Listen to this article:Earlier this month, a major milestone was marked. Mecca Hartlepool celebrated 30 years since the club first opened its doors in 1996. The anniversary was marked with a special event that brought together long-standing members, newer players and staff past and present, in what was a fitting tribute to the club’s community spirit.
The celebrations took place over the weekend of 7 and 8 February, with two dedicated sessions that were designed to reflect both the club’s history and its modern appeal. Saturday evening saw customers getting into the party spirit from 5pm, with bingo followed by live music, while on Sunday, there was a more relaxed afternoon gathering that included a meal, a glass of fizz and a small gift for everyone who attended. Guaranteed jackpots were also part of both sessions, so some major prizes were handed out.
Less than six months ago, another special event took place. Mecca Bingo Glasgow Forge celebrated its 30th anniversary.
Few people embody that history more clearly than Sharron Dean, who has been part of the club since the very beginning. Dean was present on opening night, and she is still a familiar face to players today. Reflecting on those early days, she recalled the excitement around the venue even before it officially opened.
“I was recruited when the club was still being built. There was so much excitement about a new venue opening in the town that we held a preview event with Roy Walker, who was the host of ITV’s Catchphrase, and the star turn on the first night was comedian Jimmy Cricket.”
Over the years, Dean has seen the club adapt to changing tastes. She said that one of the biggest changes was the expansion of the venue’s social areas. The addition of a lounge space gave customers more reasons to visit, whether they were playing bingo or simply meeting friends for food and drinks.
“I’ve seen the club change with the times and watched the social side of the venue expand when we opened the lounge area, giving customers a space to relax, enjoy a meal or a drink and catch up with friends,” she said.
She also noted how the club’s audience has evolved. While bingo has long been associated with older people, Mecca Hartlepool now attracts a much broader age range, including young adults.
“Today, I see younger players coming in, and the average age of members is now much lower than on the day we opened. I love seeing generations of families playing and spending time together, and our regular customers often bring in friends who are visiting from other parts of the UK or overseas, to show them what bingo is all about.”
The weekend’s theme was rolling back the clock to 1996, which was a truly special year for Hartlepool. While the rest of the country remembers Britpop, Euro ‘96 and the early days of the internet, local bingo fans associate 1996 with the arrival of a new social club at Warrior Retail Park. It didn’t take long for Mecca Bingo Hartlepool to become part of many locals’ routines, as they gathered with friends to relax and play bingo.
As part of the anniversary weekend, Mecca Hartlepool celebrated 30 years with Dean, reviving a long-lost tradition from the club’s early days. She performed the original Mecca dance, which used to be performed in staff training sessions during the 1990s, and many long-term members still remember it fondly.
The popularity of Mecca Hartlepool over the past year alone demonstrates why the anniversary was significant. In the 12 months leading up to the celebrations, the club welcomed more than 14,500 customers and paid out over £2.9 million in prize money. Furthermore, last year more than 268,000 portions of chips were sold in the club, as well as 580,000 glasses of Pepsi (which is enough for everyone in County Durham to have a glass), and over 1,047,000 pints of beer were poured.
General manager Michelle Doherty described the anniversary as an opportunity to bring together everyone who has contributed to the club:
“Some people are surprised at the prize money that can be won at bingo and the number of younger players. In fact, a third of our members are aged 18–35. We see everyone here – from teenagers celebrating turning eighteen with their families to hen parties, and friends coming together to couples on first dates. Bingo is an experience that everyone can enjoy.”
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