Eyes down as bingo club gets ready to reopen

Buzz Bingo in Sunderland is getting ready to welcome customers back for the first time since March.

The club, in Pallion New Road, closed in March in line with Government guidance regarding the coronavirus pandemic and associated lockdown restrictions.

But the company is now planning a phased reopening of its UK clubs, with Sunderland’s due to reopen on Thursday, August 20, after around five months of closure.

A range of enhanced safety measures are being rolled out to keep both customers and colleagues safe. They will include: *New maximum capacity to allow for social distancing

*Markers on the floor, both inside and outside, to keep customers safe while queueing

*Perspex screens at the reception, bar and bingo sales, as well as between machines and fixed gaming terminals for social distancing

*Some seats marked as ‘out of use’ to keep players safely distanced

*Group and individual seating areas to allow families and single households to play together

*COVID-secure risk assessments and a new, more frequent, cleaning rota in place

*Sanitising stations will be available around clubs

*Contactless card payments increased to £45

*Changes to food menu and service to enable social distancing

All Buzz Bingo venues are expected to be open for business again by August 27.

As a thanks to NHS workers, the firm is launching NHS Lucky Stars. Five pence from the sale of each paper book or electronic touchpad package will be donated to the NHS.