Toys R Us store at the Central Retail Park in Ancoats, Manchester just prior to its demolition in March 2019.

Popeyes in Chesterfield

A look at Popeyes takeaway in Chesterfield.


Popeyes takeaway in Chesterfield.

We've seen other Popeyes takeaways in Blackpool, Southport and Edinburgh.

Monday, November 30, 2020

Chrizy Golf - Christmas Crazy Golf

A look back at the Chrizy Golf Masters crazy golf competition in Manchester.


Chrizy Golf - Christmas Crazy Golf in Manchester

I won the Chrizy Golf Masters miniature golf tournament in Manchester eight years ago today.

Chrizy Golf - Christmas Crazy Golf in Manchester

Time flies!

Chrizy Golf - Christmas Crazy Golf in Manchester

Back on the 30th November 2012 the first - and to date only - Chrizy Golf Masters minigolf tournament was held on a festive-themed pop-up crazy golf course at Piccadilly Place in Manchester.

Chrizy Golf - Christmas Crazy Golf in Manchester

Chrizy Golf scorecards

The Chrizy Golf course was the 313th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Chrizy Golf - Christmas Crazy Golf in Manchester

Chrizy Golf - Christmas Crazy Golf in Manchester

The Chrizy Golf course was gone once the 2012 festive season was over and the building remained empty, or used for other pop-ups, until the team at Junkyard Golf made it their home for another minigolf course. That one was there for a couple of years. They have since moved on and can be found at a permanent venue at First Street in the city.

Related blog posts:

Kansas Fried Chicken in Mauldeth Road

A look at the Kansas Fried Chicken shop in Mauldeth Road, Manchester.


Another of the 'KFCs' we've seen on our travels.

Kansas Fried Chicken in Mauldeth Road
There's a lovely bit of brickwork outside the shop in Mauldeth Road

Related blog posts:

Sunday, November 29, 2020

Grainger Games in Hyde

Another week and another Grainger Games.


Grainger Games in Hyde

Last week we spotted the old Grainger Games store at Stretford Mall in Manchester. This weekend we stumbled upon the old shop at the Clarendon Square shopping centre in Hyde, Tameside.

Grainger Games in Hyde
It's been an interesting year seeing social distancing signage alongside long lost shops

Grainger Games was founded in 1996 and ceased operations on the 28th March 2018.

Grainger Games in Hyde
A sad sign

It was a brand with shops in the North of England and Scotland, so I only became a regular shopper there when I moved to Stockport back in 2016.

Grainger Games in Hyde
While we were there the lights inside the shop came on!

Sea of Thieves on the Xbox One at Grainger Games in Hyde
Sea of Thieves on Xbox One are 'new' in

Sea of Thieves on the Xbox One at Grainger Games in Hyde
Let there be light!

Related blog posts:

Saturday, November 28, 2020

Make it a Blockbuster night

At my local (long closed) video store.


Blockbuster Video in Fallowfield, Manchester

What are you watching tonight? Stranger Things for us.

Friday, November 27, 2020

The Dull Men's Club 2021 Calendar

A look ahead to the Dull Men's Club Calendar for 2021.


The Dull Men's Club

The new Dull Men's Club Calendar will be available shortly.

The Dull Men's Club 2021 Calendar

We featured in the club's 2017 calendar for our relentless mission to visit and document every miniature golf course in the UK.

You'll be able to find us somewhere in the 2021 edition too.

The Dull Men's Club celebrates the ordinary and the life-changing magic of simple, everyday, run-of-the-mill things.

Check out the Dull Men's Club website for more information.

Crazier Golf at Boom: Battle Bar in Cardiff

A look at the 'Crazier Golf' course at Boom: Battle Bar in Cardiff, Wales.


Crazier Golf at Boom: Battle Bar in Cardiff. Photo by Simon Brown, November 2020

Many thanks to my friend and minigolf rival Simon Brown who sent me some photos from his visit to play the 'Crazier Golf' course at the new Boom: Battle Bar in Cardiff, Wales.

The course differs from 'normal' crazy or minigolf (whatever that may be) and some of the holes include time limits, while others don't require the use of a putter at all!

Crazier Golf at Boom: Battle Bar in Cardiff. Photo by Simon Brown, November 2020

Crazier Golf at Boom: Battle Bar in Cardiff. Photo by Simon Brown, November 2020

Crazier Golf at Boom: Battle Bar in Cardiff. Photo by Simon Brown, November 2020

Crazier Golf at Boom: Battle Bar in Cardiff. Photo by Simon Brown, November 2020

Crazier Golf at Boom: Battle Bar in Cardiff. Photo by Simon Brown, November 2020

Crazier Golf at Boom: Battle Bar in Cardiff. Photo by Simon Brown, November 2020

Crazier Golf at Boom: Battle Bar in Cardiff. Photo by Simon Brown, November 2020

Crazier Golf at Boom: Battle Bar in Cardiff. Photo by Simon Brown, November 2020

Crazier Golf at Boom: Battle Bar in Cardiff. Photo by Simon Brown, November 2020
You have to use hand pumps on the final hole!

For more information on the 9-hole Crazier Golf course visit the Boom: Battle Bar website.

Boom: Battle Bar in Cardiff's Brewery Quarter is the second indoor competitive socialising venue from the brand. As well as the crazy golf course you can play darts, axe throwing, ping pong, shuffleboard, VR games, arcade games and more there. The first Boom: Battle Bar opened in Norwich.

Thursday, November 26, 2020

Wonder Golf opening in Hastings

A new pop-up crazy golf course is opening in Hastings.


A new pop-up crazy golf course is opening in Hastings

The seaside town of Hastings will be home to a new pop-up indoor crazy golf course next month.

Wonder Golf is planning to open in the old Hastings Observer newspaper offices in the town centre and will operate for a month between the 4th December 2020 and 3rd January 2021.

Each of the holes on the crazy golf course will pay tribute to the heritage and cultural events of the Hastings & St Leonards area.

Visit the Wonder Golf website and Facebook Page for more information.

Christmas Jumper 2020

I now declare that the festive season may begin.


Lidl's Christmas jumper for 2020
Lidl's Christmas jumper for 2020

Toys R Us at the Wyvern Retail Park in Derby

A look at a relic from a lost time.


Toys R Us at Wyvern Retail Park in Derby
The front of the store

It was marvellous to find the old Toys R Us store at Wyvern Retail Park in Derby.

Toys R Us at Wyvern Retail Park in Derby
A corner of the store

Sadly Toys R Us ceased trading in the UK in April 2018.

Toys R Us at Wyvern Retail Park in Derby
All of the big signs are still in place

Toys R Us at Wyvern Retail Park in Derby
The rear and side of the store

Luckily there are still remnants of the brand on some retail parks in the UK.

I worked in the Gipsy Lane store in Luton, Bedfordshire back in the year 2000. I got the job shortly after arriving in the town to study at the university.

Toys R Us at Wyvern Retail Park in Derby
A magical place

Thanks to Blast From The Past on Instagram for the heads-up about the Derby store still being there.

If you know of any other old Toys R Us shops do let me know.

More photos from our trip to Toys R Us at Wyvern Retail Park in Derby


Toys R Us at Wyvern Retail Park in Derby
The container loading bay. When I worked at Toys R Us I spent parts of my evening shifts unloading the containers at the Luton store

Toys R Us at Wyvern Retail Park in Derby
A lovely old sign

Toys R Us at Wyvern Retail Park in Derby
Look at the markings in the car park bay on the left

Toys R Us at Wyvern Retail Park in Derby
One part of the trolley bays is still there

Other former Toys R Us stores

This year we've also been to the old Toys R Us stores at Gemini Retail Park in Warrington, the Festival retail park in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent and at the Deepdale shopping centre in Preston.

We took at look at the old Toys R Us store at the Central Retail Park in Ancoats, Manchester just prior to its demolition in March 2019.

Other lost brands

Our travels have seen us spot the remnants of a number of old and defunct brands, including Woolworths in Stoke-on-Trent, Tandy in Hitchin, RadioShack in Lytham Saint Annes, Kwik Save in Barrow-in-Furness and Blockbuster Video stores in Fallowfield, Manchester, Colne, Lancashire, Prescot, Merseyside and Chester, Cheshire.

Sunday, November 22, 2020

Grainger Games. A lost video game shop brand

This is the Stretford Mall location.


Grainger Games in Stretford Mall

The company was founded in 1996 and ceased operations on the 28th March 2018.

Grainger Games in Stretford Mall

You won't find a PS5 there, but there's still a rack of UFC3 games for the XBOX ONE and PS4 in there.

Grainger Games in Stretford Mall

As a brand with shops in the North of England and Scotland I only became a regular shopper there when I moved to Stockport in 2016.

Pac-Man street art by Gorse Hill Studios in Stretford

Found underneath Stretford in Manchester.


Pac-Man street art by Gorse Hill Studios in Stretford

Pac-Man street art by Gorse Hill Studios in Stretford

Link:

Thursday, November 19, 2020

New crazy golf course for Gourock

Gourock Park Bowling Club is planning to create a new crazy golf course.


Gourock Park Bowling Club is planning to create a new crazy golf course

We look forward to playing the 9-hole crazy golf course on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour in the future. We haven't been to Gourock on our previous travels in Scotland. It'll be nice to get back up there.

Gourock Park is home to a Putting Green and this will be redeveloped as part of the plans to transform the park.

Links: