Our suggestion that the Mecca club that closed 2 weeks ago for emergency structural work may not re-open, has come true as Mecca Bingo have confirmed that the repairs costs are far to high to make it financially viable to reopen the club.

The historic 1930s city building on All Saints Green closed as structural engineers discovered serious problems with the building. The plans to close were only temporary as the gaming company planned to carryout the work. As reports into the extent of the required work have now been completed, Rank Group, the parent company of Mecca Bingo has taken the difficult decision to close the site, with 27 staff members facing redundancy.

Since the building temporarily closed, the Mecca has been running a free shuttle bus between All Saints Green and its other bingo hall in Aylsham Road. Aylsham Road venue is the last remaining bingo hall in Norwich.

Rank Group added: “Following the detailed assessment carried out by structural engineers, it is with great regret that we have taken the decision not to reopen Mecca Bingo in All Saints Green.

“The cost of the repair bill is so high that it would make the business commercially unviable and we will liaise with our landlord and the local authority regarding the future of the site.

“We are currently consulting with our employees and we will wherever possible redeploy them within the Rank Group.

“We remain committed to Norwich and will be investing in updating our Aylsham Road club later this year and we will also continue to offer the shuttle bus service between All Saints Green and Aylsham Road for the foreseeable future.”

The buses leave All Saints Green at regular intervals between 11am and 1pm, and 5pm and 7pm, and customers will be brought back to the club too.

Gary Vernall, a 39-year-old team leader, and who has worked at the site for 23 years added: “We have a real family atmosphere here and it was a say day when they told us.

“We’ve had some good times here and it’s a shame for the customers as many have been coming here for years and this is what they come out for.”

Caller Hazel Dean said she was worried about the state of the jobs market in Norwich and being able to find work.

She said: “We shall really miss seeing everyone here.”

Pamela Hagon, 80, has been playing at All Saints Green from when it opened as a bingo hall and on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays it is her break from caring for her husband Arthur.

She commented: “What does it mean to me? Everything. If I don’t come here where else is there to go?

“I love it. I really love the atmosphere, it’s so friendly and I speak so highly of the staff.“

Marika Fraser, 77, from Hethersett, added getting two buses to the other hall would be extremely tiring for her.

She added: “It’s terrible really. A lot of people are happy with the staff, the place is nice and everybody here is very, very helpful.

“I don’t know what I’m going to do. It’s my outing. I have got nothing else - I don’t drink, or smoke. This is where I meet my friends.”

Barbara Hayward, 83, commented: “I can’t come too often because of transport and it takes quite a while on the bus.

“I normally only go to Aylsham Road when my daughter has a day off as it would mean getting two buses.

“It’s a sad thing it’s closing.”

Sandra Nudd, 53, from Dussindale, added: “I don’t come regularly but I think it’s disappointing for people who use it often.

“It’s handy, being in the city centre, and if they could find a new venue it would need to be easy for older people to get the bus up.”