Mecca Bingo closed eight of its UK venues last month, with sites in Exeter, Sheffield, Kingstanding, Croydon, Sunderland, Taunton, Birkenhead and St Helens all hosting their final games on 7 June.

The Rank Group cited a rise in operating costs as being behind the decision, as well as significant repair and maintenance bills for the heritage halls, despite a strong performance from its retail bingo division.

“Rank continues to report improving revenues across the Mecca brand, but that success is increasingly coming from a smaller network of larger, stronger clubs,” reported Bingo Daily. “Venues with expensive leases, ageing buildings or declining attendance appear to be the first to go.”

“The June closures mean that communities across England and Scotland have lost long-established social venues that, for many customers, were about far more than just playing bingo.”

The closures, which represent almost ten percent of Mecca’s bricks and mortar estate, have prompted local communities to rally behind campaigns to save the bingo halls. 

However, many of the landmark clubs are now likely to face months, if not years, of disuse until another leisure operator can be found to take them on in what remains a challenging economy.

Yet another reason why the Government needs to reset its amusements, gaming and gambling policy and reverse its restrictions and loosen its ideological grip and keep bingo halls on the high street.