Another One Bites the Dust – Bye Mecca Bingo
Our readers from up north will be sad to learn of the closure of yet another popular high street bingo club, namely Mecca Bingo in Halifax, as staff announce doors will shut for the final time on Sunday August 14th.
Both staff and customers were unaware of the plans to close the Halifax branch which has left twenty staff without a job. It’s safe to say the devastating news has not gone down well with anyone, especially the loyal customers who have since been told by the owners (The Rank Group), that they are welcome to go play at the Mecca Bingo venue in Huddersfield, which is almost a half-hour car ride away!
The latest announcement comes just days after the Rochdale Mecca Bingo branch shocked a community when it closed its doors for the final time on July 4th.
Just Drive to Another Venue!
Some staff have worked tirelessly at the Halifax venue for years and many of the players have enjoyed bingo sessions there for decades, one such customer is Liza Edwards, who said: “This is so sad. I had no idea we were losing our beloved bingo. Been going for over 25 years and this is truly awful to hear.It's a very popular, happy place so it's going to be missed by the young and old everywhere. Good luck guys and thank you for everything.”
When the devastating and shock closure announcement was made, John Dyson, operations director with Mecca Bingo said: “We’re sad to confirm that our Mecca club in Halifax will be closing on 14 August 2022. Mecca Halifax has been a part of the local community for many years, and we want to say a huge thank you to every single one of our incredible customers – our Halifax team will miss you very much.”
The “tough decision” to close the venue was a decision not taken lightly, according to a Mecca Bingo spokesman, adding: “In relation to why the club is closing - it’s a tough decision to say goodbye. Across hospitality, the last few years have been tough, and this has led us to reluctantly make this decision. We look forward to welcoming customers at our nearby club in Huddersfield and our online chat room community at Mecca Bingo (online).
And what about all those loyal employees? According to the spokesman, they are “currently in consultation with them and hope that many will stay and take on new roles within the wider business.”
Source: “Anger at ‘Truly Awful’ Decision to Close ‘Beloved’ Mecca Bingo in Halifax with 20 Job Losses”. Examiner Live. July 6, 2022.
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Comments (1)
lollipops321 07/07/22, 06:07:07 AM
Lots more of smaller clubs will be facing the axe I suspect. It’s good to get out but at least we have bingo online ready and waiting for us. So many better deals online too. It cost me the best part of £60 just for tickets for a 2-hour session last week. That £60 would last days online.
