Another week comes to a close, and sadly, the bingo news is dominated once again by the closure of an established city centre bingo hall.
Mecca Bingo, which last year celebrated its 60th anniversary, has confirmed that it is to close yet another one of its bingo halls. This time, it is Mecca Bingo Chester set for the chop.
Rumours of Mecca Chester’s imminent closure had been rife. This was heightened by the dire financial results of Mecca Bingo’s owners – The Rank Group, and since then, a number of Mecca Bingo venues have closed, leaving around 60 Mecca Bingo clubs still open in the UK.
Following a tip-off to the local press, operations director John Dyson confirmed this week that “closure is being discussed,” telling the local press:
“Regrettably, proposals to close our Chester club are being discussed. We are currently in consultation with our team and will be making an announcement once those conversations are complete.”
Another Historic Bingo Hall to Close
After closing its Ellesmere Port branch in 2018, Mecca Bingo will be slashing its coverage in the North West with the closure of its Chester venue. The Mecca Bingo Chester venue has served the local community for more than half a century and was so popular they named a nearby roundabout after it.
Mecca Bingo Chester’s demise is becoming a familiar story in the UK retail bingo scene. An old spacious city centre building steeped in history and community involvement closed and sold for residential homes.
Built in 1931, the Medievel-type building is located in the heart of historic Chester. Originally a Gaumont Palace Cinema, the building also housed a bowling alley before becoming a Mecca Bingo.
Already a petition has been started against its closure, with locals both surprised and upset by the news of Mecca Bingo Chester’s closure. The Facebook post of Chester Live, which broke the news has already had more than 700 comments, the majority of which expressed sadness and frustration about the closure.
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