You wouldn’t have thought it, bingo being gambling, but it looks like regular sessions may be held at Elim Church in Newcastle. The Pentecostal Church owners are currently negotiating with the owner of Heaton Bingo to do a swap of premises.
It turns out that the church is doing is so well that they need larger premises, and so approached Simon Hannah, who owns Heaton Bingo to see if he wanted to sell his bingo hall. Simon got his thinking cap and decided a swap might be a good idea, as his crowds have decreased a bit over the years.
Of course a change of the use of a building is subject to planning permission, particularly where a commercial enterprise is involved, one with a license for gaming. So, as will happen, there have been objections raised to the locating of a bingo hall in the church premises. Objections raised have been against the potential for “increased noise, traffic, litter and smoking outside the premises”.
Obviously the amount of disruption will not be of the scale of for example a night club, but it is up to the council to decide via a consultation process with local residents. Heaton Bingo owner Mr Hannah does fear that if he can’t move his bingo hall he will eventually lose it, as overheads are too high in the current venue to ensure long term survival of the club.
Over the years several churches have taken over bingo halls, but this is probably one of the first times a church has been taken over by a bingo hall, and we’re pretty sure it would be the first direct swap. We do hope that it does go ahead, and without much disruption to the ‘new neighbours’. Despite the recent relaxation of bingo taxation, many of the smaller independents will still be struggling, and Heaton Bingo has been going for along time, and employs 25 staff, so it would be sad to see it go. Also, the church is an old venue itself, it would be good to see a another bingo hall located in a building of historical interest. Original article.
