Wednesday, June 02, 2021

Pac-Man at Southampton Inside/Out

We spotted Pac-Man and a blue ghost while walking around Southampton last month!


Pac-Man at Southampton Inside/Out

They were created as part of the social distancing floor markings as part of the Southampton Inside Out dining campaign to create more places to dine out during the coronavirus pandemic.

Pac-Man at Southampton Inside/Out

Blue Ghost at Southampton Inside/Out

Pac-Man at Southampton Inside/Out

Only Foods and Sauces in Southampton

I've spotted a few different homages to Only Fools and Horses on my travels over the years - the latest being Only Foods and Sauces in Swaythling, Southampton.


Only Foods and Sauces in Southampton

Only Foods and Sauces in Southampton

Only Foods and Sauces in Southampton

Check out the Only Foods and Sauces Facebook Page for more information.

East Park Mini Golf course in Southampton, Hampshire

A visit to the East Park Mini Golf course in Southampton, Hampshire.


East Park Mini Golf course in Southampton

We were recently down in Southampton and while there swung by the East Park Mini Golf course.


Nu Game Arcade in Southampton

It was a nice surprise to find the Nu Game Arcade in Southampton last month. It was also brilliant that we happened to be the first customers on the opening day too!


Nu Game Arcade in Southampton

We spotted the sign for the Nu Game Arcade on the first floor as we were leaving the Marlands shopping centre. We're glad we did as it's been a while since I've played at an arcade.

Nu Game Arcade in Southampton

It was brilliant to have a go on two of my favourite games - Metal Slug on the Neo Geo MVS and Robocop.

Nu Game Arcade in Southampton

Check out the Nu Game Arcade Facebook Page for more information.

Elephant Parade in Southampton

Finding an art trail in Southampton.


Elephant Parade in Southampton, May 2021

We enjoy finding and following art trails on our travels and we spotted two while in Southampton. The first was The Mayor's Mayflower Mosaic Trail and the second was the Elephant Parade - the world’s largest art exhibition of decorated elephant statues - where there were 25 elephant statues at the Westquay shopping, dining and entertainment centre.

Elephant Parade in Southampton, May 2021

Elephant Parade in Southampton, May 2021

Elephant Parade in Southampton, May 2021

Elephant Parade in Southampton, May 2021

Visit the Elephant Parade section of the Westquay website for more information.

Toys R Us in Southampton

A visit to the old Toys R Us store on the Western Esplanade in Southampton, Hampshire.

We made a trip to the former Toys R Us store at Western Esplanade in Southampton last month.

Toys R Us in Southampton

There was still a lot of signage up on the large old unit.

Toys R Us in Southampton

I worked in the Gipsy Lane Toys R Us store in Luton, Bedfordshire back in the year 2000.

Toys R Us closed in the UK in April 2018. It's interesting to see that there are still remnants of the brand on some retail parks in the UK. 

Check out my blog posts below about other former Toys R Us stores:

Blockbuster Video in Southampton

A visit to the former Blockbuster Video store in Southampton.

We made a visit to the old Blockbuster Video store on Portswood Road in Southampton, Hampshire last month.

The former Blockbuster Video store in Southampton

Work was underway to open the location as a new business but luckily there were still some traces of the Blockbuster brand on the wonderful Art Deco building.

The former Blockbuster Video store in Southampton

One of the best things still visible was this elaborate QuikDrop box!

The former Blockbuster Video store in Southampton

Toys R Us in Basingtoke

A visit to the old Toys R Us store at the Brighton Hill Retail Park in Basingstoke, Hampshire.


Toys R Us store at the Brighton Hill Retail Park in Basingstoke, Hampshire

We visited the old Toys R Us store in Basingstoke last month. There was still a lot of signage on display at the former store.

I worked in the Gipsy Lane Toys R Us store in Luton, Bedfordshire back in the year 2000.

Toys R Us closed in the UK in April 2018. It's amazing to see that there are still remnants of the brand on some retail parks in the UK. 

Check out my blog posts below about other former Toys R Us stores:

Blockbuster Video in Basingstoke

A visit to the former Blockbuster Video store in Basingstoke, Hampshire.

We took a look at the old Blockbuster Video store at the Chineham shopping centre in Basingstoke last month. The unit is still vacant, but somewhat recognisable as a Blockbuster shop - especially as the QuikDrop box is still there.

Former Blockbuster Video store at Chineham shopping centre in Basingstoke

Former Blockbuster Video store at Chineham shopping centre in Basingstoke

With our interest piqued by the discovery of the abandoned Blockbuster Video store in Fallowfield in 2019 we've now visited a number of former Blockbuster locations, including:

Tuesday, June 01, 2021

Princess Parade Crazy Golf on Blackpool's North Shore

The Crazy Golf course at Princess Parade, Blackpool is now open.


The Princess Parade Crazy Golf course on Blackpool's North Shore

Blackpool and the Fylde Street Angels and Blackpool Fulfilling Lives joined forces to refresh and reopen the Princess Parade Crazy Golf course on Blackpool's North Shore in 2019 and a number of other people and groups have been a part of the project. You can see what the course has looked like over the last few years in some of my previous posts.

Check out the Princess Parade Crazy Golf Facebook Page and the media release about the activity for more information.


We're looking forward to getting back to Blackpool again later this summer and playing a few more rounds on the course.

Here's a video of me playing the Princess Parade Crazy Golf course on Blackpool's North Shore at the launch event on Friday 28th May 2021.

Old Miniature Railway at Marine Gardens in Fleetwood

There used to be a Miniature Railway at the Marine Gardens Pitch & Putt and Crazy Golf venue in Fleetwood.


Old Miniature Railway at Marine Gardens in Fleetwood

We spotted the remains of a miniature railway while taking a walk round the Pitch & Putt and Crazy Golf course at Marine Gardens in Fleetwood.

Old Miniature Railway at Marine Gardens in Fleetwood

Old Miniature Railway at Marine Gardens in Fleetwood

Old Miniature Railway at Marine Gardens in Fleetwood
You can still see - and walk through - the old miniature railway tunnel on the perimeter of the Pitch & Putt miniature golf course

Old Miniature Railway at Marine Gardens in Fleetwood

New Crazy Golf course at Scunthorpe Bowl

A new 9-hole outdoor crazy golf course is now open at Scunthorpe Bowl.


A new 9-hole outdoor crazy golf course is now open at Scunthorpe Bowl

The course opened last weekend and can be found at the Scunthorpe Bowl tenpin bowling centre on Warren Road in Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire.

More information, opening times and prices can be found on the Scunthorpe Bowl website.

Minigolf and tenpin bowling

Graffiti Golf in Blackpool

We passed by the Graffiti Golf course on Blackpool prom on our recent trip to the seaside resort.


Graffiti Golf in Blackpool

We first played there back in 2009 when it was a Pirate Adventure Golf course. It was the 151st played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. Since then the venue has changed hands and look a couple of times. We played the Graffiti Golf version of the layout in August 2018.

Graffiti Golf in Blackpool
The course was a Merlin Adventure Golf venue for a time

Graffiti Golf in Blackpool

Check out the Graffiti Golf website for more information.


Graffiti Golf in Blackpool

The Garfield Hotel in Blackpool

Spotting The Garfield Hotel in Blackpool.


The Garfield Hotel in Blackpool

We noticed The Garfield Hotel while walking around Blackpool last week. What a gimmick.

The Garfield Hotel in Blackpool

We might have to stay there on a future visit to the seaside resort to see what it looks like inside.

The Garfield Hotel in Blackpool

Check out The Garfield Hotel's Facebook Page for more information.

A Scooby Doo Ice Cream Van

Spotting a Scooby Doo Ice Cream Van at Mayflower Park in Southampton.


A Scooby Doo Ice Cream Van

It's always fun seeing ice cream van artwork and we saw this Scooby Doo Ice Cream Van at Mayflower Park in Southampton, Hampshire last month.

A Scooby Doo Ice Cream Van

The Mayor's Mayflower Mosaic Trail in Southampton

Finding an art trail in Southampton.


It's always fun finding art trails when out exploring and while in Southampton we found two. The first was The Mayor's Mayflower Mosaic Trail.

The Mayor's Mayflower Mosaic Trail in Southampton

The 400 mosaics were placed around the city to mark the 400th anniversary of the sailing of the Mayflower from the UK to America.

The Mayor's Mayflower Mosaic Trail in Southampton

The Mayor's Mayflower Mosaic Trail in Southampton

The Mayor's Mayflower Mosaic Trail in Southampton

The Mayor's Mayflower Mosaic Trail in Southampton

The Mayor's Mayflower Mosaic Trail in Southampton

The Mayor's Mayflower Mosaic Trail in Southampton

The Mayor's Mayflower Mosaic Trail in Southampton

The other art trail was the Elephant Parade - the world’s largest art exhibition of decorated elephant statues.

Visit the The Mayor's Mayflower Mosaic Trail section of the Southampton council website for more information.

Thursday, May 27, 2021

New Crazy Golf centre opening in Norwich

Putt Noodle Crazy Golf planned for the Castle Quarter in Norwich, Norfolk.


Putt Noodle Crazy Golf planned for the Castle Quarter in Norwich, Norfolk

Norwich city centre could soon be home to a new indoor minigolf venue as Putt Noodle Crazy Golf is looking to create three 9-hole themed layouts at the site in the Castle Quarter shopping and entertainment centre.

It'll be a new set of courses for us to visit on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. My brother and charter member of the tour doesn't live too far away so I'm sure we'll swing by for a game when it opens.

Retailtainment minigolf

Putt Noodle Crazy Golf is proposed to open in a retail unit in the centre and is the latest in the new wave of retail entertainment (retailtainment) activities opening up around the UK.

Indoor minigolf

When our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour began in 2006 there were only two indoor places to play the game, both in East Anglia. Now there are around 100 indoor miniature golf courses around the UK, with more planned and opening all the time.

Guest blog - Planning a BIG minigolf break

Check out our guest blog post over on the Putterfingers Crazy Golf website at "Planning a BIG minigolf break".

The Crazy Putting Challenge at Hamptworth Golf Centre
The Crazy Putting Challenge at Hamptworth Golf Centre - one of 18 courses we visited on a road-trip in May 2019

Playing the Holbeck Putting Green in Scarborough
The Holbeck Putting Green in Scarborough. The course has been open since 1925. It was the 901st visited overall on our travels and one of seven miniature golf courses we went to on the trip back in June 2019