There could be a full house at bingo hall if it’s included in trail
A Johnstone bingo hall could be approached to feature in Renfrewshire Doors Open Day after it was hailed as a“golden piece of cinematic history”.
Globe Bingo, originally a picture house prior to its change of use in 1964, has been earmarked for inclusion in an architecture trail for the event, which allows visitors to explore hidden gems in the area and is held in September each year.
The distinctive C-listed art deco building stands on the corner of the town’s High Street and Canal Street and is thought to have opened as a cinema in the late 1930s, before its conversion decades later.
The venue was raised by Councillor Iain McMillan during an update on visitor marketing at Tuesday’s economy and regeneration policy board.
The Labour group leader, who represents Johnstone South and Elderslie, said: “There’s one site in Renfrewshire I think is always missed when it comes to these things.
“I know people will laugh and I’ll wait to hear the guffaws when I say this, but the bingo hall in Johnstone is an absolutely fantastic building and it’s never mentioned in any tourism guides anywhere.
“It is a bingo hall, we all know that, but if you go inside it you’re transported back to 1930s cinema, because that’s what it is.
“Bingo halls are fairly modern nowadays but if you go into that hall, you’d be really taken aback.
“It took me well into my 40s to go into that hall, I passed it every day going to school.
“It wasn’t that far from where I was brought up and that’s just where all the old women went to the bingo and that was it, then one day I had reason to go inside it and honestly I couldn’t believe how magnificent and beautiful it was inside.
“I would like to see us doing something in that because... everybody loves watching a film, whether it’s on Netflix or going to the cinema, and here is a golden piece of cinematic history on our doorstep.”
SNP board convener Councillor Andy Steel, who also represents Johnstone South and Elderslie, responded: “It’s a good point.
“It’s the most beautiful art deco building.
“It’s the only art deco building I’m aware of in Johnstone certainly.”
Louisa Mahon, the council’s head of marketing and communications, suggested the possibility of reaching out to the bingo and including it in the Doors Open Day programme.
The weekend event allows people to explore a series of fascinating venues across Renfrewshire.
“Let’s pick it up in Doors Open Day,” Ms Mahon said.
“I’m not 100 per cent sure if it’s featured in the Doors Open Day programme, but let’s start there and at least get it open as part of the marketing for that.
“Let’s take it from there. “There’s no reason why we can’t include it in one of our architecture trails.”
It’s a bingo hall... but if you go inside you’re transported back to 1930s cinema