Friday, January 19, 2024

New Crazy Golf at Claremont Pier in Lowestoft

Claremont Pier in Lowestoft, Suffolk will be home to a new pirate-themed crazy golf course.


Claremont Pier in Lowestoft, Suffolk will be home to a new pirate-themed crazy golf course

A new pirate crazy golf course is planned to open at Claremont Pier in Lowestoft.

The 18-hole indoor crazy golf course will be called Pirates at the Clarement and is planned to open before Easter this year.

Visit the Claremont Pier website for more information.

We've been to Lowestoft several times on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour over the years. It's a nice seaside town and we're looking forward to revisiting.

When it opens, the new course in Lowestoft will become the easternmost crazy golf course in the British Isles.

Wildforest Falls Adventure Golf in Bognor Regis

A look at the Wildforest Falls Adventure Golf course in Bognor Regis, West Sussex.


Wildforest Falls Adventure Golf at Hotham Park in Bognor Regis
Wildforest Falls Adventure Golf at Hotham Park in Bognor Regis

This Adventure Golf course at Hotham Park in Bognor Regis was created on the same spot that was once the location of a Putting Green.

Hotham Park in Bognor Regis

I visited the course in September 2022 when it became the 1,001st visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Wildforest Falls Adventure Golf at Hotham Park in Bognor Regis
Wildforest Falls Adventure Golf at Hotham Park in Bognor Regis

Wildforest Falls Adventure Golf at Hotham Park in Bognor Regis
Wildforest Falls Adventure Golf at Hotham Park in Bognor Regis

Wildforest Falls Adventure Golf at Hotham Park in Bognor Regis
Wildforest Falls Adventure Golf at Hotham Park in Bognor Regis

Wildforest Falls Adventure Golf at Hotham Park in Bognor Regis
Wildforest Falls Adventure Golf at Hotham Park in Bognor Regis

Wildforest Falls Adventure Golf at Hotham Park in Bognor Regis
Wildforest Falls Adventure Golf at Hotham Park in Bognor Regis

Wildforest Falls Adventure Golf at Hotham Park in Bognor Regis
Wildforest Falls Adventure Golf at Hotham Park in Bognor Regis

Wildforest Falls Adventure Golf at Hotham Park in Bognor Regis
Wildforest Falls Adventure Golf at Hotham Park in Bognor Regis

Wildforest Falls Adventure Golf at Hotham Park in Bognor Regis
Wildforest Falls Adventure Golf at Hotham Park in Bognor Regis

Visit the Wildforest Falls Adventure Golf website for more information.


Wildforest Falls Adventure Golf at Hotham Park in Bognor Regis
A sign for Wildforest Falls Adventure Golf at Hotham Park outside Butlins Bognor Regis

Hotham Park in Bognor Regis

There's a miniature railway at Hotham Park in Bognor Regis
There's a miniature railway at Hotham Park in Bognor Regis

There are remnants of the old crazy golf course next to the new adventure golf layout
There are remnants of the old crazy golf course next to the new adventure golf layout

There are remnants of the old crazy golf course next to the new adventure golf layout
There are remnants of the old crazy golf course next to the new adventure golf layout

There are remnants of the old crazy golf course next to the new adventure golf layout
There are remnants of the old crazy golf course next to the new adventure golf layout

Petanque at Hotham Park in Bognor Regis
The petanque terrain was a new addition since my last visit to Hotham Park

Thursday, January 18, 2024

Crazy Golf at Pops Meadow in Gorleston-on-Sea

A look at the Crazy Golf course at Pops Meadow in Gorleston-on-Sea, Norfolk.


Crazy Golf at Pops Meadow in Gorleston-on-Sea
Crazy Golf at Pops Meadow in Gorleston-on-Sea

There used to be an Arnold Palmer Putting Course at Pops Meadow Putting Green in Gorleston-on-Sea. Back in May 2009 that layout became the 100th visited overall on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Crazy Golf at Pops Meadow in Gorleston-on-Sea
Crazy Golf at Pops Meadow in Gorleston-on-Sea

The Crazy Golf at Pops Meadow in May 2022 became the 985th visited on our travels since September 2006.

Crazy Golf at Pops Meadow in Gorleston-on-Sea
Crazy Golf at Pops Meadow in Gorleston-on-Sea


Pops Meadow in Gorleston-on-Sea
Pops Meadow in Gorleston-on-Sea

Saturday, January 13, 2024

Minigolf at Bahia Principe in Tenerife, Spain

A look at the minigolf course at the Sunlight Bahia Principe hotel in Tenerife.


Many thanks to my cousin Elaine for sending over these photos from her recent holiday to Tenerife.

Minigolf at the Sunlight Bahia Principe hotel in Tenerife. Photos by Elaine Jones, January 2024

It's brilliant seeing different minigolf courses around the world.

Minigolf at the Sunlight Bahia Principe hotel in Tenerife. Photos by Elaine Jones, January 2024

Minigolf at the Sunlight Bahia Principe hotel in Tenerife. Photos by Elaine Jones, January 2024

Minigolf at the Sunlight Bahia Principe hotel in Tenerife. Photos by Elaine Jones, January 2024

Minigolf at the Sunlight Bahia Principe hotel in Tenerife. Photos by Elaine Jones, January 2024

Minigolf at the Sunlight Bahia Principe hotel in Tenerife. Photos by Elaine Jones, January 2024

Minigolf at the Sunlight Bahia Principe hotel in Tenerife. Photos by Elaine Jones, January 2024

We haven't been to Tenerife on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour yet. Emily has been to Spain, Lanzarote and Majorca though.

Putt Putt Noodle Crazy Golf in Norwich

We swung by Putt Putt Noodle Crazy Golf in Norwich, Norfolk on our trip to the city at the end of the year.


Putt Putt Noodle Crazy Golf in Norwich (December 2023)

My brother, and charter member of the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour, has played there a couple of times and we're looking forward to a round there with him in the future.

Putt Putt Noodle Crazy Golf in Norwich (December 2023)
Those katakana characters on the left of the logo translate as 'Lucky'

As well as the Norwich location there are Putt Putt Noodle courses in Bedford, Poole and Telford. Check out the Putt Putt Noodle website for more information.

Crazy Golf at Mulligans Norwich

There's a Crazy Golf course at Mulligans in Norwich, Norfolk.


Crazy Golf at Mulligans Norwich (December 2023)
Crazy Golf at Mulligans Norwich (December 2023)

We swung by Mulligans in Norwich at the end of last year while staying in the city. The indoor course was very busy!

Crazy Golf at Mulligans Norwich (December 2023)
Crazy Golf at Mulligans Norwich (December 2023)

You can find Mr Mulligan's minigolf courses in Basildon, Birmingham, Bournemouth, Bristol, Cheltenham, Milton Keynes, Newcastle, Norwich, Nottingham, Romford, Sidcup, Stevenage, Tonbridge, Woking, and Worcester.

We played the Mulligans courses at the indoor location in Milton Keynes on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour last October.

Visit the Mr Mulligan's website for more information.

Mini Golf at Mission Classified in Grimsby

A new mini golf course is opening at the Mission Classified prison-themed escape room in Grimsby, Lincolnshire.


A new mini golf course is opening at the Mission Classified prison-themed escape room in Grimsby, Lincolnshire

The venue is planned to open in February 2024 and will be home to escape rooms, axe throwing, mini golf, and karaoke booths. 

Visit the Mission Classified website for more information.

The end of the Blockbuster Video store in Fallowfield, Manchester.

The abandoned Blockbuster Video store at Fallowfield Retail Park in Manchester, England has been demolished.


Blockbuster Video store in Fallowfield, Manchester

I spotted the remains of a Blockbuster Video store while driving to Manchester in October 2019 and have passed by many times since on my way to and from Manchester.

Blockbuster Video store in Fallowfield, Manchester
There are still two signs up on the main sign for the retail park

Until recently it was a very well preserved former Blockbuster shop - with some signage still intact, as well as the QuikDrop box, desks and counters intact.

Blockbuster Video store in Fallowfield, Manchester

Here's what the storefront looked like in January 2022.


Earlier this week demolition work started on several units at Fallowfield Retail Park, with the ex-Blockbuster also being knocked down to make way for a new Lidl supermarket.


Photos of the site (12th January 2024)


The former Blockbuster Video store in Fallowfield, Manchester, 12th January 2024

The former Blockbuster Video store in Fallowfield, Manchester, 12th January 2024

The former Blockbuster Video store in Fallowfield, Manchester, 12th January 2024

The former Blockbuster Video store in Fallowfield, Manchester, 12th January 2024

The former Blockbuster Video store in Fallowfield, Manchester, 12th January 2024

The former Blockbuster Video store in Fallowfield, Manchester, 12th January 2024

The former Blockbuster Video store in Fallowfield, Manchester, 12th January 2024

The former Blockbuster Video store in Fallowfield, Manchester, 12th January 2024

The former Blockbuster Video store in Fallowfield, Manchester, 12th January 2024

The former Blockbuster Video store in Fallowfield, Manchester, 12th January 2024

Blockbuster Video in the UK


The last Blockbuster Video shop ceased trading in the UK on the 16th December 2013.

Blockbuster Video entered the UK video rental market in 1989 following the purchase of Ritz Video.

In 2013 there were over 500 Blockbuster locations in the UK. Throughout that year the number dwindled until October when only 264 shops remained. On the 16th December 2013 all stores ceased operations.

At its peak in 2004 there were more than 9,000 Blockbuster stores around the world. 500+ of which were in England, Scotland and Wales. Interestingly in Northern Ireland the Xtra-Vision brand was used by the owners in-line with the Republic of Ireland.

Blockbuster certainly wasn't the first video rental shop brand, but it was at one time the market leader.

Blockbuster Video store locations we've visited on our travels


Urban Street Golf at Gravity Max in Liverpool

There's a Crazy Golf course at Gravity Max in Liverpool.


Urban Street Golf at Gravity Max in Liverpool (November 2023)
Urban Street Golf at Gravity Max in Liverpool (November 2023)

The indoor minigolf course at Gravity Max in the Liverpool ONE shopping and entertainment centre has a Big Apple theme.

Urban Street Golf at Gravity Max in Liverpool (November 2023)
Urban Street Golf at Gravity Max in Liverpool (November 2023)

Last April we visited Gravity Social in Northampton and won the pub quiz there - the first pub quiz we've played at a crazy golf course!

This was the first Gravity Max location we've been to and it looked amazing. There were so many different activities on offer, with a wide-range of people taking part. The augmented reality tenpin bowling looked cool and it's a version of the game we're yet to play.

Urban Street Golf at Gravity Max in Liverpool (November 2023)
Urban Street Golf at Gravity Max in Liverpool (November 2023)

As well as the Gravity Max venue in Liverpool there are also locations in Castleford and Wandsworth. The Wandsworth location also has Urban Street Golf.

Urban Street Golf at Gravity Max in Liverpool (November 2023)
Urban Street Golf at Gravity Max in Liverpool (November 2023)

Visit the Gravity website for more information on Gravity Max, Gravity Active and Gravity Social.


Advertising for the Urban Street Golf at Gravity Max in Liverpool (November 2023)
Advertising for the Urban Street Golf at Gravity Max in Liverpool (November 2023)

Advertising for Gravity Max in Liverpool (November 2023)
Advertising for Gravity Max in Liverpool (November 2023)

Advertising for the Urban Street Golf at Gravity Max in Liverpool (November 2023)
Advertising for the Urban Street Golf at Gravity Max in Liverpool (November 2023)