Listen to this article:A new blue plaque has been unveiled at Buzz Bingo Tooting, celebrating the remarkable history of the former Granada cinema.
The Grade I-listed building on Mitcham Road is now home to Buzz Bingo, but before that it was one of London’s most popular entertainment venues, and over the years it has hosted The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Frank Sinatra, Jimi Hendrix, Dusty Springfield and many others.
The plaque was unveiled as part of National Bingo Week, following a three-year grassroots campaign led by local historian Geoff Simmons. It was funded entirely by the public and will serve as a permanent reminder of the building’s place in British music and entertainment history.
The Tooting Granada first opened in 1931 as a 3,000-seat cinema. It was one of Sidney Bernstein’s flagship venues, and its physical design was intended to impress visitors before the film had even started.
Its interior was created by Russian theatre director Theodore Komisarjevsky and includes a baronial foyer, Gothic details and a “Hall of Mirrors” inspired by the Palace of Versailles. In 2000, Historic England upgraded the building to Grade I-listed status, describing it as possessing “without doubt the most lavishly decorated interior of any cinema in Britain.”
While the building is now a bingo hall, much of its original character remains. The stage, orchestra pit and medieval wall panels are still intact, which means today’s bingo players are enjoying games in the same building where some of the world’s biggest performers once appeared.
The former Granada became a major music venue after its years as a cinema.
The Beatles performed there in 1963 at the start of their co-headlining UK tour with Roy Orbison. The Rolling Stones appeared the following year alongside The Ronettes, while Frank Sinatra, The Kinks, The Beach Boys and Dusty Springfield also played at the venue.
In April 1967, Jimi Hendrix performed there during the final night of his first major UK package tour. The Bee Gees later brought the venue’s live music era to a close in 1968.
The unveiling was the result of a three-year local campaign led by Geoff Simmons, who helped keep the building’s history alive through guided walks, school talks and street presentations.
Speaking about the plaque, Geoff Simmons said:
“As we approach the fiftieth anniversary of bingo being played at this location, our plaque is a perfect celebration of the magic that made this area ‘The Vegas of South London’. It’s extraordinary that so many people really didn’t know about the stars who once performed here. This plaque will change all that and add to the affection in which the building is held.
I love the fact that almost 100 years on from Sidney Bernstein’s ambition to create somewhere spectacular which would light up people’s lives, today they can still enjoy affordable entertainment in a jaw-droppingly beautiful setting.”
The plaque was unveiled during an afternoon event outside the building. The celebrations included the final performance of a “Show-Time Spectacular” on the front steps, followed by speeches from local historians and heritage supporters.
The building became a bingo hall in 1976, a move that is widely credited with helping to save it from demolition at a time when many grand cinemas were being knocked down.
After the blue plaque has been unveiled at Buzz Bingo Tooting, its general manager said:
“We are absolutely thrilled to host the unveiling of this plaque during National Bingo Week. This building has always been a people’s palace, and while the entertainment has changed over the decades, our role as a warm, welcoming community hub remains exactly the same. As proud custodians of this spectacular Grade I listed landmark, we are honoured to protect its unique architectural history while continuing to give our players a fantastic modern venue to catch up and play every single week.”
If you’re ever in the Tooting area, don’t miss out on the chance to enjoy a game of bingo at this historic venue!
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