Date of closure: 1997
Address (for reference only):
Gala Bingo
Gloucester Place
Brighton
BN1 4EW
We do not have full details about this grand building’s use as a bingo hall, but we do have some information about the venue’s past history as a theatre. Opened in 1933, with seating for 1823, the Astoria Theatre only lasted 2 years before it was taken over by ABC, and from then until 1958, its theatre usage decreased. A new cinema screen was installed, and much of the stage was obscured as the venue became a full time cinema, which closed in 1977, and was taken over by Gala Bingo. Lasting about 20 years, bingo ceased in 1996/1997, and we do not know what has happened to the building, although there has been talk of a restoration project.
At the moment we do not have details of the events that led up to, or any of the circumstances surrounding the closure of the Gala Bingo Brighton. If you have any details that may assist us, and you would like to share them with our readers, we would love to hear from you. If you let us know what you know, we will put the details online with your name credited (if you wish, or we can credit the article as anonymous). You will be doing a service to the bingo community and posterity by helping us record details of all Britain’s bingo clubs and halls. Thank you.
By Gareth Whieldon
Update
Unfortunately it appears that no-one has stepped forward with a restoration proposal, and there are plans for the venue to be converted into a large restaurant, office, flats and community room. The £8 Million pound job is expected to commence sometime in 2014.
By Gareth Whieldon (January 2014)
Other Lost Halls In The Area
From the exterior view this would appear quite an impressive venue. One of the larger theatres it must have served the whole of the Brighton area. As you can see from the photographs the building is in a state of disrepair, with cracks to the masonry, and rusting around the windows due to neglect.
There has been discussion of restoring the building which is good news as buildings like this should be preserved, although to date we have not heard of anything concrete. If you have any news of the building or perhaps its future, we’d love to hear from you. Photographs courtesy of Charles S.P. Jenkins
If you have any photos from this lost hall, be it of its interior, the staff, special events, parties, customers and more; and you’d like to share them here, please contact us to arrange adding them to the site.
