Micropub plan for section of old bingo hall
EXCITEMENT and optimism is building over the transformation of an old Derbyshire bingo hall.
An ambition to open a micropub within it has been welcomed by people in Ilkeston.
They said “any new pubs would be more than welcome” after details emerged in a plan submitted to Erewash Borough Council to change the use of a section of the old Ritz Bingo Hall, in South Street, Ilkeston.
The former bingo hall now consists of four units – three of which are undergoing refurbishment.
Previous plans were put forward to open a cafe within one of the units, and were met with a positive reaction.
Now, a separate plan has emerged to open a micropub in the fourth unit, located at the entrance of the old bingo hall.
And the idea has gone down well with shoppers and punters who said more pubs were needed.
Mick Bolstridge, 60, said the town had seen a loss in pubs over the years.
Mr Bolstridge said: “Ilkeston has had many pubs shut over the years – it must be about 15 we’ve lost. Any new pubs would be more than welcome.”
Callum Burrows, 22, was all for the idea of a micropub. He said: “You can’t go wrong with a pub. There’s two micropubs down there and I’ve been to them both.”
But his younger brother, Oliver Burrows, 18, added: “A big club would be better – it’s a big building.” Whilst Michelle Roe, who is 44 and from Long Eaton, said she would rather see a new restaurant and was not too sure if another micropub in the town would prove successful.
She said: “I’d rather see something for food – somewhere to eat. Ilkeston is lacking for food. I’d rather a restaurant. I don’t think it [a micropub] would do that well – there’s too many pubs down here.”
Shopper Kerrie Roberts, 43, said a micropub would be a positive addition to the town.
“I think it would do well,” she said. “Anything to add to Ilkeston would be good – I think it’s a good idea.”
The former bingo hall ran in the town for 50 years, but closed in 2018 when the owners of Beacon Bingo announced the business had continued to make a significant trading loss.
Built in 1938, the building was a cinema for decades being transformed into a bingo hall in the late 1960s. For many years it was known as Barry Noble’s Ritz Bingo and Social Club, before it became Beacon Bingo.