Chain: Rio Bingo

Rio Bingo is one of the newest additions to the UK’s bingo landscape, built by Paul Austin-Roberts and his family, who bring over 15 years of experience in the industry. The chain currently comprises two clubs, in Canvey Island and Wisbech, marking the family’s move from running a single venue to operating a genuine small chain.

The story began with the Canvey Island club, on Furtherwick Road, taken over from the former Majestic Bingo estate in a building that has served as a cinema and social club since the 1930s. In its early days under the family’s ownership, the venue briefly traded as “AJ’s Bingo” before settling on the Rio Bingo name, which it has used consistently since. The family then expanded to a second site, taking over the former Empire bingo hall in Wisbech, previously run by Winners Bingo of Thetford before it closed due to declining attendances. That club has reopened as Rio Bingo Wisbech, confirming the family’s chosen branding for the growing business.

We’ve settled on Rio Bingo as the name for this chain because it’s the identity used consistently across both current clubs, rather than AJ’s Bingo, which appears to have been a short lived name used only briefly at Canvey Island before the switch back to Rio. With two sites now trading under the same name and clear signs of a family business actively growing rather than standing still, Rio Bingo has moved from independent status into a small chain in its own right.

Given how young this chain is, and how quickly it’s already grown from one club to two, its branding and estate may well continue to evolve. We’ll keep this page updated as the Rio Bingo story develops.