Lost Bingo Halls - Top Rank Gaiety, Cardiff

Top Rank Gaiety,
195-197 City Road,
Cardiff,
CF24 3JB (View map)

Closed: Circa 1994?

Top Rank Gaiety History And Background

The building was originally opened as the Gaiety Grand Cinema in 1912. At one point it was also a roller rink, although I don't have a firm date on when this happened. It became a Bingo Hall in 1961, and the Top Rank Gaiety in 1968. The hall thrived following this, until the end of the 80s when it slowly lost members to a number of other bigger halls in Cardiff, including the new big purpose built Castle Bingo in Canton and the Gala Bingo in St Mary Street.

The building is famed for its twin domes on the entrance, and at some point in its early history as a cinema a balcony was added and the height of the building increased. As a Bingo Hall, the balcony area contained both seats and tables. The window from the old projectionist's both was still visible, and the projection room used as a storage cupboard. The main stage for calling was about 15 foot high, with both the bar and buffet housed beneath it. You can see a picture of the building as Gaiety Grand Cinema in its earliest days here.

After remaining closed for a few years, the building found a new lease of life as a student bar. It was remodeled to lose the balcony and have two distinct floors instead. Below is a photo of the building as the Spin Bar, by left handed male of Flickr. Compare the height of the building as it is now to how it was in the older photo. (February 2008)

The Gaiety Building

Your Memories And Stories Of Top Rank Gaiety

Would you like to tell us about your time at this club? Share your memories and stories about the Top Rank Gaiety, Cardiff - write a bit about your time at the hall, send it to us here and we'll add it to this section.

Photographs Of The Top Rank Gaiety

1991 Photoset - Interiors And Players

Have you got any photographs from the Top Rank Gaiety, Cardiff, whether it be interior shots, party events or anything? If you have, we'd like to add them to this section. Drop us a line via Email and we'll arrange a way to get the photos on the site.

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