Dunstable Union Bingo – High Street North

Union Bingo in Dunstable had a reasonably long run from the early seventies until 2001. It was located in the premises of the former Union Cinema, which was opened on September 27, 1927, with a capacity for 1432 patrons. It very quickly changed ownership from Union, to ABC cinemas in 1937, a year in which ABC took over many of the country’s cinemas.

It was a fully functional cinema with many interesting decorative features, including decorative niches, and a stone relief. It again changed ownership to Star Cinemas, who renamed it Studio Cinema, and started Bingo sessions in the premises on a part-time basis in 1969, under the name Star Bingo. It was taken over full time for bingo in February 1973 becoming Union Bingo, and when bingo ceased it became ‘Cubes’ a disco. The building is now owned by a church, who have converted the building into a community centre.

By Gareth Whieldon (Month 2009)

This is one of those halls that slowly widens out from the stage, unlike some of the more modern purpose built bingo halls. It was a slightly different experience to the modern halls, as the layout meant that you may have to crane your neck a bit if you fancied a bit of people watching. It’s nice to see that the cinema curtains were still in evidence, which all adds to the ‘theatre of bingo’. There are a couple of nice shots that show the plaster work, and in particular the huge ceiling roses, which may or may not at one time have held chandeliers. Unfortunately the club was relatively empty at the time of the photos, which is a shame, as it’s always great to see a bingo hall in full swing.

By Gareth Whieldon (September 2010)

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.