A much-loved bingo hall in the seaside town of Hastings is set to reopen after closing its doors in February 2023.
The Deluxe Bingo Club and Gaming Centre is located at Pelham Place, a prime spot on the seafront, and has a rich history. It was a cinema and a social club before becoming a bingo hall for the past 40 years.
The Deluxe Bingo Club in Hastings has a fascinating history tied to the town’s entertainment culture. Originally opened as a cinema in 1921, the building was known as The Gaiety Cinema. It was part of a broader movement during the early 20th century, where grand entertainment venues were designed to host a variety of performances and film screenings.
After several decades as a cinema, The Gaiety underwent changes as cinema attendance began to decline in the mid-20th century. The venue transitioned to a bingo hall during the 1960s and became The Deluxe Bingo Club. This change reflected a national trend in the UK, where many cinemas were repurposed for bingo to meet the increasing popularity of the game.
The Deluxe Bingo Club quickly became a cherished venue for local residents, offering not just bingo games but also a community-focused atmosphere. It was a place where people gathered regularly for entertainment and socialization.
The venue maintained its retro charm, with some of its original architectural features still visible. It remains a part of Hastings’ heritage and a symbol of how entertainment venues evolved over time to meet changing public interests.
New Beginnings
From Friday, December 6, the wonderful game of Bingo will return to the ground floor, and a smaller-scale bingo club will be installed.
Linked Bingo will be called from 10am until 11pm every day, with National Bingo Game tickets on sale for the 2pm and 8pm Big Jackpot Games.
Afternoon and Evening sessions will bring all the fun of the Bingo in-house every day – guaranteeing £1000s to be won at the Deluxe.
Jeremy Godden, Director of The Godden Gaming Organisation said of the reopening:
“We are working towards Easter 2025 to fully relaunch Sussex’s Premier Bingo Venue. In the meantime, visit us to enjoy your Bingo in our ground floor bingo and slots lounge, or visit Palace Amusements at White Rock for more Casino Slots.”
Locals Welcome Reopening
Despite its popularity and historical significance, the venue cited no specific reasons for its closure. Although, at the time, the management did not release detailed public statements about the closure, it reflected broader trends affecting the UK bingo industry, such as declining attendance and increasing operational costs. These challenges, coupled with competition from online gaming and changing leisure habits, have led to the closure of a huge chunk of traditional bingo halls across the UK. Bingo Daily estimates around 40% of all UK Bingo halls have been lost since the pandemic.
Locals seemed to overwhelmingly welcome the decision to reopen the bingo club. A Facebook post announcing its reopening gathered over 200 likes and a whole host of supporting comments.
One person commented:
“Omg!! I hope this is true. It’s been much missed by a lot of people especially the elderly people who enjoyed a day/evening out and also everyone else that used to attend so seeing this has made me smile with glee..the bingo hall gave you an evening out to socialise so can’t wait for opening night cos we’ll be there. ”
Another fan added:
“About time. Really hope it does open as nothing for the adults to do apart from pubs and some clubs, most people just want a night of fun and maybe a hope of a win.”
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