Mecca keen to open second bingo venue in Plymouth
MECCA Bingo is looking for a location in Plymouth to open a "new-style leisure venue" as it announced a surge in profits and sales nationally.
The company wants to pinpoint suitable areas for a venue after "extensive research" across the UK revealed Plymouth was one of the top locations.
While the company already has a bingo hall in Devonport, Mecca is confident there is enough interest to support two clubs in the same city.
It comes as Mecca's owner, Rank Group, said it is attracting more and younger customers, and revealed increased profits and sales in the final six months of last year.
Mecca said that in addition to offering "a new gaming experience", a new Plymouth club would bring jobs to the city.
Each Mecca club employs about 50 people which the firm said would be a boost to Plymouth's Moor View and Sutton and Devonport constituencies which, respectively, suffer from 3.6 per cent and 4.6 per cent unemployment.
Mark V Jones, managing director of Mecca Bingo said: "We are actively seeking a new location in Plymouth as we are keen to open one of our new-look leisure venues in the area.
"Not only will it bring much-needed employment opportunities to the city but it will also offer locals a new female-friendly sociable gaming concept which is an attractive alternative to standard leisure activities such as the cinema or going to the pub.
"Our new style clubs offer live entertainment, food which is cooked to order and the chance to take part in some fun gaming."
According to Mecca, the ideal venue must be on a prominent A-road location, close to large residential areas, have a 30,000ft flat floor, on a retail/leisure park, and have a minimum 150 car parking spaces.
A fee will be paid for successful introductions and anyone with details of a prospective venue should contact Chris Warren at Cushman and Wakefield on 0207 1525209 or chris.warren@eur.cushwake.com
Rank Group saw the number of customers at Mecca Bingo, which has 98 venues in the UK, increase by seven per cent to 770,000 in the six months to December 31, while the number of punters at its Grosvenor Casino chain leapt nine per cent.
Analysts said investment in activities for younger markets, such as the After Dark suite of games which are aimed at under-35s, is boosting Mecca's performance and should lead to further growth.
Elsewhere, Rank, which reported an eight per cent rise in pre-tax profits to £32.4million, said it was still in talks with Gala Casinos about a takeover of the business.
Rank also owns the G Casino Plymouth, at Derry's Cross.
Gala has bingo halls at Derry's Cross and Charles' Cross.
11 Comments
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by GreenGOM
Friday, February 10 2012, 9:59PM
“Bingo! How classy! Praying on the desperate for profit.
Mediclad, IKEA? You like cheap tacky furniture then? Don't you think we have enough downmarket shops?”
by Peter20113
Friday, February 10 2012, 9:33PM
“The ice rink at the pavilions?”
by mcspredder
Friday, February 10 2012, 7:22PM
“Don't be in too much hurry to sign a lease, the Life centre could be looking for a tenant in a year or so.”
by mediclad
Friday, February 10 2012, 6:19PM
“Errill retail park would make a great location for an IKEA store taking over all the existing units from the bowling alley to the empty carpet warehouse. The Dance Academy is desperately in need of being brought back into use, but i do agree that it is probably too close to the existing Mecca in Devonport. Perhaps the old Cooperage which needs to be restored would be a better opportunity and ideally located, parking would be offered by the nearby public car parks in Bretonside.”
by lilwead
Friday, February 10 2012, 6:14PM
“There's also the old State Cinema, Victoria Rd, St. Budeaux. Been used as a snooker hall for years, though now closed. It would be nice to see some of these older buildings used/converted, rather than totally destroyed and a shoddy wood/metal clad unit put up.”
by timplymouth
Friday, February 10 2012, 4:45PM
“The Dance Academy has no parking, plus it's probably too close to their existing Bingo hall.
Errill retail park does seem like a good option. Hopefully it would spur the redevelopment of that whole site from the bowling alley to the carpet store.”
by willems
Friday, February 10 2012, 4:40PM
“A gambling,and face stuffing venue for the lower orders. 'Positive Plymouth' indeed.”
by stueys
Friday, February 10 2012, 3:27PM
“The Dance Academy building”
by NigeSM2
Friday, February 10 2012, 2:52PM
“quite agree with the idea of Plympton site. The majority of the site has been empty for a while now and it could do with something there.
The catchment area I believe would be quite large, even out to Ivybridge”
by Bruzercat
Friday, February 10 2012, 9:56AM
“Plymouth Road, Plympton - the old Focus store (now Buyology), the carpet showroom or the old bowling alley. Plenty of parking and easy access. It needs something there...Plenty of residences in the area too...”