We don’t know about you, but we love bingo in all its forms; online, offline, 90 ball, 75 ball, the National Game, a small charity game – we really don’t mind, we just love the game.
It occurred to us though, that since this is a website mainly covering online bingo, a few of you lovely lot might never have actually set foot inside a real life bingo hall.
After we finished sobbing on your behalf, we began to wonder why this might be?
A lot of new online players discover the game through adverts, so it isn’t something they associate as being a social occasion, or perhaps their nearest bingo hall is miles away, or maybe it all just seems a bit too intimidating, especially if you would be going on your own.
So, to help bridge the gap for anyone who is in two minds, we thought this article on what it’s like inside a bingo hall might help.
Enjoy!
Visiting a Bingo Hall
Every bingo hall is slightly different in terms of interior style, the sort of building it is in, and the layout, but for the most part, all bingo halls will have the same sorts of things inside them.
The different areas or zones will be very similar too, so we can talk about them quite broadly without going too far wrong.
Let’s approach this as though you are going for an evening session when it tends to be a bit livelier.
From your point of view, it might go a little something like this.
Reception and the Slots
Whether your local bingo hall is inside a grand old theatre/cinema or above a horrible 70s built shopping arcade, once you pass under the sign and through the main entrance, the first things to greet you will be the reception desk, and the gaming machines.
You will want to go to the reception desk first where you can either sign up if you aren’t already a member, or simply flash your membership card if you have one and buy your tickets for the day.
The best bet is usually to buy one of the packs the club offers, as it gives you a lot of bingo for a fair price, including the National Bingo Game.
The foyer area of a bingo club can be quite a lot to take in at first, depending on the club in question.
Not only will the reception desk be there with all its posters and offers and things, but you will also likely be faced with a lot of slot machines and gaming machines, like you would find in a casino.
This means lots of colours and lights, and probably a fair bit of noise too as the machines sing and tinkle to get your attention.
You might want to have a quick go on these, or you might want to ignore them and head straight for the bingo hall to find a seat before someone else nabs it.
Some halls actually have a whole other room for slots and similar games, but you will usually find them scattered about elsewhere too, even if there is a dedicated space for the majority of them.
The other thing you might see in the foyer, is a table set up with a seasonal display and maybe something you could win in a raffle or similar.
Alternatively, it could just be something celebratory, like bunting and sandwiches during the jubilee, or a pot for donations to a local charity.
As another example; when the Queen very sadly died in 2022, lots of bingo halls put up pictures of HRH with a book that customers could sign and write something in.
Bingo halls tend to try and be community focussed as well.
The Bingo Hall
Most bingo halls are cavernous places, so this is likely the biggest space in the building.
There will be a stage set up in one part of the room that also shows the big screen where calls and previous numbers will appear, while seating fills the rest of the space.
The tables and chairs are quite unique in most bingo halls, often set up in twos and fours with a divider down the middle, but not always.
This would mean two friends could play on one side of the divider with their own small table, while four different friends sat on the opposite side. However, it would also allow a group of six to sit together as one, because the divider is very low down.
The tables may also have machines built into them that accept tokens or coins, and even plastic bingo cards built into the tables at older clubs. These may or may not still be in use, but there will be staff wandering around who you can ask for help if you need it. They are also there to change money etc. if necessary, and obviously to check claims.
The interior decoration can vary wildly from 1980s chic with a faint musk, to ultra-modern with flat screen TVs everywhere and a more gastro pub or ‘lounge’ feel to it. It all depends on the club itself and when they last had a refit.
A lot of clubs are now introducing a separate area of the bingo hall, where players can be as loud and chatty as they like even when the bingo is on. This is always on the other side of a wall so the sound doesn’t leak through to those players who would rather concentrate on the bingo, but it opens the game up to people wanting different experiences.
Mecca bingo in Luton, for example, has glass panelling the full length of the chatty area so that players can still see into the bingo hall, and the calls will be fed through to speakers so everyone hears the numbers at the same time, with calls usually being made using the push of a button on the table.
There is nothing to stop you moving between these areas. Perhaps you might like to start off in the quiet bingo hall then move into the louder area as the evening goes on – that’s perfectly ok.
Café and Bar
Not all bingo halls serve food, but they will all have a bar.
In some halls the bar is as well stocked as you would find at a good pub, offering cocktails and all sorts of other things too, while at others it is more limited.
The bar won’t be far from the bingo hall itself, and in some cases it might serve directly into the bingo hall, but if there is a separate café or coffee station then that may be set a little further away.
The clubs are trying to create different zones with different feels, to allow customers to get the experience they want. So if someone needs a break but doesn’t want to be around the noisy boozers, they can go to the café area for a coffee and a slice of cake and relax a bit.
Not all clubs are able to do this, their location and the layout of their building might be prohibitive, but they all do their best with it.
Some places even serve restaurant style food, so you could get there early for a slap up meal, a nice drink, and then settle in for the bingo and finish in the bar.
Again, not everywhere has this option, but they might sell sandwiches instead, for example. Like we said, they all try their best with what they’ve got.
You can get up and go to these outlets whenever you like, you don’t need to wait for a break; and with these electronic bingo devices most clubs use now you can take your bingo with you too.
Atmosphere
So you know what to expect in terms of the services available and how things might work logistically and how they might look, but what about the way it feels?
Again, this is a bit of a ‘how long is a piece of string’ scenario because no two bingo halls are the same, but in general, the atmosphere at bingo clubs is lovely.
People are helpful and supportive especially if they know you are new, and you can expect other players to be happy for you if you win in most instances. There’s always the odd occasion where the green eyed monster rears its ugly head, but its rare.
We have always found that everyone in a bingo club is there because they want to be, including employees, so it’s very rare to find a sour or unfriendly mood around the place.
Clubs usually have a morning session and an afternoon session, and while we don’t want to hit the stereotypes too hard here, the morning session tends to be quieter and have an older average age in terms of the customers.
That’s not to say it isn’t fun though, quite the opposite!
You’ll find plenty of people to chat to, including the staff who will probably have more time to spare in the morning session than the evening session, but it will likely lean more towards gentle banter than the rowdy laughter filled atmosphere of an afternoon/evening session.
The afternoon sessions can be a bit more raucous, but always in good humour and never to the point that anyone should feel uncomfortable.
You can expect more people having a drink and a game of bingo after work, families having a meal together, perhaps the odd hen party if it’s a Friday or a Saturday, that sort of thing.
Again though, since there is no music blaring everyone is able to chat, so you will almost certainly find yourself engaging in conversation with a stranger if that is what you want to do. Equally though, if you would rather hide in the corner that’s easy enough to do too.
The other thing that helps set the tone at a club is the caller. They are usually very good at reading a room, and will know how to liven up a dull crowd in the evening or keep things under control during a morning session where most people want things to be calmer.
Should I Join a Bingo Club?
If you like bingo, the yes!
It is a much more complete experience playing in the flesh, and you can really make a morning or afternoon of it.
It’s perfect for something to do on your own or with friends, and for anyone who perhaps wants to meet new people there aren’t many places better suited.
After all, every person there has a shared interest, and the conditions are just right for striking up a conversation. If you go a few times people will start to recognise your face and you will make friends in no time.
It’s understandable that some bingo fans might find real bingo halls intimidating or a bit daunting, especially if they are used to playing on a phone screen while cuddled up on the sofa, but there’s really nothing to worry about.
You will soon figure out where everything is and how it works, and as for the extras like slot machines and the bar, you don’t have to use them if you don’t want to, there’s no pressure.
At the end of the day, all bingo halls have their own little quirks and personalities within them, and you might find it is your new favourite place to visit.
But if you never go, you’ll never know.