Date of closure: 2006
Address (for reference only):
Dunnings Bridge Road
Liverpool
L30 6TQ
The Switch Island Mecca hall closed in 2006 with a loss of almost 30 jobs amidst the ‘bingo blitzkrieg’ that rained over the bingo industry during the mid 2000s, and caused a lot of job losses, and inconvenience to bingo players across the country.
The site has been in the eyes of developers over the past few years and a planning application to turn the premises into a furnishing store was rejected in 2009. However since then the council must have had a change of heart (or personnel), as the building is now going to be demolished to make way for a furniture store.
It is always sad when a bingo hall is lost forever, and oftentimes it is particularly upsetting when the hall resided in a building or architectural significance. Although this Mecca was a modern building of little architectural note, it will be a shame if all these modern buildings go to make way for retail or housing ventures, but it is unlikely that land based bingo will ever disappear as it is such a cultural institution, so we have our fingers crossed for the future of the remaining not listed bingo halls.
By Gareth Whieldon (November 2010)
