Blue-Green Bingo Hall, England

The Blue-Green Bingo Hall is a former entertainment venue in northern England. During its long history, it has seen many uses mostly as a leisure establishment. Over the decades it has been used as a cinema, bingo hall, and casino.

History of the Blue-Green Bingo Hall

The Blue-Green Bingo Hall started life as a vehicle showroom and was built in the 1920s. Subsequently, this was converted into a luxury cinema in the 1930s. The cinema remained independently owned and operated throughout its cinematic life, it was never sold to a chain or franchise. There was also a cafe, which was located on the first floor above the foyer.

The last movie showing here was in 1960s. After this, it was converted to a bingo hall. At this time, the cinema seats were removed and replaced with bingo tables. The organ was retained for a few years, and bingo players would enjoy the occasional musical interlude in between sessions. Eventually, the bingo hall closed in the late 1990s.

The Blue-Green Bingo Hall was derelict for several years after the bingo hall closed. Eventually, it reopened as a casino. The casino operated for around a decade before closing in late 2000s. At the present time is stands abandoned.

Interesting architecture features

The building facade is Classical in style. Inside, the entrance hall is in Moderne style. A beautiful, wide staircase leads up to the main auditorium on the first floor. The auditorium, the Blue-Green Bingo Hall is on the first floor.

The seating is in a stadium-style arrangement, there is no balcony level. Instead, the seating raised towards the rear of the auditorium. The raked seating was split into three levels. In front of the stage, were the pit stalls. Behind and elevated above this were the grand and royal stalls at the rear.

Ornamental grills with moldings flank the stage. Formerly there was a pipe organ. The pipes would have been behind these grills, allowing the music to sound out across the cinema hall.

The ceiling of the Blue-Green Bingo Hall is a beautiful azure blue. Suspended from the center of the ceiling, is a golden saucer feature. In the middle of this domed-structure is an Art Deco-style pendant light fitting. Beautiful golden-painted ornamental mouldings and stars surround the dome. Today fabric drapings line the walls. These obscure the original plaster mouldings beneath which still lay beneath.