To mark National Bingo Week 2026, Buzz Bingo Tooting officially unveiled a prestigious commemorative Blue Plaque on Saturday 27 June, celebrating the remarkable history of the Grade I-listed building that once welcomed some of the biggest names in music and entertainment.
Funded entirely through public subscription, the plaque permanently recognised the popular bingo venue’s legacy as the former Tooting Granada, where legendary performers including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Frank Sinatra, Jimi Hendrix and Dusty Springfield all appeared during its illustrious years as one of Britain’s leading entertainment venues.
A community campaign three years in the making
The unveiling marked the culmination of a passionate three-year community campaign led by local heritage champion Geoff Simmons. Together with a dedicated group of Tooting residents, Simmons organised guided heritage walks, school talks and public presentations to ensure the building’s extraordinary story was not forgotten.
Buzz Bingo, one of the UK’s top bingo brands, partnered with the campaign to help make the community’s ambition a permanent reality.
Reflecting on the achievement, Geoff Simmons said:
“As we approach the fiftieth anniversary of bingo being played at this location, our plaque is a perfect celebration of the magic that made this area ‘The Vegas of South London’. It’s extraordinary that so many people really didn’t know about the stars who once performed here. This plaque will change all that and add to the affection in which the building is held. I love the fact that almost 100 years on from Sidney Bernstein’s ambition to create somewhere spectacular which would light up people’s lives, today they can still enjoy affordable entertainment in a jaw-droppingly beautiful setting.”
Buzz Bingo proud to preserve a landmark
The General Manager of Buzz Bingo Tooting said the business was honoured to play its part in protecting one of Britain’s most spectacular entertainment buildings.
They said:
“We are absolutely thrilled to host the unveiling of this plaque during National Bingo Week. This building has always been a people’s palace, and while the entertainment has changed over the decades, our role as a warm, welcoming community hub remains exactly the same. As proud custodians of this spectacular Grade I listed landmark, we are honoured to protect its unique architectural history while continuing to give our players a fantastic modern venue to catch up and play every single week.”
The remarkable history of Tooting Granada
Opened in 1931, the Tooting Granada was one of cinema pioneer Sidney Bernstein’s flagship venues and was designed to leave audiences speechless before the film had even begun.
The magnificent 3,000-seat cinema featured an extraordinary Gothic interior created by renowned Russian theatre director and designer Theodore Komisarjevsky. Visitors entered through a grand baronial foyer before passing into an opulent “Hall of Mirrors”, inspired by the Palace of Versailles, leading into an auditorium unlike any other in Britain.
Its lavish medieval-inspired décor, intricate plasterwork, dramatic arches and ornate detailing have survived largely intact for almost a century.
In recognition of its exceptional architectural significance, Historic England upgraded the building to Grade I listed status in 2000, describing it as possessing:
“Without doubt the most lavishly decorated interior of any cinema in Britain.”
Today, fewer than three per cent of listed buildings enjoy Grade I status, placing the former Granada among the nation’s most important historic buildings.
Bingo helped save the building
The venue entered a new chapter in 1976 when it became a bingo hall, a transition widely credited with safeguarding the building from demolition at a time when many of Britain’s grand cinemas disappeared forever.
Much of the original theatre remains intact today, including the stage, orchestra pit and striking medieval wall panels that once formed the backdrop to performances by some of the world’s greatest entertainers.
Now operated by Buzz Bingo, the venue continues to serve thousands of local people every year, demonstrating how a historic building can successfully balance heritage preservation with modern entertainment.
A fitting National Bingo Week celebration
The day’s celebrations attracted local residents, historians, former concert-goers and heritage supporters, who gathered outside the landmark building on Mitcham Road.
Festivities began with the final performance of the Show-Time Spectacular on the front steps before speeches from local historian Lynda Cazeaux, author Allen Eyles, community champion Jeevah, and Richard Gray of the Cinema Theatre Association.
The afternoon concluded at 4pm with the official unveiling of the commemorative Blue Plaque. Installed using a sensitive, non-invasive method that protected the Grade I-listed façade, the plaque now provides a permanent reminder of the building’s extraordinary contribution to Britain’s entertainment history.
The unveiling served as both a celebration of National Bingo Week and a tribute to a much-loved South London landmark whose remarkable story continues to bring together bingo players, music fans, local residents and heritage enthusiasts alike.
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