Tuesday, September 28, 2021

A sign of the times

A sign from the 2021 fuel shortage crisis.


Petrol shortage sign at Texaco in Cale Green, Stockport
What a sign!

They didn't have any petrol there.

A bench on Blackpool promenade

A seat with a view in Blackpool.

A bench on Blackpool promenade

New Crazy Golf course heading to Sheffield

Sheffield will soon be home to a new Crazy Golf venue.


Gloryholes crazy golf is opening in Sheffield city centre

A new themed, adults-only Crazy Golf course called Gloryholes is opening in Sheffield

The 18-hole course, bar and diner will be located in a yet to be confirmed location in Sheffield city centre.

Gloryholes Golf is part of the Curious Venues group of bars and pubs. The first Gloryholes crazy golf course opened in Nottingham earlier this year.

Find out more on the Gloryholes indoor crazy golf course website and the Gloryholes Sheffield Instagram Account.

Social distancing at Freeman, Hardy & Willis

A look at some new decals on an old shop doorway mosaic.


We saw these modern day social distancing floor markings at the entrance of a charity shop while having a walk along Magdalen Street in Norwich last month.

Social distancing signs at a former Freeman, Hardy and Willis in Norwich, August 2021

The shop was once a branch of the national footwear chain Freeman, Hardy & Willis. All that remains of that brand is the lovely old advertising mosaic in the doorway.

Monday, September 27, 2021

New Crazy Golf course at Electric Thrill in East Kilbride

A new crazy golf course is opening at Electric Thrill in East Kilbride.


A new crazy golf course is opening at Electric Thrill in East Kilbride, Scotland

The minigolf layout is part of the new Electric Thrill arcade and crazy golf centre in East Kilbride, Scotland.

The venue is opening in October 2021.

Check out the Electric Thrill website for more information.


The course is a new one for us to visit on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

The Swingers Open Crazy Golf tournament

The Swingers Open Crazy Golf competition is taking place next month.


The Swingers Open Crazy Golf tournament is returning on Tuesday 5th October with teams of four players invited to take on the challenge at the Swingers City location.

Swingers West End Crazy Golf in London
Part of the prize is a party at the Swingers West End venue

The minigolf event is a partnership between Swingers Crazy Golf and Tanqueray  and will take place as part of London Cocktail Week.

More information can be found on the Swingers Crazy Golf website.

New Boom: Battle Bar planned for Ipswich

A new Boom: Battle Bar is planned to open in Ipswich, Suffolk.


A new Boom: Battle Bar could be opening in Ipswich, Suffolk.

The new competitive socialising venue in the Buttermarket shopping centre would be home to minigolf, shuffleboard, beer pong, axe throwing and more.

Check out the Boom: Battle Bar website for more information.


We played the 'Crazier Golf' course at the original Boom: Battle Bar in Norwich while on our recent Crazy World of Minigolf Tour trip to East Anglia.

Ipswich is Emily's home town and we regularly visit. It'll be interesting to see a Boom: Battle Bar in the town centre.

Friday, September 24, 2021

Swingers Crazy Golf in London

Swingers Crazy Golf teed-off in London seven years ago today.


We played the first Swingers Crazy Golf course back on the 24th September 2014. The indoor minigolf venue was initially a pop-up concept set-up in Shoreditch, London.

We attended the pre-launch event on the 24th, with the course opening to the public for the first time on the 25th September.

Swingers Crazy Golf in London, September 2014

The original Swingers Crazy Golf was the 581st miniature golf course we visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. We've now been to 973 courses since September 2006. When our travels began there were 'only' around 600 courses in the UK - and only two of those were indoor courses!

Swingers now

Since the first pop-up The Institute of Competitive Socialising have opened two more Swingers Crazy Golf venues in London and one in the USA.

Swingers West End Crazy Golf in London, October 2019
Swingers West End Crazy Golf in London, October 2019

The first Swingers Crazy Golf location in the USA is opened at Dupont Circle in Washington D.C. in June.

There are plans for a second Swingers Crazy Golf in the US with a venue being built at the new Virgin Hotel on Broadway in the Flatiron District of New York City.

Visit the Swingers Crazy Golf website for more information.

New Crazy Golf course in Towyn, Wales

There are plans for a new Crazy Golf course to open in Towyn, Wales.


There are plans for a new Crazy Golf course to open in Towyn, Wales

The minigolf layout is part of activity to also add an escape room to the youth centre on Towyn Road in Towyn.

Playing minigolf in Towyn

We've played minigolf in Towyn on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour before.

Lost and abandoned in Blackpool

A lost football and an abandoned flip flop on Blackpool promenade.


A lost football and an abandoned flip flop on Blackpool promenade.

Another Steals in Blackpool

Finding an old Steals in Blackpool.


The former Steals Factory Shop in Blackpool

There's still a Steals retail shop in Blackpool town centre.

Steals is a bargain clothes shop with branches in Blackpool, Preston, Accrington, Poulton-le-Fylde and Chorley.

Check out the Steals Facebook Page for more information.

Thursday, September 23, 2021

Crazy Golfing at Princess Parade in Blackpool

Playing the Princess Parade Crazy Golf course in Blackpool.


Princess Parade Crazy Golf course in Blackpool
Princess Parade Crazy Golf is on the North Shore in Blackpool

I was recently back in Blackpool and swung by the Princess Parade Crazy Golf course. Luckily I was just in time for a round on the 18-hole course.

Princess Parade Crazy Golf course in Blackpool
A view of the 18th hole

It was the first time I've had a game on the fully refurbished layout and it was a delight.

The course was created in the 1950's but had been in a state of disrepair for the last twenty years.

It now plays like a dream. I can't wait to get back for a few more goes on it.

Take a look at the photos of the front and back nine holes below.

Princess Parade Crazy Golf course in Blackpool
Holes 1-9

Princess Parade Crazy Golf course in Blackpool
Holes 10-18

I shot a round of 36 - with one hole-in-one and a dropped shot (on the 18th). The course record stands at 34, which is a very good score indeed.

Check out the Princess Parade Crazy Golf course Facebook Group for more information.


Reopening the abandoned North Shore course

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. Including me.

The base of the course itself has changed very little since it was first created in the late 1950's and it's wonderful that the area is easily recognisable from old postcards from the 1960s, 70s and 80s.

There have still been some very noticeable improvements to the course and the whole area it sits in. Most notable are the repairs to the obstacles as well as the addition of professional putting carpet to the holes. It makes the course very nice to play.

More information can be found in my blog post from the launch event in May, in one of my previous posts charting the progress on the refurbishment and this blog post from September 2020.

Woolworths ghost signs in Blackpool

A look at some ghost signs on a former Woolworths store on Blackpool promenade.


Woolworths ghost signs in Blackpool

I was recently in Blackpool and while walking along the seafront saw the ghost signs of an old Woolworths.


Woolworths ghost signs in Blackpool

Woolworths ghost signs in Blackpool

Woolworths ghost signs in Blackpool

The shop was most recently a Poundland. Before that it had been a TJ Hughes.

Woolworths and TJ Hughes ghost signs in Blackpool
Two ghost signs for the price of one



Woolworths ghost signs in Blackpool
Note the Covid-19 sign on the left. This itself is a bit of a ghost sign these days as little notice is taken of the warning anymore

Woolworths ghost signs in Blackpool
I'm a big fan of ghost signs


Other former Woolworths shops

It's fun seeing old & lost brands, ghost signs and retail relics. We saw a Woolworths ghost sign in Nuneaton in May this year. That was a nice surprise!

Like the Blackpool store, the Nuneaton shop site had also most recently been a Poundland and a TJ Hughes.

Wednesday, September 22, 2021

Cinnabon in the UK

I saw my first Cinnabon in the UK today.


Cinnabon at Rivington Services
You can get a cinnamon roll at Rivington Services on the M61

There are plans to open 150 Cinnabon outlets in the UK by 2025. The number currently stands at 13 stores.

Cinnabon at Rivington Services

I really fancy a cinnamon roll now.

Cinnabon at Rivington Services
USA vs the UK

It's always interesting seeing new and different brands entering the UK. In recent times Dunkin' and Nathan's Famous Hot Dogs have popped up on the high street.

Tuesday, September 21, 2021

Happy Miniature Golf Day 2021

Today is Miniature Golf Day!


Will you be celebrating the game today?

Playing The Himalayas course at the St Andrews Ladies' Putting Club in 2012
Playing The Himalayas - the world's first miniature golf course - at the St Andrews Ladies' Putting Club in 2012

There are two 'minigolf days' each year and Miniature Golf Day is always on the 21st September.

The other minigolf day is National Miniature Golf Day. That is always on the second Saturday in May. In 2022 that will be the 14th.

Monday, September 20, 2021

Gluten free at The Oxford Place in Leeds

Having my first meal out since March 2020.


We went out for dinner on Saturday. The location was our favourite restaurant - The Oxford Place in Leeds.

It was the first time I've had a meal out since March last year and the first meal Emily and I have had together since our last visit to The Oxford Place in December 2019!

We're very pleased to report that the food and service was superb, it always is.

I had 3.5 courses as I felt that I needed to treat myself. The .5 was a pre-starter starter of a portion of French Fries.

I then had the marvellous Posh Prawn Cocktail, followed by the Sea Bream, with the trio of Ice Creams (Cherry, Rum & Raisin and Honeycomb) for dessert.

Gluten free at The Oxford Place in Leeds

We're really looking forward to our next meal there already.

The Oxford Place is a must visit restaurant for anyone with Coeliac Disease or gluten intolerance.

Check out The Oxford Place's website for more information.


When you have Coeliac Disease dining out can be hard work at the very best of times, let alone during a pandemic!

Luckily we have found a handful of 100% gluten free places that are able to cater to the specific needs of people with Coeliac Disease. As well as The Oxford Place in Leeds there is Off the Wheaten Track in Altrincham, Remedy Kitchen in Manchester, the Wildcraft Bakery in Leeds and Gloof in Soham.

Tomorrow is Miniature Golf Day

Will you be celebrating the BIG minigolf day?


Miniature Golf Day is always on the 21st of September
Miniature Golf Day is always on the 21st of September

Miniature Golf Day originated in the USA, but with the popularity of minigolf growing internationally, players and courses celebrate the day in dozens of countries around the world.

Friday, September 17, 2021

The Lost City Adventure Golf's Treasure Hunt for Miniature Golf Day

The Lost City Adventure Golf is organising three city-wide treasure hunts to celebrate Miniature Golf Day.


The activity tees-off with a total of 150 golden tokens being hidden in Nottingham, Belfast and Hull on Tuesday 21st September, aka Miniature Golf Day. All three cities are home to a Lost City Adventure Golf centre and each area will have 50 coins to find.

Inca Gold from The Lost City Adventure Golf
Two pieces of Inca Gold from The Lost City. These are safely tucked away in the vaults of The Crazy Golf Museum

Each of the Inca Gold Coins is worth a free game at The Lost City and the treasure hunt runs until Sunday 26th September.

The Lost City Adventure Golf will be posting clues across social media to help find the gold tokens in the cities.

Visit The Lost City Adventure Golf website for more details.


Miniature Golf Day is the second of the year's two 'minigolf days' and is always on the 21st September. The other day is National Miniature Golf Day. That is always on the second Saturday in May.

It's nice to see a minigolf brand getting involved with Miniature Golf Day and the treasure hunt sounds like it'll be a really fun activity.

at The Lost City Adventure Golf in Nottingham
Playing in the BMGA English Open minigolf tournament at The Lost City Adventure Golf in 2014

We've played at The Lost City Adventure Golf in Nottingham on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour, but haven't been to Belfast for a few years and have not yet been to Hull on our travels. We're looking forward to playing at The Lost City's venues in both cities in the future.

Best Price in Clacton & Beyond!

These would've come in handy in the great toilet roll shortage of 2020.


Open 2 You Toilet Roll sign in Clacton

Halloween Adventure Golf at The Cow Putt in Uckfield

There will be Halloween Adventure Golf at The Cow Putt in Uckfield, East Sussex this October.


There will be Halloween Adventure Golf at The Cow Putt in Uckfield, East Sussex this October


The 18-hole farm-themed Cow Putt Adventure Golf course opened in July this year.

Visit The Cow Putt Facebook Page and Heaven Farm website for more information.