So bingo really does have wings
LUCKY FOR SOME – THE POPULAR GAME IS BACK WITH NEW RHYMES FOR OUR TIMES
THINK of bingo and you’re likely to think of felt tip pens and “two fat ladies”.
But now a new hip version of the classic bingo experience has opened its doors in the City of London.
And this one comes with cheeky 21st century catchphrases and has been jazzed up so that it appeals to a younger audience.
It’s all the idea of entrepreneur Ed Wethered, who set up Dabbers Social Bingo in Houndsditch on the edge of the City.
Now he’s applying for a licence to set up the first bingo parlour in the City.
He said: “It’s about tapping into the millennial psyche and doing it properly.”
What else is different?
Mr Wethered explained that bingo callers have been replaced with comedians and cabaret.
Winners are showered with glitter from a glitter ball or collect their prizes to the strains of Chesney Hawkes’ hit One and Only.
So, you might hear: “Do you have gluten free, dairy free vegan cuisine? It’s number 19.”
Or: “Not another Brexit debate, 48.”
Or even: “Why is my food served on a plate? 68.”
He hopes that City workers, as well as groups on a night out for team bonding and hen nights will enjoy a meal and a few games of bingo for up to 160 customers at a time.
Tickets are sold in advance online and customers pay £1.50 a game, with the average admission price being £14.
The business is also considering disco bingo with dancers using a UV pen to mark their bingo cards whilst on the dance floor.
Mr Wethered came up with the idea after running a series of fundraising events for Shoreditchbased social enterprise Raise Your Hands which supports children’s charities.
Picturehouse cinema chain founder Lyn Goleby has come on board as company chairwoman and the former MD of eaterie group Polpo, Luke Bishop, is the head of operations.
Mr Wethered estimates that just 12% of revenue will come from bingo, with 43% from drink, 22% from food and 21% from the entertainment.
“We are trying to build up a momentum and are attracting predominantly young professionals,” he said.
What does the Gambling Commission have to say?
But an attempt to offer something for families to do on a Sunday afternoon has led the Gambling Commission to investigate an alleged breach of rules which ban children on premises if gambling is taking place.
Mr Wethered said there was just one Sunday event for families.
The commission is deciding whether to take action on the issue.
Clive Noblett, the senior compliance manager for the Gambling Commission, said it was concerned that a premises licence would allow gaming machines in the bingo hall.
He added when he visited earlier this month that mandatory signs were missing.
“There were no rules displayed or premises licence on display, no self exclusion notice which the licence conditions and codes of conduct said should happen.”
Mr Wethered said he did not want to put machines in the building, but was told the licence is for the premises, rather than an individual.
He said he has been recovering from a hospital stay after an accident and has put the mandatory paperwork up and applied to join the industry’s Bingo Association to join the self-exclusion scheme to prevent problem gamblers from coming in.
Mr Noblett said he was also concerned about the blurring between a restaurant with bingo, rather than a straight bingo parlour.
A licence application was heard by The City of London Corporation on Friday, January 19.
The final decision should be known soon.