A Greater Manchester holidaymaker has been handed an extraordinary anniversary present after winning £250,000 on the National Bingo Game while enjoying a break in Bridlington.
Stephen Clarke, 67, was staying at Hawthorne Holiday Park with his wife Dawn when the couple decided to spend Monday evening at Regal Bingo Bridlington on 24 August.
More than 20 years after first taking up bingo, Stephen found himself celebrating the biggest win of his life when every number on his National Bingo Game ticket came up.
The £250,000 windfall comes during the couple’s 40th wedding anniversary year, with Stephen and Dawn already planning to use some of the money to enjoy a cruise and treat their family.
‘I could not believe I had won’
Stephen said the win came completely out of the blue, with the atmosphere inside the popular bingo club changing instantly as the result was confirmed.
“We love coming to the club when visiting the area. I could not believe I had won the jackpot. Everyone started cheering and clapping — the crowd here are so welcoming.
“We are still in shock and haven’t decided how to spend the money, but we will be treating our family. We also plan to go on a cruise, as it is our 40th anniversary this year.”
The couple have two grown-up sons and a two-month-old granddaughter and regularly visit Regal Bingo when holidaying in the area.
Second National Bingo jackpot at Regal in two years
Stephen’s win also adds another chapter to an extraordinary run of luck at Regal Bingo Bridlington.
He is the second holidaymaker to land a National Bingo Game jackpot at the club in just two years.
The previous winner was Sharon, a regular visitor to the area, who won £50,000 at the club in 2024.
Nikki Henshall, Director at Regal Bingo Bridlington, said the latest win had created an unforgettable atmosphere among the club’s customers.
“We are absolutely delighted for Stephen and Dawn. We can’t believe this is the second holidaymaker in two years to win the National Bingo Game jackpot.
“Just two years ago, regular visitor Sharon won £50,000 here, so it certainly is a lucky place to visit, whether you’re local, day-tripping or on holiday.
“The atmosphere in the club was amazing, and our regular customers were absolutely delighted for Stephen and Dawn. It was fantastic to see everyone celebrating together.”
Regal Bingo Bridlington National Bingo Game Jackpot Winners Cheque
When was the £250,000 National Bingo Game jackpot introduced?
The current £250,000 National Bingo Game jackpot was introduced in February 2026, with the new prize going live on 12 February 2026.
Under the new format, players can trigger the quarter-of-a-million-pound jackpot by completing a full house within the first 14 numbers called. The National Bingo Game continues to offer its £50,000 jackpot alongside the new top prize.
The first £250,000 winner under the new format came just days after its introduction, when a 60-year-old woman won at Club 3000 Bingo in Wigan on 22 February.
The £ 250,000 figure also has a longer history. The National Bingo Game dates back to the 1980s, with the first National Game played in the summer of 1986. The £250,000 maximum prize was later established in the 1990s, although it was used on special occasions rather than as the regular top prize.
In 1995, Parliament recorded that the maximum prize in the National Bingo Game had been increased from £75,000 to £250,000.
The 2026 change has effectively brought the £250,000 prize back as a regular headline jackpot, giving players at participating clubs the opportunity to win a quarter of a million pounds twice each day.
A long-established bingo club with a modern history
Regal Bingo Bridlington has a particularly interesting history.
The building originally operated as a cinema before becoming a bingo venue in the late 1960s. It later operated as a Gala Bingo club before becoming a Buzz Bingo venue.
After Buzz closed it during the COVID-19 pandemic, an independent operator brought it back into use in October 2021 and renamed it Regal Bingo Club.
The independent club has since become a favourite destination for both local players and visitors to the East Yorkshire seaside resort.
More than £4 million awarded since the new jackpot launched
Nicole Garret, the new CEO of the Bingo Association and the National Bingo Game, said Stephen’s win showed the appeal of combining bingo’s big-money element with the social experience of visiting a club.
“We are thrilled for Stephen, our latest National Bingo Game £250,000 jackpot winner at Regal Bingo Bridlington — and especially while he was enjoying a holiday with his wife for their anniversary.
“This is the second holidaymaker to win a jackpot at the club in just two years, with £300,000 now won there through the National Bingo Game.
“Since the launch of our new and bigger jackpot, we have awarded more than £4 million in prize money, including seven £250,000 winners and 30 £50,000 winners.
“Alongside the prize money, bingo clubs continue to be welcoming community hubs, bringing people together to enjoy a great night out.”
For Stephen and Dawn, however, the immediate focus is less on the National Bingo Game’s history and more on what they can do with their unexpected fortune.
And for Regal Bingo Bridlington, Stephen’s win provides another remarkable reminder that the next big National Bingo Game winner can come from anywhere: including a holidaymaker simply looking for a night of bingo by the seaside.
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