Date of closure: 7th June 2026
Address (for reference only):
Mecca Bingo (Lost Halls)
20 Kirkland Street
St Helen's
WA10 2EG
Kirkland Street was one of Rank’s larger purpose-built town-centre clubs, and it never needed an old cinema or theatre to make its mark. It was designed from the outset as a modern bingo hall, reflecting the industry’s shift away from adapted picture palaces towards venues built purely for the job. That meant no balconies or ornate ceilings, just a large open-plan auditorium, dedicated electronic bingo areas, a sizeable slots arcade, licensed bar and diner, spacious foyer and membership area, full disabled access and a car park with over 200 spaces next to the local Asda. Sitting just off the A570, it was easy to reach from both the town centre and surrounding residential areas, and it showed: a St Helens retail and leisure study found the club attracted around a third of all bingo trips in the borough, putting it comfortably ahead of the Hippodrome and clubs in Warrington, Widnes and Wigan.
While it was open it offered afternoon and evening sessions every day, Mecca Max electronic bingo alongside paper books, a substantial gaming area, food and drink throughout the day and regular themed promotions, building the kind of loyal social following that made it as much a community fixture as a gambling venue. It closed permanently in 2026 as part of Rank’s wider programme of club closures, with customers directed to nearby Mecca Knotty Ash. It was never going to feature in a book about Britain’s great cinema architecture, but as the best-supported bingo venue in its borough, it stands as a solid example of the modern, purpose-built Mecca formula getting it right.
