Date of closure: 2007
Address (for reference only):
Gala Bingo
London Road
Thornton Heath
CR7 6AW
Gala Bingo Thornton Heath was another smoking ban victim, and although bingo may one day make it back to Thornton Heath, if it does it won’t be at this address as the building has been demolished.
The venue was opened as a cinema in 1932 under the name ‘State Cinema’. A fairly sizeable theatre with seating for 1893, it also had five dressing rooms to facilitate variety performances. It became the Granada in 1948, which closed in 1972 (a bad year for cinemas), and became Granada Bingo, which eventually closed in 2007 (a bad year for bingo).
By Gareth Whieldon (September 2010).
Other Lost Halls In The Area
Sadly this fine building has been demolished. We’re not sure of the architect, but it is missing some of the more common exterior embellishments that many theatres had, so it was probably not designed by one of the more famous architects, who tended to leave their ‘trademark fins’ for example. The interior was quite interesting, so we are glad that we have been provided with these photos.
By Gareth Whieldon (September 2010)
If you have any photos from this lost hall, be it of its interior, the staff, special events, parties, customers and more; and you’d like to share them here, please contact us to arrange adding them to the site.
I started my life at Thornton Heath as a change giver and then moved on to Main Stage Caller, ok the place was left to decay but it was the happiest time in my Bingo Career.