Listen to this article:Regular players and employees were left shocked by the sudden news of the once-thriving bingo in Wisbech closure last month, especially as just one day’s notice was given to both staff and customers.
Winners Bingo, which operated out of the Grade II-listed Empire Theatre on Blackfriars Road, made the surprise announcement on its website on Saturday, 12 July, stating:
“We regret to announce that Winners Bingo in Wisbech will be permanently closing on Sunday, July 13. We thank our wonderful staff and customers for their continued support over many years.”
Regular players arriving for their usual Sunday evening session were told of the closure through an announcement at the start of the night. The reason given was a significant drop in customer numbers since the COVID-19 pandemic, which has severely affected the business’s financial sustainability. The pandemic situation led to more people playing at top rated bingo sites instead.
One of the evening’s announcers explained that “Income has not been generating enough profits to cover increasing costs”.
The announcement was met with disappointment and concern from long-time players. Donna Wright, a frequent visitor, quickly created a petition on Change.org in hopes of reversing the decision.
“Tonight, the town said goodnight to our bingo hall. But maybe it’s not too late. It needs support. From the local people, the local council, and local businesses. We have to try. Too many people rely on this as their social lifeline. Wisbech doesn’t need another empty building, Winners Bingo Wisbech.”
In the petition’s description, she wrote of the social importance of the venue:
“Our local community needs our bingo hall. For a lot of people, it is literally a lifeline. It’s not just bingo, it’s a social hub. Amazing staff and great atmosphere. It needs sponsors, local support, and council backing. Our town needs this. Don’t let another Wisbech staple go. I would like to add that I have no vested interest in the business but am simply showing support for the staff, the business, and the town.”
Wright’s efforts quickly gained traction, with the petition rapidly collecting over 350 signatures. A post promoting the cause on a Wisbech community Facebook page attracted over 70 responses, most of them supportive.
One woman commented:
“I’ve been coming here on and off for the past 20 years, and my family was part of it even before me. It’s always been a familiar and welcoming place, somewhere people could enjoy a few games, see familiar faces, and feel part of something. I was really looking forward to bringing my daughter when she turned 18. It was something we were both excited about. It’s such a shame it’s come to this.
If there’s anything that can be done to keep it going or even just to show how much it’s meant to people, then I think it’s worth speaking up. It’s been a big part of people’s routines and memories, and it deserves a chance.”
Another echoed the sentiment:
“A real shame – never really recovered after Covid restrictions – shall definitely sign.”
However, while many called for action, others expressed their understanding toward the business’s decision and acknowledged that continuing to operate at a loss isn’t sustainable. Furthermore, the fact that the petition has now failed to attract any more signatures in roughly a month suggests that there is not a great deal of local support for the bingo club.
It is not just the bingo club’s future that is unclear. The future of the historic Empire Theatre building, which originally opened in 1932 as a cinema, is also less than certain. According to its official heritage listing, the Empire Theatre in Wisbech, which was constructed by Ward and Woolnough using common brick and reconstituted Ketton stone, is “a very complete and richly decorated cinema in an exceptionally unusual style for the provinces”.
With the closure of the Winners bingo hall, efforts will have to be made to ensure the building is not left to run into disrepair.
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