Date of closure: July 2020
Address (for reference only):
Buzz Bingo (Lost Halls)
Bushbury Lane
Oxley
Wolverhampton
WV10 9TU
It was announced that the Wolverhampton Buzz Bingo would close on the 15th of July 2020, one of 26 Buzz Bingo clubs which were victims of the prolonged lock-down of 2020 to combat the spread of Covid 19. Buzz Bingo CEO Chris Matthews took the decision to close the clubs to protect the other 91 clubs in the chain, as part of a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA), with the aim to shore-up the business going forward. You can read more on the closures here.
Some views of the interior of the club and various areas, in its final period as a Buzz Bingo club. You can see it’s a very modern building, mainly set on one level with separate areas for the slots and bar. Photographers unknown.
Used to visit this club 5 nights a week when we were over from Ireland 3 times each year. I got to know the staff fairly well especially the longer serving ones the past 10 years. Always greeted us like we were always there which was lovely. We got to know a few friends there too including one who we call Grandad purely because he looked liked our Grandad. Wolverhampton in general I feel is a lovely place with welcoming people & little did I know on Jan.3rd 2020 which was our last night there what was coming as regards covid & then the eventual closure of the club. Due to covid I haven’t been over in the UK since Jan.2020 & it’s sad to think although I will be over in the future & visit Ashmore Pk I probably won’t see many of the staff & people that I got to know at Bushbury. I will miss the club & am missing the people. Regards to any of the staff & customers who I got to know who may read this at some stage
So sad 😔 .But so many wonderful
memory’s. Myself and my husband spent a lot of fun+ happy times there
Met a lot of good friend’s. The staff
where so friendly lovely bingo Hall.
My husband stopped going through illness.I carried on with my friend..
But then Covid came.
Lovely memories of.uou all last forever.💖
I remember the club when it first opened in 1991 as Coral bingo and later being renamed as Gala. Barry Littlejohn was general manager with Ray Blewitt, John Liddle and Pat Braithwaite being his assistant managers. The caller was Steve, a true professional who was dressed immaculately. I enjoyed some great shows there every Saturday night and Christmas shows too were very enjoyable. It’s a shame the venue has now closed, the building now being used as a factory storage unit which was once a really nice plush building.
Great memory
Pat Braithwaite caused me to have a breakdown after working there back in 1998,I left in 1999 due to this,Shortly after I started there,I accepted the job due to the details of what I was detailed to work as Whilst all the other staff were great including the rest of management she definitely wasn’t,Wouldn’t allow me to be on the till to take payments when customers was paying for food etc,Couldn’t be on the main floor only to collect the trays,I was basically just making the sandwiches, Washing & cleaning of which wasn’t in the job description, She was always putting me down that eventually in less than one year I went on sick leave & left in 1999,Whilst all the other staff you mentioned were great I remember Steve aswell,There was also a caller by the name of Chris McNally Don’t know if you remember him,The site now still looks ok but I guess everything has to change in the end.
Hi Paul I’m Chris McNally hope your well.