When it comes to making the most of your free time and enjoying what life has to throw at you, there is a lot to be said for being proactive about the things that you love. This is definitely the case for many bingo players up and down the country. While online bingo is flourishing in the United Kingdom, it is easy to see that the traditional form of bingo play in the UK is slowly ebbing way. Every week there are new stories about clubs shutting down and buildings lying empty. There are many reasons for this but the most common reason is that people are no longer coming along and playing bingo in the numbers that they used to.
With declining numbers equalling declining revenue, there is no surprise at the fact that bingo halls are no longer viable or able to operate in the manner that they used to. If bingo players were really serious about keeping bingo halls open, they would be working hard on ensuring their friends came along and played bingo with them but of course, you cannot force people to play bingo if they don’t want to play bingo. It is hard to take for the masses that still love bingo but the game is no longer the draw it once was and it seems as though many local areas will be without a bingo hall.
Bingo hall could be on the way out
The Mecca Bingo hall in Hornchurch is the latest to come under threat but some local players have started a petition to encourage the owners to turn down an offer they have received for the site. The reason behind the petition, started by Tony Bailey and Lucy Saunders, states; “I am putting this petition together to keep Mecca Bingo, Hornchurch, alive and to keep this place going for many years as it a great place for socialising and for the community for all ages.” Lucy spoke to local media, saying; “It’s not just a place for gambling it’s more of a social, community based environment. Everyone that goes there has made lots of friends. It’s mainly old people that go and it’s too far for them to travel to another club.” In justification for keeping the club open, the duo stated that up to 150 people attend the hall at weekends but to be honest, that is probably justification for closing the hall down.
The Rank Group issued a statement, saying; “The Rank Group has been made a very good offer for the freehold site in Hornchurch, one which is far greater than the profit we could generate over the next ten to twelve years. What will make the decision difficult is the Hornchurch club is performing very well.”
