Number's Up For Former Bingo Hall

By Hannah2009 | Monday, June 28, 2010, 09:50

A Bristol-based developer has confirmed its interest in transforming the former Gala Bingo hall in Bedminster.

Urbis Development, which has recently completed the conversion of the Robinson building in East Street into 100 flats, wants to redevelop the bingo hall site in nearby North Street.

Bristol City Council has placed a legal notice stating that Urbis is to apply for permission to develop both the former bingo hall site and the Carr Power Products site a few doors down the road.

The notice says permission would be sought for demolishing existing buildings and a "comprehensive mixed use residential and commercial redevelopment".

Richard Clarke, director of Urbis, which is based in Lower Park Row, said: "Urbis Development is currently looking into purchasing the site of the old Gala Bingo hall on North Street, subject to obtaining planning for a mixed use development.

"The recent public notice was issued in connection with a planning application that will be submitted in due course. Urbis will look to issue a full press release about the future plans for the site when contracts have been finalised."

The Gala Bingo hall closed in February 2008, despite a petition being handed in by bingo players in an attempt to save it.

They argued its closure would be a major loss to many older people, who said they would face difficulties getting to alternative bingo halls due to their age, disability or poor public transport links.

The former Rex Cinema in North Street hosted bingo for more than 25 years and the closure saw almost 20 people lose their jobs.

Gala, which took over the site in 2000, said the hall was "under-performing" compared to its sister sites in Hengrove and Fishponds.

It was one of five bingo clubs Gala closed down across the country.

In May 2008, developer Parkridge Homes (Southern) was preparing to submit a planning application to the city council to build flats and shops on the site.

The company had proposed demolishing the hall and building about 40 flats with shops on the ground floor and parking spaces.

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Comments

My only comment would be that it would be better for the area to see the site developed than just left empty and obsolete. Nothing looks worse in an area than empty used premised.

By Susie710 at 21:46 on 28/06/10
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I guessed it would probably have a restrictive covenant on it much like the former ABC Whiteladies. It's a shame that so many former cinemas are affected in such a way when in these more 'eco-friendly' times local cinemas would be a perfect way of cutting down on car journeys to the soul-less and expensive multiplexes.

By Kaptain_Von at 16:15 on 28/06/10
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It was never going to be restored as a cinema. When it was sold to Gala it was part of the conditions that it would never revert to a cinema and similarly when Gala sold it one of the conditions was that it was never a bingo hall.

By Sidderley at 15:41 on 28/06/10
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Hmmm! I think Urbis are being a bit naughty putting the signs up when they have not actually purchased the building yet. Furthermore I think that they were even more out of line dumping all the splintered wood and concrete filled oil drums from their East St development outside. I recently contacted the council to report that lot as fly tipping only to be informed that it belonged to Urbis. Mind you, it seems to have partially done the job as part of the mess has been removed. Finally, I personally would have loved to have seen the Bingo hall restored to its former glory and turned back into a local independent cinema. Anyone else on here remember the Saturday kids film showings back in the 70s?

By Kaptain_Von at 14:57 on 28/06/10
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I think the signs that had been outside for several weeks with the name "urbis" on were a bit of a giveaway.

By Sidderley at 14:02 on 28/06/10
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