Chain: Beach Bingo

Beach Bingo was a small independent chain based in the North East of England, running clubs in North Shields, Jarrow and South Shields. Despite their modest size and old-fashioned charm, the venues built devoted local followings — the North Shields club operated from the former New Princes Theatre, a 1,600-seat cinema built in 1929, while the South Shields club traced its roots back to 1961 as the Crown Bingo Club.

Citing difficult trading conditions, all three clubs closed their doors on 30 September 2019, with the closure announced via a notice pinned to the venue doors rather than any prior warning. Owner Rob Garrard was declared bankrupt, and the closures cost 42 staff their jobs. The clubs were widely described by regulars as genuine community hubs, particularly the Jarrow branch, and the news prompted an outpouring of tributes from staff and customers on social media.

In the years since, the sites have seen mixed fortunes. The South Shields club briefly reopened in November 2019 under new operator Witnall Automatics Ltd, while the former Jarrow venue was later redeveloped into a gym and gaming centre. The North Shields building’s future remained uncertain following the closures.

Beach Bingo no longer exists as a trading chain, but its clubs are remembered as a well-loved, if short-lived, part of the North East’s bingo scene.