Listen to this article:In good news for bingo fans in the Harrow area, Merkur will open a bingo venue in the old Barclays Bank building on Station Road in Hayes. The plans received approval from Hillingdon Council’s licensing subcommittee on Monday, October 27.
The site will be operated by Merkur Group, previously known as Cashino, and will be limited to the ground floor. Merkur plans to offer a mix of gaming options, including electronic bingo terminals, gaming machines, and live broadcast bingo sessions that can be played in the traditional way. Visitors will be able to play bingo games from 9am to midnight every day. While Merkur does operate a 24 hour venue in Bolton, it has not applied for round-the-clock licensing at this location.
However, the aim is not to open a large bingo hall. Unlike large-scale bingo halls, the venue will bring together virtual and traditional elements and offer players an interactive experience without hosting a physical bingo caller on site.
During the meeting, the Merkur Group drew attention to the national “aim to permit” principle, which guides local authorities to approve gambling venues as long as regulations are met. This policy has attracted criticism from some politicians, including Brent East MP Dawn Butler, who has called on the government to review or abolish the rule to give local communities more control.
The committee heard that Merkur has never had a premises licence application refused, nor has it had a licence subjected to a local authority review. No statutory objections were filed against the Hayes proposal, although a local resident, Christine O’Hara-Carnduff, did raise concerns about potential strain on parking.
A Merkur representative responded by stating Ms O’Hara-Carnduff had “misunderstood” the scale of the operation, and explained that typically fewer than ten people are on-site at any one time. The licence was granted in full, but the venue’s official opening date has not yet been confirmed.
The news came shortly after Merkur Group announced its entrance into the Northern Ireland market, as it seeks to expand its UK footprint. The company recently acquired Oasis Retail Services, which is the leading operator of gaming and amusement machines in the region.
Oasis runs 16 venues and manages hundreds of machines across pubs and betting shops. The acquisition marks Merkur’s debut in Northern Ireland and fits with its broader strategy of growth across the UK.
Mark Schertle, Chief Operating Officer of Merkur Casino UK, said:
“We are delighted to welcome Oasis Retail Services into the Merkur family. Oasis is a business built on strong values, quality and a long-term commitment to its customers and employees.”
He added that Oasis has long operated under standards that reflect Merkur’s values, and the goal is to maintain and build on those foundations for the benefit of staff and patrons alike.
Merkur employs more than 15,000 people worldwide and runs over 220 Gaming Centres in Great Britain. The addition of Oasis boosts its position in one of Europe’s largest gaming markets and strengthens its presence in the land-based sector.
With the news of Merkur opening a bingo venue in the old Barclays Bank, people in Hayes will be happy with the new opportunities to play.
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