A BINGO chain has announced plans to close almost a dozen branches as is struggles to attract customers due to the soaring cost of living.
Buzz Bingo will close nine bingo halls putting 151 jobs at risk.
1
The business, which rebranded from Gala Bingo in 2018, said falling customer numbers and soaring running costs has caused the affected clubs to be “no longer financially viable”.
It currently runs 91 clubs across the country.
Bingo halls in Carlisle, Grantham and Slough have been marked for closure, but an exact date has not yet been confirmed.
The group currently employs more than 2,400 people.
Hospitality venues, like bingo halls, pub and shops have been knocked by rising costs as inflation sends prices soaring and there is less demand among cash-strapped punters.
Buzz Bingo permanently closed 26 of its bingo halls with the loss of more than 500 jobs in 2020 as a result of the pandemic.
The move was part of a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) – a restructuring deal which Buzz Bingo says will help secure its long-term future.
Dominic Mansour, chief executive of Buzz Bingo said the business will do “everything it can” to reduce job losses during these new closures.
Most read in Money
He added: “Believe me, no-one wants to make the call to close Clubs. However, it is my belief that it’s these decisions that will allow us to restructure the business for long term growth and to protect the livelihoods of our colleagues for the long run”.
Below is a full list of the nine Buzz Bingo sites up for sale:
- Surrey Quays
- Dumfries
- Grantham
- Slough
- Belle Vue
- Bromborough
- Carlisle
- Keighley
- Cumbernauld
It comes after Marston’s Brewery revealed it has put 61 pubs up for sale following a review of its estate.
While Wetherspoons confirmed to The Sun last week that two more of its sites have been permanently closed with 32 more still up for sale.
Pub giant Stonegate, which is behind brands such as Slug and Lettuce and Be At One, is also looking to sell off pubs.
Revolution revealed it will be shutting some of its bars on Mondays and Tuesdays to help cut energy costs.
And The Restaurant Group confirmed that it will close up to 35 Frankie & Benny’s and Chiquito restaurants over the next two years.
But It’s not just the hospitality sector that’s been hit by closures, some big names in retail have also been forced to close branches.
Over the last few months major chains have announced closures, including Paperchase, Iceland and B&M.
Nearly 15,000 jobs have been axed since the start of the year as dozens of retailers collapsed or were restructured.
We’ve listed all of the shops and chains closing stores shutting down this year.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected]
