Date of closure: 3rd July 2016
Address (for reference only):
Tower Bingo
High Street
Tunstall
ST6 5TT
At the moment we do not have details of the events that led up to, or any of the circumstances surrounding the closure of the Tower (Previously Top Ten) Bingo Tunstall, but we do know a bit about about the venue’s history.
The venue originally opened as the Ritz Cinema in 1934 with seating for over 1,600 hundred patrons. The interior was an unusual mix of Art Deco and Chinese decor, which was very uncommon. Initially an independent, it was taken over by Essoldo in 1957 and renamed. Classic Cinemas were the last owners, having taken over from Essoldo a year previous to the ultimate closure in 1974.
Mecca Bingo were the first owners, later owners being Ritz Luxury Bingo, and Walkers/Tower (Previously Top Ten) Bingo.
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The venue has now been bought and refashioned as a wedding venue by two brothers who bought the building for £250,000. Luckily the new owners Abdul Khaliq and his brother Abdul Qadir will be investing a further £400,000 in modernising the building whilst keeping many of the original features so that it retains much of its original character.
By Gareth Whieldon (September 2016)
Other Lost Halls In The Area
A couple of views of the club’s interior in the 2010’s, and a snap of the club in its old life as Walker’s Bingo hall by Ian Grundy.
