Bingo clubs around the country have suffered this week with admissions down in some clubs more than 80 percent in the big the UK freeze. More than one in ten bingo clubs that we spoke to this week had been closed for at least one day.

Clubs in the north east and Scotland had again been hit the hardest with admissions down the most. Yorkshire was one of the worst areas hit in regards to public transport issues. With buses and trains coming to a halt it makes it impossible for many customers to travel. Some of the clubs we spoke to like the Rio Bingo in Canvey Island had had no choice but to close its doors as there was only one road in and out of the area and with it being ‘like an ice rink’ few people were attempting the journey leaving the club not just without customers but without staff to run the sessions either.

We have done survey around 50 bingo clubs around the UK, 7 of which had closed their doors over the last few days. The Gala Bingo in Castleford, which normally manages to stay open in such conditions made the decision to close, which is believed to have been down to public transport and lack of customers. The clubs in the West Midlands which had not been as affected as most areas in the UK had still seen admissions decline by over 50 percent on most sessions they were open.

Some managers stated that Health and Safety constraints were making their jobs even harder. In past years it was common to clear the snow and ice in front of the club. These days with the blame culture compensation claims most bingo operators have a strict policy of not touching the hazardous ice and snow. One Health and Safety representative who works within a bingo company that wished not to be named commented: “years ago it was common for the managers in our clubs to keep a reserve of sand and salt and treat footpaths and roads outside the club, the problem is where you draw the line? If someone has an accident they then blame the company for not doing the job properly”. As a result even those customers that get a lift to the front door now face the task of getting into the club. Even just crossing a couple of metres of ice maybe present significant difficulties for some customers.

The problem for most customers, especially those that are older or vulnerable is that there is so many reasons not come to bingo when the weather is as bad as it is at the moment. Getting to bingo becomes a problem. Public transport is affected and those that come by car maybe reluctant to drive. The walk poses obvious problems with ice that is not always apparent. The sheer cold temperatures also pose a risk to people’s health.

With the hopefully the worst of the weather behind bingo clubs are hoping that business will return to a normal state by the end of the weekend. Generally bingo clubs suffer a drop in admissions in the first 4 or 5 days of extreme weather conditions (including hot weather conditions), after this customers start to brave the conditions or simply miss their favourite game.

With many bingo companies still suffering the external effects of recent years, and with a VAT rise in the New Year and government cuts, hopefully this will be the one only big freeze this winter to hit the UK.