Date of closure: 14th August 2022
Address (for reference only):
Mecca Bingo (Lost Halls)
Fore Street
Devonport
Plymouth
PL1 4DN
The Devonport club was a genuine neighbourhood bingo hall, sitting on Albert Road just a short walk from Devonport Park and the old naval dockyard, serving generations of players from Devonport, Stoke, Keyham and west Plymouth. It was never a converted cinema or theatre, just a modern commercial building adapted specifically for bingo, offering a large open-plan hall, Mecca Max electronic bingo, a substantial gaming area, licensed bar and diner, and disabled access, with regular afternoon and evening sessions throughout the week. What it lacked in architectural pedigree it made up for in atmosphere, with a strong local identity where staff knew regulars by name and the club was as much about socialising as playing.
In July 2022, Rank announced Plymouth as one of several Mecca clubs proposed for closure following a post-pandemic review of its estate, concluding the UK simply had more bingo clubs than demand could support. The final session took place on Sunday 14 August 2022, marked with countdown promotions, half-price bingo, farewell games and customer karaoke rather than a quiet shutdown, and around 18 staff were affected. Plymouth wasn’t lost due to an ageing building or redevelopment pressure like so many former cinemas, making it one of the clearer early signs that even modern, functional clubs weren’t immune once Rank shifted strategy towards fewer, stronger venues, a policy that would go on to reshape the wider bingo estate over the following years.
My daughter and I went to this club as we are members, but have not been for a long while. It was on a monday afternoon where you can have the free books or pay £10. Well, we paid the £10 which was fine. There were a bunch of around eight that had the free books which was also fine, but they all had two sets of free books and netted a nice tidy sum of winnings by the end of play – they seemed to like to run around and make some noise. My daughter and I were thinking of going to Mecca instead of Gala as it’s closer to Saltash. Now we are thinking never to go back to this club or we might go play just the free books. Perhaps they will let us have 3 sets for free.
Absolutely terrible. There are more managers than normal staff. One overall manager called ***n who is nice but rarely there and absolutely has no control over his staff and no idea what they do on most nights he is not there. Most of the staff are really nice but there have been multiple complaints about one acting manager who is there most nights called ******. I have seen customers in tears after she has berated them and talked to them like dirt. Those of us who play the slots and probably put more money into the club than anyone are treated appallingly. ****** (I wish i knew her surname as there are two acting managers called ******). This one is short and very plump and around mid 50’s). ****** shouts at players on slots. We are talked to very loudly like children. Are unable to play a slot machine put a reserve sign on to nip to the toilet for even a couple of mins or to have a quick cigarette. She feels nothing about shouting loudly and hiding reserve signs and other disgusting rudeness to customers at the club.
I have seen one woman in tears there after being shouted at for daring to play two machines. Whether allowed or not there was nobody waiting and there are ways to interact with customers in a private polite manner. This woman is given the run of the club and I have been informed many have complained to Mecca head office only to always have it batted back to down to Plymouth to be sorted. This is never done and ****** continues to belittle, harrass and act terribly to customers of the club and talk to them in a patronizing, common and childish manner.
When are Mecca head office going to do something about this? They have to be aware and to continually put it back to ***n at Plymouth is ridiculous. She carries on and on and if you dare to say anything back she shouts like a banshee. I was a slot player but will never enter that club again and certainly stopped playing slots for a while before I left. I go to bingo for fun and expect for my money to be treated in a polite and professional manner.