Bingo might conjure up images of lonely geriatrics frittering away their pensions but it’s been enjoying a resurgence over the last decade attracting more and more young converts. Arch rivals Mecca and Gala rule the UK market, boasting over 8 million members between them.
Mecca Bingo in Kilburn is the hub of North West London’s bingo community. It’s housed in the former Gaumont State Cinema building - the largest movie theatre in England when it opened in 1937. Inside it’s decorated in Italian Renaissance style with a gold and green dome topping the auditorium, yet from the outside its design draws on American influences. The Italian-American combo is very apt as it charts bingo’s history - originally invented in Italy in 1530, later adopting its current name in the US.
Let’s be honest, bingo is a bit like a casino without the glitz, but it still offers that money-risking rush. An evening’s entertainment usually comprises a few (very reasonably priced) pints and quite a lot of excited concentration. Things hot up with a ‘Link Game’ when a number of bingo halls pool funds for even bigger prizes, and the thermometer goes right off the scale for the ‘National Game’ later in the evening.
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