castle bingo club screenshot

Bingo Halls Reopen In Tier 2 Areas In England

Hurrah, those of us in Tier 2 can skip back into bingo halls and other indoor entertainment venues as of today, Wednesday 2nd December.

Buzz Bingo, one of the biggest bingo hall operators in the UK is delighted they can switch their lights on and warm up the ball machine once again in a large number of its bingo halls across the country.

mecca bingo hall social distancing screenshot
Credit: Stourbridge News

Though bingo halls in Tier 2 are reopening, government guidelines must be adhered to in relation to households not mixing indoors.  Only people from the same household bubble are allowed to attend a bingo hall or any other indoor entertainment venue together (restaurants, cinema, theatres etc).

Peter Brigden, Chief Retail Officer at Buzz Bingo, said:

“After being closed for the last month, we are delighted to welcome back our customers and reopen our club doors in line with government guidance. The club is at the heart of the community and offers a friendly environment for households to enjoy a game of bingo”.

re-openingHowever bingo halls in tier 3 areas remain firmly closed.  Their bingo balls must be getting pretty dusty by now!  Tier 3 areas mainly cover much of the North East and Midlands, spanning from Lancashire, across to East Riding and as far south as Leicestershire and Warwickshire.

Leicestershire, Lost In Lockdown

Leicestershire signBut what of bingo halls in Leicestershire?  Parts of this county have been in some form of lockdown since March!  Luckily there was a  period of time of about 7 weeks when lockdown 1.0 was lifted, prior to the first tier systems being brought in place, when bingo halls could operate following COVID secure restrictions, but that really was only for a short while.

Discussion around the length of time Leicester has been in lockdown naturally sparks local emotion and will undoubtedly take its toll on the community for months and years to come.

Wales Set To Close

Thats right, after the firebreak lockdown was lifted in early November in Wales (and England went into lockdown 2.0 for four weeks), COVID infection rates in the country have gotten out of hand again, so the country literally shuts its doors at 6.00pm on Friday.

Indoor entertainment venues; bingo halls, closed.  Visitor attractions, closed.

But we must remember, Wales could be described as the heartland of the bingo hall.  Wales being home to the first ever bingo hall in the town of Tonypandy in the Rhondda Valley opening in 1909.  England didn’t catch on until the early 1960’s when they opened their first bingo hall.

Judges Bingo Hall Tonypandy
Judges Bingo Hall Tonypandy.                                  Photo credit: Wales Online

Judges Bingo, the oldest bingo hall in the UK, in Tonypandy, now owned by Majestic Bingo is fondly referred to by locals as “Las Vegas Of The Valleys”.

I really feel for bingo lovers in Wales right now, December is the season to see friends and celebrate within communities but the pandemic really puts a downer on festivities.

We need to remember that bingo halls across Wales and the rest of the UK were already facing the beginning of darker days prior to the pandemic, with the rise in popularity of online bingo overshadowing playing the game in person.  These next sets of entertainment venue closures really could change the landscape of the bingo hall industry moving forward.

Bingo Halls Being COVID Secure

bingo hall staff screenshot
Credit: Jason Roberts Photography

Bingo Halls, reopening this time round are likely to feel more confident in delivering a COVID secure and safe environment for its players, because they have all reopened before, however here is a quick reminder of what to expect when you re-visit your favourite hall:

  • Social Distancing – there will be reduced player capacity  to allow for social distancing
  • Perspex Screens – these will still be in place between tables, at reception areas
  • Table Service – food and drinks to be ordered at the table to reduce numbers people moving around. (I don’t mind this, always loved table service!)
  • Alcohol – only to be purchased with a substantial meal, perhaps a scotch egg!
  • Sanitising Points – we are all pretty used to sanitising our hands and cooperating with staff when they carry out extra cleaning, to keep us all safe.

The one main difference in the current reopening for Tier 2 areas is closing times being moved to 11.00pm with last orders at 10.00pm.

Its eyes down again, but for how long?