Amidst a round of confirmed bingo hall closures, the future of yet another popular bingo hall appears uncertain.
Today, it is the turn of Buzz Bingo Slough to come under the closure spotlight.
According to local reports, council officials have agreed on selling the historic building, which used to be the Adelphi theatre and now houses Buzz Bingo.
The building was purchased by the local authority for £4.6m in 2018 so that it could be protected from development and brought back to community use. However, due to the council effectively declaring bankruptcy in 2021, plans were shelved. Now, facing a massive £760 million borrowing debt, the council has decided to sell the site for a loss after Cabinet members agreed to sell the bingo venue on Bath Road for just over £4m. The site, which once hosted a Beatles gig as well as Roy Orbison and Jimi Hendrix, will now potentially become a banqueting suite.
The venue is expected to host events and weddings, with the council and the new owner agreeing on a five-year covenant to be placed on the building to protect its historic façade and interior from development and significant alterations.
Buzz Bingo Slough Closing? Buzz Say: “No Plans”
BingoDaily reached out to the popular bingo venue in the heart of Slough. However, through correspondence with them, it was clear the staff were none the wiser about the sale and potential closure of the 1930's-built venue.
When asked whether the branch was closing, a spokesperson at Buzz Bingo told BingoDaily:
“Buzz Bingo Slough remains open and welcoming people to play bingo. There are currently no plans to close the club in the foreseeable future, and we’ll keep colleagues and customers updated if there are any developments.”
Despite the “currently no plans” statement from the UK's largest retail bingo operator, with the sale agreed by the local authorities, the future of Buzz Bingo in Slough, in the current climate of UK bingo hall closures, does look more than a little bleak.
Ben has been an massive bingo enthusiast and fan since playing at the seaside as a kid. Dedicated to bringing you the latest and best bingo news from the UK