27/01/2026
Abandoned Bingo Hall 🅱️ 🏚️
The building originally opened on 27 June 1938 as a Odeon Cinema — an Art Deco picture house designed by architect George Coles. It seated over 2,000 people and was one of cities most striking entertainment venues.
The Odeon closed as a cinema on 18 October 1975. Shortly afterward, the building was damaged by a fire in February 1976, ending its life as a movie venue.
After standing unused for a brief period, the auditorium was converted into a bingo hall in 1977, initially operating as a Top Rank Bingo Club. Later it became affiliated with the Mecca brand, serving decades of bingo players.
For many in local community, this was more than a game venue — it was a social hub where people gathered for traditional bingo sessions, cafe facilities, and entertainment.
In August 2022, Mecca Bingo closed permanently, part of a wider pattern of bingo club closures in the UK as the pandemic and changing leisure habits reduced footfall.
Hidden and Forgotten
