Castle Bingo’s Bootle club has reopened after a burglary prompted a police investigation and forced the venue to close temporarily.
The Stanley Road bingo club was closed for several hours on Tuesday morning after offenders broke in overnight and stole cash.
According to Merseyside Police, the break-in happened sometime between 11pm on Monday, July 6, and 8.50am on Tuesday, July 7, prompting a forensic examination of the popular bingo venue.
The club later confirmed it would reopen for its evening session after initially announcing an unexpected closure.
Police appeal for information
A Merseyside Police spokesperson said officers were called following reports of a burglary at Castle Bingo on Stanley Road.
Detective Inspector Edward Barr said:
“We are in the very early stages of our investigation and are appealing for anyone with information to come forward.
“Although this happened either late at night or early in the morning, the premises is located on a busy road so if you were driving on Stanley Road and have a dashcam, please check to see if you captured anything. Similarly, if you live in the area and saw anything, let us know.
“Burglaries can have a devastating economic impact on our local businesses. When they are left out of pocket it can impact the livelihoods of those who work there and also the people who use the service.
“We remain committed to supporting our local businesses and will continue working with them on the precautions they can take to prevent such crimes while also bringing offenders to justice.”
Police confirmed that cash was stolen during the burglary and inquiries remain ongoing, with officers reviewing CCTV footage and speaking to potential witnesses.
Club temporarily closes before evening reopening
Castle Bingo informed customers of the disruption through its official Facebook page shortly after 11am.
The club said:
“Due to unforeseen circumstances, our Bootle club is temporarily closed.
“Please keep an eye on this page for any update.”
Later that afternoon, the operator confirmed the venue would reopen, telling customers the club would be “open as usual this evening.”
Visitors arriving during the day found the front shutters closed with a notice reading: “Closed for today, sorry.”
Forensic teams attend the scene
Witnesses reported a significant police presence outside the venue throughout Tuesday.
Three forensic vans were seen parked near the junction of Stanley Road and Merton Grove, while officers cordoned off a side entrance to the building with police tape.
Local residents told reporters they had heard reports of a break-in overnight, although police have not released any details about how offenders gained entry.
A long-standing Bootle bingo venue
Castle Bingo Bootle is one of the best-known bingo clubs in the Liverpool area and has served the local community for more than a decade. Since last month’s closure of Mecca Bingo Bootle, its importance to the local community has increased even further.
The venue became part of the independent Castle Bingo chain after the company acquired several former Gala Bingo clubs in 2011, including the Bootle site. Since then, it has remained a popular destination for regular bingo sessions, slots and community fundraising events, attracting players from Bootle, Seaforth, Litherland and across north Liverpool.
The club is one of six venues operated by Castle Bingo, a family-owned bingo business headquartered in South Wales.
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