Former Wales Bingo Hall could become a Theatre Dream

A former bingo hall situated in Wales could become a theatre dream for Hayley Taylor and Daniel Robertson.

The couple purchased the Savoy for £150,000. They used their live savings to purchase the derelict cinema and bingo club and now hope to turn their dream into reality.

After the introduction on television in the UK, many theatre’s become disused and a lot of them were turned into bingo halls, as businesses like Mecca and Gala cashed in on the bingo phenomenon which swept through the country.

Fast forward to today and it is an entirely different story, as theatres seem to be making somewhat of a comeback, whilst our land based bingo industry is in demise. Back in the 80’s, all you would have heard is theatre’s / cinemas becoming bingo clubs as they were the perfect size and stature for the growing bingo business, so it makes perfect logic for some of them to be turned back into theatres.

A number of factors have affected our bingo halls, the smoking ban, crazy double standard taxation rates and the online bingo revolution have all played their part. Bingo operators are however trying to go with the times, they have introduced outside smoking shelters and we are about to see the first every electronic only bingo club, as they aim to attract a younger audience.

Speaking about his dream, Daniel said, “We used to run a theatre in Southend – the Empire – and I did a couple of years work at a university. The idea is not to make a lot of money but pump it back into the theatre. We got a little bored and wanted to be involved with a theatre again. My partner and I decided to have a look at a few buildings and typed in ‘old bingo halls’ into an online search engine.”

Obviously up popped the Savoy, which they now own. The Savoy is a grade ll listed building, it began life back in 1914 as a cinema and it was turned into a bingo club in the 80’s. However the bingo club closed down around 10 years ago and the building has remained empty ever since, well until now.

There is still a lot of work to be done, but the couple hope they building will be open by the end of July. The Savoy will be 100 years old next year, with new life being breathed into it at last, this has got to be great cause for celebration.