UK Bingo Club to Music Hall
A former Mecca Bingo UK land based club situated in Swindon could be turned into a Music Hall within the next 6 months if Swindon council allow plans to go ahead. According to ‘This is Wilshire’ a mystery backer has come forwards to give the derelict bingo club a new lease of life.
Plans have been submitted to turn the old Mecca Bingo building into a Regent Circus, which would have the capacity to hold around 1,200 people.
Mecca Bingo vacated the building last April, it was thought by locals that the building would end up being demolished, but these have apparently been dismissed by Swindon council. An unprecedented amount of land based bingo clubs have closed down within the past few years, but Mecca Bingo along with Gala Bingo still remain bingo giants within the bingo field.
Swindon Council’s cabinet member for culture and regeneration, Coun Phil Young said: “I hope that we can finish the work on the asbestos quickly and get the building prepared by the early part of next year. I think everyone would welcome a music venue in the town centre. This is an idea that came from the market place and the Mecca was mentioned as an ideal location.
Our UK bingo clubs may be on the decrease, but according to a recent report player numbers are up even though the UK is currently going through one its worst recessions in history. Some bingo players are now having to travel long distances to their nearest land based bingo club and gone has the slogan ‘local bingo’ for many, but by the looks of it they are making the trip.
During these turbulent financial times bingo players have come out in their thousands to show their support and love of their favourite pastime ‘bingo’, which has been great to see for the bingo industry as a whole. Some promotions put on by UK bingo clubs this year have even seen them having to put ‘full signs’ outside their doors, due to them being filled to capacity. Scenes like this had not been seen in years.
There does seem to be lots of positive feedback from local in Swindon to turn the disused Mecca Bingo club into a music venue, where once again this old building would hopefully become a great place for the community.
