Following a devastating fire at The Regent Spalding bingo hall, the community rallied together to ensure players didn’t miss out on their beloved game. General Manager Michael Norbury and his team organized surprise trips to a sister club in Skegness, fostering continued camaraderie and demonstrating remarkable resilience in the face of adversity.
Fire Forces Closure Of Historic Venue
In the early hours of Friday, May 14th, a fire broke out at The Regent at Spalding, a historic cinema built in 1937. The alarm was triggered, and five fire trucks with 25 firefighters quickly responded, successfully containing and extinguishing the blaze. The fire, believed to be caused by an electrical fault, resulted in significant smoke damage to the interior, particularly due to the unique shape of the main hall ceiling. The club is expected to remain closed for at least six months for refurbishment, with owners Majestic Bingo Limited planning additional improvements during this period.
A Community Rallies: Bingo Buses To The Rescue
Recognizing the disappointment among their loyal customers, who had already endured lockdown separations, General Manager Michael Norbury and the Majestic Team devised a plan to bring bingo back. Leveraging their strong relationship with a local coach company and their sister club in Skegness, located just 30 miles away, they began offering "Bingo Buses" to transport Spalding customers to the Skegness venue. These trips commenced on Friday, June 4th, and are scheduled every two weeks thereafter.
Customer Appreciation And Future Plans
The initiative was met with overwhelming gratitude from customers. Karen Pearson, a regular at The Regent, expressed her delight on Facebook, stating, "What a great night we had, thank you so much for organising it. Really well organised. Thank you, Mr Manager." The success of these bi-weekly trips has even sparked interest in longer excursions, with players requesting full-day outings. As a result, a full-day trip to Skegness is planned for July 3rd, promising even more opportunities for players to connect and enjoy their favorite pastime. Michael Norbury noted that while bi-weekly bingo isn’t as frequent as some regulars would prefer, the extended chatting time on the coach adds an extra bonus to the experience.
Key Takeaways
- A fire at The Regent Spalding, caused by an electrical fault, led to its closure for at least six months.
- General Manager Michael Norbury and his team organized surprise "Bingo Buses" to a sister club in Skegness.
- The initiative allowed customers to continue playing bingo and socialize, fostering community spirit.
- Customer feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, leading to plans for longer, full-day trips.
Sources
- The Regent Spalding offers surprise trip to a sister Bingo Hall after fire, Bingo Connect Magazine.