source: pexels.com Bingo halls across the UK will be forced to close following the announcement of a new national lockdown.
People in all of England and nearly all of Scotland must now stay at home, joining Wales and Northern Ireland. All bingo halls in the UK are closed until further reviews are held.
You can view the new government guidelines here.
England's Bingo Halls
Bingo Halls in England closed until February 13th.
A ‘stay at home' order was issued by Prime Minister Boris Johnson coming into effect on Wednesday Morning. The measures are expected to last until Mid-February with all bingo halls in England closed until Mid-February when the next review is set.
Scotland's Bingo Halls
Bingo Halls in Scotland will be closed until 31st January
For Scotland, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon issued a stay-at-home order, starting at midnight on Monday. The measures now in place will see all bingo halls in Scotland closed until the end of January when the next review is scheduled.
Wales' Bingo Halls
Bingo Halls in Wales will be closed until 18th January
Wales has been under “stay-at-home” lockdown restrictions since December 20th following a spike in Covid-19 cases. More than 31,000 new cases were reported in the two weeks over the Christmas period, making it more than likely that the next review on the 18th of January will mean an extension of lockdown restrictions. As it stands, Bingo halls in Wales can open on January 18th, but this seems wishful thinking right now.
Northern Ireland's Bingo Halls
Bingo Halls in Northern Ireland will be closed until 23rd January
Northern Ireland entered a six-week lockdown on the 26th of December, which will be reviewed after four weeks. All bingo halls are closed until the 23rd of January at the earliest. Again, the next review in Northern Ireland will most likely extend the lockdown and bingo club closures.
Difficult Start for the UK Bingo Community
The latest set of lockdown rules will add further pressure on the UK's bingo halls. Having endured a difficult 2020, with dozens of bingo halls closing, 2021 has not started well. With no option for morale-boosting games of street bingo or even car park bingo, the trend for growth in online bingo should continue.
Shuttering the UK's bingo halls more another month could sadly see more bingo halls forced close this year. Let's hope for a swift return to the reopening of bingo halls soon.
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
