Male Stripper Bingo – Whatever Next?

Magic Mike XXL Meets Bingo

Thanks to modern inventions, going for a game of bingo at your local bingo hall may not be what you think. Forget being in an over-populated room full featuring the blue-rinse brigade, nowadays, the rooms are filled with younger generations looking to socialise and win big. With more twenty to thirty-somethings playing bingo now, operators are seeking new ways of keeping them entertained and just when you think you’ve seen it all, along comes another (crazy?) idea which inevitably leads to planning permission being sought by the local council!

“So, what is this idea,” I hear you ask – male stripper bingo! How on earth anyone thinks the players will be able to keep their eyes on the tickets is beyond me! Naturally, objections have been flooding in thick and fast to the idea, which if granted, will be operating from a building where a popular bingo branch once occupied!

Buzz Bingo who are famed for prize draws, jackpots and wager-free zones online, surrendered their license for the Weymouth branch back in September 2020. New owners, Brown Leisure (trading under Leo Leisure), have applied for a license to not only offer bingo games, but potential quiz nights, live music and dancers between 10am and midnight, 7 days a week. Now, you may not think there is anything wrong with that but in the application, they also request permission for male strippers at the venue.

Night Fever Sets In

‘Ladies nights’ are expected to be held on two maybe three occasions per year, however, those details have been omitted from the planning permission. One objector, a guest house owner, will tell the licensing panel: “I am unable to find any benefit in licensing a late-night bar/club with strippers permitted possibly seven days per week to the area. It is not in my opinion promoting Weymouth as a decent seaside town for families to visit and stay at.”

Weymouth town council are expected to deliver the decision on the proposals for the venue in Crescent Street on Friday. Despite strong opposition, a spokesperson for the bingo chain has said they hope the proposals and opening of the bingo venue will bring a positive benefit to the community. But there have been some concerns over anti-social behaviour, and not just those inside the club when there are strippers!

The building does benefit from CCTV and this will be used as a deterrent, however, the owners of a flat to the rear of the building are still not happy with the plans. “We believe that the granting of a late opening licence and the change of use will lead to an increased public nuisance, the granting of this licence could have a detrimental impact on our business as a holiday let, and that of other guest houses/B&Bs around us.”

We’ve seen Gin Bingo, Bongo’s Bingo, Flamingo Bingo and now possibly even Magic Mike XXL-inspired Bingo – whatever next? What do you make of the plans? Let us know below.

Source: “Council to Debate Weymouth Bingo Hall Plan Featuring Male Strippers”. Dorset Echo. April 20, 2021.