For more than half a century, Mecca Bingo clubs have been the heart and soul of communities up and down the country.
After seeing the number of its clubs nearly halve since COVID, it appeared that the Rank Group, which owns the Mecca brand, had turned the corner last year, increasing revenues and showing an impressive set of financial results.
However, for four Mecca Bingo clubs, which have been at the very centre of their communities for decades, the show is sadly over.
No one connected to the UK bingo industry likes to read bingo news about closures. Having survived COVID lockdowns and the cost-of-living crisis, bingo lovers would have been forgiven for thinking their bingo club was safe. Especially after Rachel Reeves made a surprise tax concession to bingo halls in the last budget.
However, for the Rank Group, it appears that there are still cuts to make and more profit to squeeze.
Exeter Club Closes After Decades of Service
Mecca Bingo’s Exeter club officially closed on 7 June following a consultation process announced earlier this year. The closure marked the end of one of the city’s best-known bingo venues.
The Exeter venue had served generations of local players and was regarded by many customers as an important social meeting place as well as a bingo club.
When the proposed closure was announced, customers and local representatives expressed concern about the impact on regular players who relied on the club for social interaction and entertainment.
Taunton Loses Historic Bingo Venue
The closure of Mecca Bingo Taunton has also brought the curtain down on an iconic venue with deep roots in the town’s entertainment history.
The club operated from the former Gaumont Palace cinema building, a landmark venue that opened in 1932 and had been part of Taunton’s leisure scene for decades before its conversion into a bingo hall 45 years ago.
source: Google.com
Top bands such as The Beatles, Queen, and The Rolling Stones previously played in the venue when it was a theatre in the 1960s.
Earlier this year, Mecca confirmed that the Taunton club had been placed under consultation as part of what the company described as “difficult decisions” affecting its estate. The venue, which is housed in a Grade II-listed building, ultimately closed on 7 June.
Merseyside Clubs Among Those Affected
In Merseyside, Mecca confirmed in May that two of its local clubs – in Birkenhead and St Helens had been proposed for closure as part of a review of the company’s portfolio. Both clubs closed on June 7th.
Before its closure, a spokesperson from Mecca Bingo said:
“It is with a heavy heart that we are proposing the closure of our Birkenhead and St Helens clubs on Sunday 7th June. The leases at both venues are due to end shortly and neither site has been commercially viable for some time.
“At Birkenhead, we have faced with considerable challenges as a result of the redevelopment of the town centre and car park.
“When combined with the significant repairs and maintenance requirements of both clubs, it makes it increasingly difficult for them to remain in operation.”
Why the Closures, and is There More to Come?
The main reason for the closures is that, according to the owners, some individual clubs are no longer generating enough profit to justify the cost of keeping them open, even though Mecca as a whole has recently returned to profitability.
Rank Group (Mecca’s owner) has been shrinking its estate for several years, reducing the number of Mecca venues from 84 clubs in 2019 to about 49 today. The company says a smaller network allows it to concentrate customers into fewer halls, offer larger prize pools, and improve cash generation.
Revenue has been growing, but customer visit numbers have been broadly flat or slightly down, making ‘weaker’ locations harder to sustain.
Mecca venues’ net gaming revenue rose about 5% year-on-year in the 2024/25 financial year, reaching roughly £140 million. Meanwhile, statutory operating profit improved significantly, moving from a £1.7 million loss in 2023/24 to a £5.6 million profit in 2024/25. More recent trading updates indicate continued growth, with Mecca venue revenue up around 5% again in 2025/26 and Rank expecting stronger profitability, aided by regulatory changes affecting bingo duty.
Undeniably, government policies that are increasing wage costs are impacting all businesses in the UK, not just retail bingo.
What’s interesting is that this isn’t simply a case of “bingo is dying.” Some Mecca Bingo venues are performing well, and Rank has reported revenue growth at Mecca. It is, however, important to note that Mecca’s underlying like-for-like operating profit in 2024/25 fell slightly (from about £3.6m to £3.4m) due to higher wage and other operating costs.
The company’s strategy appears to be to keep fewer, larger, stronger clubs and close venues where the building costs, lease terms, or local demand no longer make financial sense. The focus is on cash generation from fewer clubs and a more aggressive rationalisation of venues
It is, however, quite telling that even with leases running for at least another 18 months, the closures are being made now, rather than letting the clubs see out their natural lease term.
So, Bingo Daily would love to be proved wrong, but considering the haste of the closures, the company strategy of streamlining its assets, and the slight fragility of Mecca’s financial situation, this latest round of once popular bingo hall closures won’t be the last. Further selective closures remain possible, especially where buildings need major investment or customer numbers are weak, even if the overall Mecca business remains profitable.
The Cost of These Closures
One interesting sign is that Mecca Bingo’s main competitor, Buzz Bingo, believes younger adults can still be attracted to bingo if the experience is updated. Nearly half of recent new-customer cohorts have been aged 18–35, which is one reason Buzz is investing heavily in refurbishment and digital technology. Last year, Buzz Bingo spent a £25 million investment from Barclays Bank on modernising its 82 venues.
Meanwhile, Buzz Bingo has also made some high-profile acquisitions, including former Merkur clubs in Cricklewood and Northampton. The former Gala brand is also experimenting with ’boutique’ bingo halls and investing in technology to complement its pen-and-paper patrons.
Is it the end of Mecca Bingo? Absolutely not. It is still a much-loved and highly recognised bingo brand in the UK. It is profitable, and there is demand for bingo. However, too much streamlining by Mecca Bingo, and there won’t be much meat left on the bone to grow for the future.
The post Four Mecca Bingo Venues Closed in June. More to Come? appeared first on BingoDaily.