Plans for a new bingo lounge in Southport have been approved.
LOL Bingo will open its third luxury bingo and slots lounge in the former Lavish homes unit at 229-233 Lord Street, on the corner of Lord Street and Scarisbrick Avenue.
It will add to the firm’s existing venues in Manchester and Newcastle.
It will see the creation of eight new jobs with the owner saying he is eager to make a positive difference to Lord Street and play a part in its regeneration.
Mike Smith, the Director of LOL Bingo, is investing £350,000 into converting the site, and has been recognised for already improving the building’s appearance by restoring the Listed canopy at the front and re-painting the metal work.
The facility will also include a fully accessible toilet.
In their report, Sefton Council’s Planning team said: “The proposal would replace a former furniture store, which has moved from the premises leaving the unit vacant.
“The use, however, is not retail and no evidence has been presented to demonstrate that the premises has been marketed for retail purposes. That said, there is clear evidence of vacant retail units along the entire stretch of Lord Street including big chains such as Debenhams and Boothroyds which have been vacant for some time.
“There is risk therefore that this unit could also remain vacant, adding to the further decline of the Primary Shopping area.
“The introduction of a bingo lounge into the Primary Shopping Area would introduce an acceptable alternative use which would bring the premises back into use and would attract an increase in footfall both during the day and into the evening.
“This would be a positive contribution to the vitality and viability of the centre.
“There still remains a wide choice of retail units within the primary shopping area and the use would complement the row of ‘non-retail’ uses located either side, such as the bar and hotel. “The proposal would offer a modern approach to bingo with a number of terminals from which the bingo would be played.
“The supporting information suggests that the premises would be used as a bingo hall with ancillary offers. Furthermore, a letter from the Bingo Trade Association supports the argument that the premises would be viewed as a bingo hall rather than an amusement arcade. Whilst slot machines are included within the premises, they are ancillary to the main use.
“The use would not be too dissimilar to the more traditional bingo halls that have existed elsewhere, including at the former Garrick, which until 2020, operated as a Bingo Hall on the same side of Lord Street at the proposal.
“The comings and goings of customers and the activities within the premises would not be inappropriate or out of character in the busy, mixed use, town centre. The proposed use would, however, have some positive effect of bringing into use an empty property.
“It is also recognised that the applicant has improved the appearance of the Listed canopy to the front elevation, restoring the glazed canopy and re-painting the metal work.
“The proposal is for the use to operate between the hours of 10am and 12am Monday to Sunday. This would be consistent with other nearby uses and would be acceptable.”
Mike Smith, the Director of LOL Bingo, speaking to Stand Up For Southport earlier this year, said: “The company was incorporated back in 2021 with the first LOL Bingo opening in Harpurhey, Manchester. Our second lounge followed last June in the Wallsend area of Newcastle.
“I have some vivid memories of Southport growing up and I’m proud and excited to open our third venture here.
“I really love the Southport area, it has so much going for the place and there are few areas such as the iconic Lord Street – the heritage is just incredible.
“There are lots of positive changes happening in the town centre soon, with big investment in the Northern and Market Quarters and the new Marine Lake Events Centre.
“We want LOL Bingo to play our part in Lord Street’s regeneration.
“We are investing a significant level of capital into this local venture, which shows how committed we are to creating something special in this area.
“We are working very closely with the planning and conservation teams at Sefton Council to get everything just right and ensure we create a positive addition to Lord Street.
“Our bingo section hosts up to 24 people at any one time, using the very latest in interactive tech, our customers will be able to chat to our callers who broadcast from our Hull based studios. When you play our Bingo, you have the choice to also join our LOL Bingo ‘chatroom’ allowing you to speak directly with the team as if they were there in the lounge.
“It’s good to be able to bring bingo back to Southport after first the Gala then Mecca brands vacated the town, the latter as a result of the pandemic.
“It’s brilliant to see the old Garrick theatre building now being brought back into use as the UK’s first spa theatre hotel – I’m sure Mrs Smith will be a regular visitor!
“But big old bingo halls are sadly closing across the UK. Buildings like that are expensive to heat, to light, and to staff; they also still dictate times of play to their customers – when to arrive, how long to stay and when to leave – this no longer fits with the demands of the modern busy consumer, we should be available when they want us!
“With LOL Bingo, we will be open from 10am until midnight, 7 days a week so the customer can decide when to play either our bingo, our slots, the interactive darts or our american pool – we are here.
“We are a small company, we really care about our customers and we’ll react appropriately to give the very best offers.
“The better that Lord Street looks, the more people will be attracted, and the more that additional footfall will encourage other businesses to open here – particularly small independent ones.
“We all need to shop, eat and spend leisure time at a more local level, that way everyone wins.
“As an individual, I’m keen to get involved in local community initiatives and events in this lovely town and keen to make LOL Bingo’s presence felt positively.”
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