Date of closure: 20th September 2009
Address (for reference only):
Independent Club
The Rope Walk
Neath
SA11 1ES
Top Ten Bingo was originally a cinema which opened in 1926 and had a dance hall and a cafe. It was refurbished after the war, and then in the 1960s, going the way of many cinemas, it became a bingo hall.
With its closure comes an end of an era for local residents, some of whom had been attending since its opening. Closure, by owners Top Ten Bingo, has been attributed to overheads and the effects of recent legislation, particularly the smoking ban.
This is a sad affair, as local people have pointed out that it is impacting not just on the community as a whole, but on the individuals who for years have seen Top Ten Bingo as a source of comfort in an increasingly lonely world.
By Gareth Whieldon (September 2009)
Top Ten Bingo Neath – Update
The site of the former Top Ten Bingo and Empire Bingo is to be turned into flats. Local press have reported that residents in the area are complaining that there is no need for more flats in the centre of the town. With demolition scheduled for the 11th of June 2012, it would appear that not only have the residents lost bingo, but also any further opportunities for transforming the premises into a community focussed centre.
By Gareth Whieldon (June 2012)
