Date of closure: Circa 2001
Address (for reference only):
Shepherd's Bush Green
Shepherd's Bush
London
W12 8QE
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 Mecca Bingo Shepherd’s Bush, but thanks to Charles S.P. Jenkins we do know a bit about the building’s past.
The Pavilion Theatre opened in 1923, equipped for both cinema and stage which was a bit unusual, as during the period many venues were curtailing live performances in favour of cinema only usage. With seating for over 2000 it was quite a large venue and again its Italian Renaissance style was also unusual.
The theatre suffered damage during the war, and closed to be opened 11 years later in 1955 with exterior restoration, and a complete refurbishment and rebuild of the interior. In 1969 Odeon changed the interior structurally, and turned the stalls into a bingo area, which became the Top Rank Bingo Club.
The cinema side of the business closed in 1981, and 20 years later bingo ceased. Plans were accepted in 2011 for the conversion of the site into a hotel, although we are not sure if they went ahead (Google streetview shows the exterior of the building undergoing some work).
If you have any more 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 (February 2013)
Located at 58, Shepherd’s Bush Green, the former Pavilion Cinema has been converted into a hotel, retaining the facade, which is Listed II.
I was employed here as Assistant Manager and started about 6 weeks before it opened as there was fitting out still being done. The club was opened by Pete Murray of BBC Radio and a marque was erected in the rear car park where there was after opening dinner held.
There was a small section upstairs that was used on busy nights and I remember there was a lift in the cinema section that went to the top where I used to sunbathe! The main caller was a chap named Leslie but I don’t recall his last name, he was one of three that worked a rota.
I can remember that staff were paid 16/8d a session. There was the National Game that was played every night with the numbers being relayed to each club via a telex machine. Not sure what the film was but the cinema section opened some time after and was attended by Wendy Craig and Mark Lester who both arrived by horse drawn carriage.
I worked there when it was The Top Rank Bingo Hall .At my interview the Manager said “are you from Taunton I’ve seen you in The Top Rank there I’m sure,it’s where all us management do our training?” I said yes I go with my Mum when I visit home” Ahhhh! Stella ? ” ..”Yes that’s her and Jan the caller is one of my best friends I grew up with” We ended up talking more about the people we knew then he took me around the place saying to the staff “this is Nicky,Stella from Tauntons daughter.Being next to the BBC Theatre I got stampeded by about 500 teenage girls one afternoon leaving work.After being helped up and dusted off I asked “What was THAT about” Jason Donavans Limo had just pulled up he was on the Wogan Show.
I was the Manager there from 1976 to 78 and organized one of the greatest promotions Top Rank ever did. We had Red Rum, the famous racehorse, open the newly refurbished club in Sept 1976. Great days. Does anyone out there remember me and that night?