Mecca Bingo in Oldham set to reopen

Mecca Bingo in Oldham has confirmed it will be reopening on Saturday 4 July in line with the government's guidance.

The club on King Street is one of 36 which will be opening its doors again for the first time since the lockdown was imposed in March as part of a phased approach. 

The remaining clubs will follow with a phased reopening from mid-July onwards, Mecca has said. 

Jonathon Swaine, Managing Director of Retail at Mecca Bingo, said: “We want to reassure the Mecca Bingo community that we are working together to take every precaution necessary to create a safe environment in which to play the nation’s favourite game. We’re also investing in new entertainment formats in our clubs, to give everyone even better experiences. We are excited to reopen our doors, welcome back our communities and hear ‘House’ called once again.”

Stringent safety and cleaning measures will be in place when customers return, while staff have undergone "robust and rigorous training". 

Enhanced cleaning routines will be taking place with team members cleaning as they go and all tables, machines and touchpoints will be cleaned regularly throughout the day.

Visitors will be asked to clean their hands with hand sanitiser stations readily available around the club. 

Social distancing will be in place, with clear signage to help guide customers. There will also be a capacity cap in place to ensure numbers are managed carefully.

Customers can choose to both pay and play using contactless devices but will still have the option to use cash if they prefer. They will also be able to order food and drink using their mobile or MAX screen at their bingo table.

Mecca will be launching a pre-booking service in July, which will allow customers to secure their space to play, pre-order food and drinks. 

As well as the traditional game, new bingo sessions will be introduced.

Opening hours will be extended in the majority of clubs to accommodate the new format ‘Popingo’, which will allow customers to literally pop in and play for an hour, alongside some fun new entertainment including a regular quiz night. 

New ‘Mecca Cares’ sessions will also be introduced earlier in the day, for those who may be feeling a little nervous about getting back to normal life. Customer numbers will be reduced within these sessions, and they can also enjoy a free cup of coffee.