A POPULAR bingo hall which has been in Redditch town centre for more than 20 years will close its doors for the final time on Sunday, March 29.
The manager of Shipleys Luxury Bingo Hall, based in Red Lion Street, refused to comment when asked if the closure would result in job losses.
There are two more Shipley Bingo Halls, one in Kidderminster and the other in Bristol, but it is unclear if employees will be offered posts there.
In a statement, the director of Shipleys, Jim Shipley, said: “Trade has dwindled away in recent years making the business no longer sustainable.
“We will be stripping out the venue and returning the lease to the landlord on April 13.”
A planning application to turn the site into a storage facility was received by Redditch Borough Council last year but has not yet been approved.
Mr Shipley added that he hoped whoever moves into the building will ‘make it a success’.
The closing of the hall has come as a shock to many who play there regularly.
Longtime customer Denise Bonham said: “We need our bingo hall because it’s more than that…it’s a social club.
“Redditch does not need any more storage units in the centre of town.”
Stephen Bradley of Birchfield Road said: “Our town needs various social activities to cater for all demographics.
“The bingo hall is a great community asset which we are about to lose along with the Foxlydiate pub.
“Why do we need more storage facilities surely there is enough in Redditch already?”
