Streatham Theatre Company provided a history tour of the theatre for Beacon Bingo’s gala night on 14th November 2015.

Saturday 14th November 2015 marked 53 years of bingo at the Streatham Hill Theatre

Join us on the red carpet from 6pm, where you can have your photograph taken in the beautiful grand entrance hall. Take a spin on the classic roulette wheel while sipping a dirty martini as you wait for your bingo session to begin, followed by special guest entertainment from 10pm.

A truly grand experience for One Night Only in the magnificent surroundings of the old Streatham Hill Theatre to celebrate the history of bingo in Streatham.

An iconic, Grade II listed building since 1994, Streatham Hill Theatre survived bombing during WW2, and retains many of its original features, including the stunning entrance hall, complete with crystal chandelier and ornate ceiling.

Following the changes to the 2005 Gambling Act and the introduction of the smoking ban in England, the bingo industry suffered, with clubs throughout South London forced to close due to dwindling attendances and lack of investment. It was fully expected that Streatham would suffer the same fate until the acquisition by Praesepe PLC under the name of Beacon Bingo in 2009 secured a short term future at least. They retained the aesthetic charm of the building while they invested heavily behind the scenes in structural work and electrical updating.

Despite running at a loss for several years, the club remains operational, standing stubbornly in the spirit of the building, despite the constant spectre of closure that plagues so many other similar businesses. Just one look southbound on the A23 shows the potential fate awaiting the old theatre as Megabowl is demolished, brick by brick, to be replaced by the tide of progress.

Last year the club offered unprecedented access to hidden areas of the building with the Streatham Theatre Company’s Halloween Tours. By popular demand, they return on October 30th & 31st , with a focus on occult author Dennis Wheatley, presenting “The Devil Rides Back” with exclusive access to areas which have not been seen by the public for decades.

It is a testament to the members and team at the club to continue and thrive, with the will to preserve the building and offer a “home away from home” to the 1200 members that visit every week. Where once stood a crowd of bingo halls in the south, few remain, and none with the charm or history of this incredible building. Please come and celebrate with us on this unforgettable night.

By: Craig White
From: Inside Beacon Bingo today ( 2015 )