Penzance Ritz Bingo – Queen Street

Ritz Bingo operated previously as Mecca Bingo, but further than that, our knowledge of the life of the bingo hall is a bit lacking, so if you could assist us, please contact us and let us know what you know. Our site visitors would be very appreciative.

The club started life as the Ritz Cinema in 1936, and designed by A.H. Jones it had a fin above the entrance which was a not uncommon design feature of the day for theatres. It only lasted a year before being taken over by ABC Cinemas in 1937, as part of their drive to monopolise the British cinema industry. Not a stranger to takeovers, the cinema was taken over by Union Cinemas from its independent owners even before the building was completed. It closed as a cinema in 1965, which was a bad year for cinemas, and was taken over by Rank who then became Mecca Bingo. It was reportedly earmarked for demolition and conversion to private residential properties, although we are not sure whether or not this has actually occurred.