Mecca Bingo Permanently Closes Down Its Southport Venue

Mecca Bingo has announced the permanent closure of its Southport premises, located in the legendary Garrick Theatre building. The iconic venue on Lord Street will not be reopening its doors even after the COVID-19 pandemic ends.

In a statement issued on Facebook, a Mecca spokesperson said: “We are very sad to confirm that we will not be reopening our club in May and it is now permanently closed. We have 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 for their loyalty and support – we will miss you very much.”

They went on to acknowledge how the bingo venue played a “very special part in the community” and praised its role in bringing Southport’s gambling enthusiasts together over the past six decades. According to the statement, the Mecca Bingo Southport page would stay open during May, and the support team will be “happy to help with any queries” customers might have.

Based in the legendary Garrick building on Lord Street, Mecca Bingo has served the bingo community in one way or another for almost 60 years. Initially built as a theatre, the building hosted legendary performances by entertainers such as Ken Dodd. Its last performance was a pantomime rendition of “Robin Hood on Ice” in January 1957.

The venue was sold to the Essoldo Cinemas chain that same month, which reopened and repurposed it as a cinema, hosting Maureen O’Hara in “Miracle on 34th Street” and Elvis Presley in “Love Me Tender” on Jan 21, 1957. In 1963, it introduced bingo on Sundays and Fridays, becoming a fully fledged bingo hall by the end of the year. First known as Lucky 7 Bingo Club, it was later renamed to Top Rank Bingo Club, and finally, Mecca Bingo.

We will all miss Mecca Southport, but the fun doesn’t have to stop. Check out our list of exciting new bingo sites for some fresh ideas on where to find your next bingo home.