Eyes down for an empty house as Gala Bingo shuts
GALA Bingo in Lancaster is to close.
Customers have been told the final 'eyes down' will be on February 3.
The move sees an end to bingo on the King Street site after 35 years.
Officials at the company – part of the giant Gala Coral group – said the move was for "commercial reasons".
Gala had sold its part of the building.
"Staff told us it was closing," said one King Street regular.
"I don't know what I'm going to do. I was in there several times a week. It wasn't just the bingo. It was a social event."
Until last August the building also housed the now closed Regal Cinema.
Gala thanked its customers for their loyalty and support.
It is now trying to divert them to using its other local hall in Morecambe.
For some sessions free buses will be laid on from Lancaster.
The art deco building in King Street first opened as an Odeon cinema in 1936 with 1,592 seats.
It has since passed through a number of hands including Star, Cannon, Virgin and ABC, taking on a dual role as cinema and bingo centre in 1971.
Independent chain Northern Morris was the last cinema operator, closing after operating alongside the bingo club over three years.
n Will you be devastated when the bingo hall closes?
Have you got happy memories of meeting friends and winning cash there?
Email your memories to guardian@lmnews.co.uk or drop us a line at Bingo Memories, Lancaster Guardian, 29 Common Garden Street, Lancaster, LA1 1XD.
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