Saturday, February 17, 2024

Mini Golf in Maryport, Cumbria, June 2023

Playing a round at the Lake District Coast Aquarium Crazy Golf course in Maryport.


The Lake District Coast Aquarium Crazy Golf course in Maryport
The Lake District Coast Aquarium Crazy Golf course in Maryport

Back in April 2012 we swung by the Lake District Coast Aquarium in Maryport, Cumbria while en route to Scotland as we'd heard about the minigolf course there. Unfortunately we arrived just after 5pm so couldn't have a game. The Maryport Crazy Golf course was the 469th course visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Luckily in June 2023 we were able to return and this time managed a round on the Swedish Felt B-Run type of minigolf course.






Check out this blog post to see more of the course.

May is Coeliac Awareness Month

The month of May is Coeliac Awareness Month.


Coeliac Disease and the gluten free diet

What is Coeliac Disease?

Coeliac Disease ('Celiac' in the USA and Canada) is a lifelong autoimmune condition where the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue. In Coeliac Disease the immune system mistakes substances found inside gluten as a threat to the body and attacks them. This can trigger a number of painful, horrible, stressful and uncomfortable symptoms.

In the UK it is estimated that 1 in 100 people have the condition.

Coeliac Awareness Month 2024

This year Coeliac UK - the charity for people with Coeliac Disease - is on a mission to find the 1 in 100 people in the UK with coeliac disease and help guide them on the road to recovery.

Visit the Coeliac UK website and Coeliac Awareness Month page for more information.

Living a gluten free life

Having suffered from a range of symptoms for around ten years I finally received a positive diagnosis of Coeliac Disease following some 'interesting' and in-depth tests and procedures in 2008! It came as a relief to finally have a name for the mysterious cause of my illnesses and ailments, but at the time I was only given a brief summary and told that I'd have to "cut down on bread and beer". It was only later when I met with a gastroenterologist and a dietitian that I found out that the only treatment for people with Coeliac Disease is a strict, life-long gluten free diet.

My life as a Coeliac in LEGO form
My life as a Coeliac in LEGO form

You can read more about my gluten free journey in this case study on the This Is MedTech website - "When eating gluten-free isn’t a choice".

My Coeliacversary

This year marks my 16th year as a Coeliac! Time flies eh.

How should I celebrate my Coeliacversary this year...?

The old Blockbuster Video store in Nuneaton


The old Blockbuster Video store in Nuneaton

The old Blockbuster Video store in Nuneaton

The old Blockbuster Video store in Nuneaton
A ghost sign of the torn ticket logo at the back of the store

Finding other old Blockbuster Video shops.

It's always fun to see ghost signs, remnants of old & dead brands and interesting signage while out and about on our travels. Since I found the remains of the Blockbuster Video store in Fallowfield, Manchester in October 2019 I've been intrigued to see the brand still has a lingering presence on the high street. The last Blockbuster Video shop ceased trading in the UK in December 2013!

Our travels have taken us to several former Blockbuster stores:

Friday, February 16, 2024

Australian Adventure Golf at Adlington Golf Centre in Macclesfield

A new Australian-themed Adventure Golf course is opening at Adlington Golf Centre in Macclesfield, Cheshire.


A new Australian-themed Adventure Golf course is opening at Adlington Golf Centre in Macclesfield, Cheshire


It'll be another new course for us to visit on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Minigolf at Retrodome in Barnsley

The Retrodome arcade in Barnsley, South Yorkshire is adding a minigolf course.


The Retrodome arcade in Barnsley, South Yorkshire is adding a minigolf course

Retrodome - a retro arcade in Barnsley - will soon be home to a new indoor minigolf course.

Check out the Retrodome website for more information.

As fans of minigolf AND retrogaming this sounds like a superb mix!

It'll be nice to visit Barnsley on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Thursday, February 15, 2024

Woolworths in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent

The last Woolworths shop in the UK closed in January 2009 so it was brilliant to see this frontage looking fairly unchanged!


Woolworths in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent
Woolworths in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent

We first spotted the store in Longton while driving through the town in 2019 and returned in 2020 for a closer look. We were very surprised to see the branding still in place.

Woolworths in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent
Woolworths in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent

Woolworths in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent
Woolworths in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent

Woolworths in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent
Woolworths in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent

Woolworths in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent
Woolworths in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent

Woolworths in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent
Woolworths in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent

Puttcast minigolf podcast - "Global Mini Golf Trends"

Check out the new episode of the Puttcast minigolf podcast - "Global Mini Golf Trends - An Interview With Richard Gottfried".


Puttcast minigolf podcast

It was brilliant being a guest on the show with my friends, fellow minigolf enthusiasts (and sometimes competition rivals!) Tom Loftus and Pat Sheridan and diving into the world of minigolf as it is now - and what the future may hold...

Tuesday, February 13, 2024

The old Blockbuster Video Express store in Billingham

A look at the old Blockbuster Video Express store in Billingham town centre, Teesside.


The old Blockbuster Video Express store in Billingham


The old Blockbuster Video Express store in Billingham

The shopfront was very well maintained and it was nice to see the original signage.

The old Blockbuster Video Express store in Billingham

The old Blockbuster Video Express store in Billingham

The old Blockbuster Video Express store in Billingham

Finding other old Blockbuster Video shops.


It's always fun to see ghost signs, remnants of old & dead brands and interesting signage while out and about on our travels. Since I found the remains of the Blockbuster Video store in Fallowfield, Manchester in October 2019 I've been intrigued to see the brand still has a lingering presence on the high street. The last Blockbuster Video shop ceased trading in the UK in December 2013!

Our travels have taken us to several former Blockbuster stores:

Sunday, February 11, 2024

American Football Minigolf in Sweden

A look at the minigolf course at O'Leary's bar and entertainment centre at the Mall of Scandinavia in Solna.


Sports World Mini Golf at O'Leary's bar and entertainment centre at the Mall of Scandinavia in Solna, Stockholm, Sweden

We visited our 801st minigolf course and 32nd overseas at O'Leary's bar and entertainment centre at the Mall of Scandinavia in Solna, Stockholm, Sweden in February 2018.

Sports World Mini Golf at O'Leary's bar and entertainment centre at the Mall of Scandinavia in Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
Hole 12 was Gridiron themed

Sports World Mini Golf at O'Leary's bar and entertainment centre at the Mall of Scandinavia in Solna, Stockholm, Sweden

The Sports World Minigolf course was a 14-hole indoor layout with sports themed holes.

  


Check out the O'Leary's website for more information.

New miniature golf courses in the UK

Information about new adventure golf, crazy golf and miniature golf courses opening in the UK.


Information about new adventure golf, crazy golf and miniature golf courses opening in the UK

If you're looking for information about new adventure golf, crazy golf and miniature golf courses in the UK, please do check out this blog post and the New course tag.

If you know of a new course opening, do let me know too.

Our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

We've been to 1,044 miniature golf courses on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour since 2006.


997 of them have been in the British Isles.

Crazy Golf on Southend Pier - 1.3 miles out to sea!
Crazy Golf on Southend Pier - 1.3 miles out to sea!

It's been brilliant to see such a wide-range and variety of places to play the game.

See the list of courses we've visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour page.

Friday, February 09, 2024

Indoor Mini Golf at Ballerz Clubhouse in Farnham

There's an indoor minigolf course at Ballerz Clubhouse in Farnham, Surrey.


There's an indoor minigolf course at Ballerz Clubhouse in Farnham, Surrey

Ballerz Clubhouse opened in August 2023. The venue is home to a 9-hole indoor mini golf course.

Check out the Ballerz Clubhouse website for more information.

It's another new course for us to visit on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Spinners Crazy Golf & Bowling in Solihull

A new indoor minigolf course is opening in Solihull.


A new indoor Spinners Crazy Golf & Bowling venue is opening in Solihull

The Spinners Crazy Golf & Bowling venue will be located in Touchwood shopping centre.

Spinners Crazy Golf & Bowling in Solihull will be the third Spinners location. There are also venues in Reading and Plymouth.

Visit the Spinners Crazy Golf & Bowling website for more information.

Spinners Crazy Golf & Bowling in Reading, September 2022
Spinners Crazy Golf & Bowling in Reading, September 2022

It'll be a new course for us to visit on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

One Under Mini Golf opens in Liverpool

A new One Under crazy golf venue is now open at the Lyceum Building in Liverpool.


A new One Under crazy golf venue is now open at the Lyceum Building in Liverpool

The location is home to two indoor 9-hole minigolf courses.

There are also One Under minigolf venues in Glasgow and Brighton.

Visit the One Under website for more information.

The One Under courses will be new additions to our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Thursday, February 08, 2024

The old Blockbuster Video Express store in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex (April 2023)

A look at the former Blockbuster Video Express store in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex.


Blockbuster Video Express store in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex (April 2023)

We visited the old Blockbuster Video Express store in Westcliff-on-Sea in April. It was nice to see some of the signage was still in place, even though there was a lot of scaffolding up around it.

Blockbuster Video Express store in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex (April 2023)

I've since heard that all of the Blockbuster signage has now been removed.

Blockbuster Video Express store in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex (April 2023)

Blockbuster Video Express store in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex (April 2023)

Blockbuster Video Express store in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex (April 2023)

Blockbuster Video Express store in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex (April 2023)


It's always fun to see ghost signs, remnants of old & dead brands and interesting signage while out and about on our travels. Since I found the remains of the Blockbuster Video store in Fallowfield, Manchester in October 2019 I've been intrigued to see the brand still has a lingering presence on the high street. The last Blockbuster Video shop ceased trading in the UK in December 2013!

Our travels have taken us to several former Blockbuster stores:

Sunday, February 04, 2024

Obstacle Golf at Hope Park in Keswick, Cumbria, June 2023

We revisited the Obstacle Golf course at Hope Park in Keswick, Cumbria during our short break in the Lake District last summer.


Obstacle Golf at Hope Park in Keswick, Cumbria
Obstacle Golf at Hope Park in Keswick, Cumbria

There's also a grass Putting layout and a Pitch & Putt at Hope Park (and Boules) and there are some wonderful views of the Skiddaw mountain from the courses.

We first visited the park back in April 2012 and played the Putting course on that occasion.





Check out this blog post to see more of the course.

Crazy Golf at Glebe Park in Bowness-on-Windermere, June 2023

A look at the Crazy Golf course at Glebe Park in Bowness-on-Windermere.


Crazy Golf at Glebe Park in Bowness-on-Windermere
Crazy Golf at Glebe Park in Bowness-on-Windermere

We managed to have a game on the Crazy Golf course at Glebe Park in Bowness-on-Windermere during our short break in the Lake District last summer.



The course became the 567th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour, having previously been visited in 2012.

Check out this blog post to see more of the course

Mini Golf at Game On! in Carlisle

There's a new minigolf venue in Carlisle, Cumbria.


There's a new minigolf venue in Carlisle, Cumbria

A new minigolf course has opened at Game On! in Carlisle.

The venue is also home to tenpin bowling.

Check out the Game On! website for more information.

It's another new course for us to visit on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Saturday, February 03, 2024

The old Blockbuster Video store in Southampton

A look at the former Blockbuster Video store in Southampton.


Blockbuster Video in Southampton

We visited the old Blockbuster Video store on Portswood Road in Southampton, Hampshire back in May 2021.

Blockbuster Video in Southampton

Blockbuster Video in Southampton

Work was underway to open the location as a new business. Luckily there were still some traces of the Blockbuster brand.

Blockbuster Video in Southampton

Blockbuster Video in Southampton

Blockbuster Video in Southampton

Finding other old Blockbuster Video shops.


It's always fun to see ghost signs, remnants of old & dead brands and interesting signage while out and about on our travels. Since I found the remains of the Blockbuster Video store in Fallowfield, Manchester in October 2019 I've been intrigued to see the brand still has a lingering presence on the high street. The last Blockbuster Video shop ceased trading in the UK in December 2013!

Our travels have taken us to several former Blockbuster stores:

Friday, February 02, 2024

New mini golf at Russell Park in Bedford

Bedford's Russell Park will be home to a new mini golf course.


Bedford's Russell Park will be home to a new mini golf course

The new mini golf course at Russell Park in Bedford, Bedfordshire will be a 12-hole layout and will replace the existing grass miniature golf course.

The Putting Green at Russell Park in Bedford, July 2010
The Putting Green at Russell Park in Bedford, July 2010

The Russell Park outdoor mini golf course will be themed with holes and obstacles containing local history.

The Putting Green at Russell Park in Bedford, July 2010
The Putting Green at Russell Park in Bedford, July 2010

The Putting Green at Russell Park in Bedford was the 184th course played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour in July 2010 and we played it several times when we lived nearby.