Just days after Majestic Bingo was placed into administration, with the future of nearly 150 jobs in question, its former Managing Director – Mark Jepp, the man who called in administrators, has already started a new job as Head of Machines at rival bingo retailer Mecca Bingo.
Despite a massive leap in turnover recorded in the company’s last set of accounts in December 2021, Majestic Bingo’s owners – Managing Director Mark Jepp and Finance Director Gary Bennett called time on the independent retail bingo chain, citing the cost of living crisis and increased energy costs.
With administrators called in and many people’s jobs on the line, Mr. Jepp announced on his LinkedIn page that he has already started a new role at Mecca Bingo. The industry veteran has approaching 40 years in the UK bingo, casino, and gaming machine industry. Prior to establishing Majestic Bingo from the ruins of Top Ten Bingo in 2014, Mr. Jepp had previous stints as Head of Gaming Machines at Gala Bingo and Head of Amusements at the Rank Group, Mecca Bingo’s owners. It is understood that Mr. Jepp requested from the administrators to make his role redundant to enable a quick transition into his new role.
source: Linkedin
Gary Bennett, the part-owner and Finance Director, was appointed the Finance Director in late 2014. According to information available in Companies House, Mr. Bennett was the former finance director of Walkers Bingo and subsequently merged with Top Ten Bingo. When Top Ten Bingo saw its untimely demise in 2014, owing millions to creditors, it appears Mr. Bennett resigned a few days before the liquidators were called in, and only a few weeks later, he emerged as the Finance Director of the newly formed Majestic Bingo Ltd, that then acquired the eight remaining Top Ten sites after less than a year of trading.
Majestic Bingo’s Sad Demise
Whilst Bingo Daily has been given great joy in reporting the ongoing success of the UK’s largest independent bingo retailer – Club 3000 Bingo, it is sad to report on the demise of Majestic Bingo, once the UK’s largest independent bingo retail chain.
The company enjoyed profitability and growth until 2019. Since then, COVID, a fire in its Spalding venue, director resignations, and cub sell-offs have blighted the Spalding-based firm.
Many loyal staff and patrons were shocked by the surprise move to place Majestic Bingo in the hands of administrators. There have been reports, yet to be confirmed, that Mr. Jepp wouldn’t even turn his camera on when he announced over a teams call that the business was entering administration. There have also been reports, yet to be confirmed, that Mr. Bennett will also be exiting from the Majestic Bingo’s ruins this week as well.
All in all, if the reports are true, a sorry state of affairs. Bingo Daily has reached out for comment, but at the time of publication, has received no response yet.
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