Date of closure: June 2021
Address (for reference only):
Planet Bingo (Lost Halls)
Unit 2 Hawthorn Grove
Carrickfergus
BT38 8EG
Carrickfergus Planet Bingo belonged to a completely different bingo tradition to the Mecca and Buzz clubs found across mainland Britain. It was part of the Planet Bingo Group, a Northern Ireland based operator whose estate included clubs in Antrim, Newtownards, Portadown and Belfast, alongside other regional names such as Star Bingo, 321 Bingo and Kelly’s Eye. Rather than the uniform Top Rank to Mecca lineage seen across England, Wales and Scotland, Northern Ireland developed its own network of independently branded operators, and Planet Bingo was one of the more significant names in that story.
The club sat at 2 Hawthorn Grove, tucked away from the main high street rather than occupying a grand cinema conversion, suggesting a more modest, community focused operation than the big destination halls. Like much of Northern Ireland’s bingo scene, it likely combined traditional paper bingo with mechanised or electronic cash bingo, a format that became particularly important in the region. It was clearly woven into local life too, with Planet Bingo fielding a team in the Carrickfergus & District Pool League and even winning the Five-a-Side competition in the 2019 to 2020 season. The club has since closed permanently, though a precise opening or closing date isn’t confirmed, and no clear record survives of what the building was before Planet Bingo moved in. It stands as a reminder that bingo heritage isn’t only about the great Rank and Gala picture palaces, Northern Ireland’s independent operators have their own, less documented story worth preserving.
This place needs knocked down it’s an eye sore for our community.
Heard this place is getting knocked down and the don’t have the decency to tell their customers. Says it all really
Yes I heard that to , they must not think very much of their customers if they are not letting us know it’s ridiculous
I agree Clair but they won’t tell people to the last minute. It’s all over carrickfergus that it is getting knocked down because all the residents near by have been informed but you think they would make a statement and let us know. Shows they never thought much of their customers.
I agree Margaret and I live across the road in the bungalows and we have all been informed last week that it is being knocked down and he have been showing the plans for new build apartments to go there so I don’t know why they said it might open again and they clearly know it’s not opening again. They are just making fools out of their customers and staff instead of just making a statement and telling them.
I heard 9 dwellings and 25 apartments are going there. It’s all over carrick already they should just let their customers know.
Is it social housing? Which housing association is it? Will there be any houses?
They should think about opening another wee bingo club in Carrickfergus the community really misses it and when I used to go there was a nice big fella running it it was once run down and he turned it around , hopefully one day they willl reopen one
Agreed I loved going to that wee club
Planet bingo would yous consider opening a new club in the future the community would be thrilled
Planet bingo would yous consider opening a new club in the future the community would be thrilled
I ageee Lisa I miss it myself awwkkk I think the big fella your talking about is called Lee he certainly knew how to run it and the staff were also lovely maybe one day they will reopen a club in the town
Yes I remember Lee very well he was a lovely lad hopefully they open one in the future and bring Lee and the old staff back the place wools be a great place for teh community
Lovely big man and certainly the best manager that wee club ever had in the 20 odd years I went there I seen managers come and go but he was one of a kind last I seen him his health wasnt to good I didn’t recognise him I miss my game of bingo hopefully one day they will open one in Carrickfergus
I hardly recognised him either Linda but he definitely was the best manager and the staff was brilliant I also miss a game of bingo hopefully we get another wee club back soon
100% best manager and best staff miss this club