Listen to this article:Bingo has long been a staple of British seaside towns; before bingo sites emerged, traditional halls offered locals and holidaymakers a place to meet and enjoy a few games. Now, Southport is preparing to welcome a new take on the game, as LOL Entertainment is bringing luxury bingo concept to Lord Street.
The new venue will occupy the former Lavish Home store, which has already been granted planning approval by Sefton Council for conversion into a bingo hall. The final step is the licensing approval, after which the town will gain a modern bingo destination unlike any it has seen before.
Michael Smith, founder of LOL Entertainment, explained that his company is reimagining bingo for a new generation while still honouring the traditions that made the game so popular in the first place. Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, he said:
“LOL Bingo is a modern twist on a traditional game. Both large-scale bingo halls have closed in Southport, and we like the area – Lord Street provides a good location for both locals and holiday makers.”
What sets LOL Bingo apart is its approach to creating a flexible entertainment environment. Unlike traditional halls where silence is often expected, LOL Bingo uses fully electronic systems, which means that players can enjoy the game in a more relaxed atmosphere. A lounge seating up to 60 people can accommodate bingo alongside other activities at the same time.
Smith added:
“Why ‘luxury’? Because we build the experience around the customer. From walking in, you can choose Bingo, Slots, American Pool or Interactive Darts. The players are also able to choose the music from a free-to-air jukebox.”
This multi-activity model is designed to appeal to groups of friends and families looking for something beyond the standard hall.
The Southport venue will become the third branch in LOL Bingo’s growing network. The company already operates successful lounges in Harpurhey, Manchester, and Wallsend, Newcastle. Each location follows the same philosophy: providing a social space with modern facilities while maintaining the sense of community that the traditional game has always offered.
LOL Entertainment emphasises responsible operations across its sites. None of its lounges open before 10am, and none remain open past midnight. These limits are part of the company’s focus on safe and responsible gambling practices.
Smith has opted for Southport due to his family history in the own:
“On a personal note, my father grew up in Southport before meeting my mother and moving to Manchester. Following my father’s passing, my mother would regularly take us to Southport, and I can still remember spending time on Lord Street, particularly the busy cafes and independent shops.”
Those memories inspired Smith to bring LOL Bingo to the seaside town. He believes the new venue will support Southport’s high street revival by attracting both locals and visitors to a vibrant, repurposed space.
LOL Entertainment has made community involvement a central part of its business model. The company commits to hiring staff locally, ensuring that all employees in Southport will be recruited from nearby postcodes. This approach, combined with its emphasis on being “great neighbours”, reflects a desire to embed the bingo lounge into the life of the town rather than simply operate within it.
“We pride ourselves on supporting the local area, we are great neighbours, we try (where possible) to recruit locally, and all staff will be recruited from Southport postcodes. Importantly, we work to create a community feel, and give people a place to meet friends and make new ones.”
Venues such as LOL Bingo are helping to reinvent the game for modern audiences by combining the social aspect of bingo with additional leisure activities. This not only broadens the appeal to younger generations but also keeps the tradition alive in towns where it risked fading away.
The new bingo lounge in Southport, once fully licensed and opened, is expected to become an exciting attraction for both residents and visitors looking for holiday entertainment. By blending modern technology, multiple activities, and a focus on community, LOL Entertainment hopes to create a sustainable model that can expand into other towns across the UK.
As Smith put it: “LOL Bingo are strong supporters of a high street revival – we fit out to a high standard. The site is the correct size, and the location is very desirable.”
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