No longer confined to standard bingo halls, Bingo has been reinvented for a new generation, and we can’t get enough of it. That said, lip service is still paid to tradition in the Big Smoke’s bingo halls; it may have added bells, whistles and a fresh sense of dynamism, but it’s still bingo with cards and callers and winners in the waiting.
It’s a whole lot of fun to be had, once you’ve got your head around the terminology, that is. As soon as you’re confident and conversant, it’s time to grab a dabber and get stuck in to these; our 7 IDEAL bingo nights in London.
Karaoke & Bingo
This is Bingo, but not as you know it. And that’s what you’re here for right? Bunga Bunga Battersea is billed as a ‘one-stop party shop with karaoke every day in Battersea’, but perhaps that description doesn’t do the event justice.
Indeed, this place is rocking any and every night of the week, with raucous carousing mixed with pizza, pasta and the rest. What more could you want? Well, this, since you’re here for it; every last Thursday of the month is bingo night, Bunga Bunga style. In other words you can play a game or two of Bingo, and as you win, you get to sing.
The evening’s format comes in two rounds. First of all, you feast; the most popular option is their signature serve of metre long pizzas which start at the rather bargainous price of £12. While you take down your pizza, the legendary loose lipped Mamma Bunga and her son Luigi dish out some laughs and offer you the opportunity to win bingo prizes.
Then, comes round two, or as we like to call it – the big bingo twist. A bingo ball selects a table to come up on stage; here, you’ll spin the bingo cage which will decide on the song you’ll be singing.
You’ll need to pay for your bingo ticket and pizza in advance, but the pizzaz, razzmatazz, glam and camp comes for free. Get stuck in!
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Bubbles & Bingo
Need something to look forward to during the toil and trouble of hump day? Well, every Wednesday, Cattivo bar on Brixton’s buzzing Ferndale Road hosts a Bubbles and Bingo night with bottles of prosecco at £10 all evening. Yes, you read that right – £10.
If you’re not a fan of prosecco, the cocktails made with Cattivo’s signature Small Batch Gin here are rather good and thoughtfully done; we suggest ordering one using whatever fruit is in season; right now, we’re ordering the rhubarb and ginger tonic, rosemary and ginger, and we can’t wait for their elderflower infusion come summertime!
As with Bunga Bunga, it’s Italian home cooking here to line the punters’ stomachs. Here, there’s a big emphasis on bad behaviour; Cattivo translates as ‘naughty’ in Italian and it’s certainly a long, louche night. The bottles pop at 5pm, the bingo kicks off at 7, and the vibes keep rocking ‘till late.
Bling & Bingo
Bingo gets yet another remix! This time, it’s all about the beats. Alongside the essential pillars of hip hop – mc’s, DJs, bboying and beatboxing – the guys behind Blingo have added another: Bingo.
Billed as a hilarious night of ‘Bingo, beats and bling’, expect hip hop bangers, dance offs and lip sync battles. The show is hosted by potty-mouthed pensioner Grandma Flash, who comes sporting enough bling to make you go blind.
Blingo takes place at least once a month in a variety of locations, so you’ll have to check in on their website to find upcoming events near you
It should be noted that playing bingo isn’t as easy as it might at first seem; it’s heads down and all about concentration if you’re hoping to win. And when you throw booze into the mix, it’s often hit the floor and time for tea before you can shout the immortal word. Best, then, to learn those terms first!
Rnb & Bingo
Because there ain’t nothing wrong with a little bingo balls and grind. Another musical revamp this, and if RnB is your slow-jam, then this is the bingo night for you,
Promising RNB anthems all evening, the MC will put you through your paces with bingo rounds, crazy challenges and games throughout the evening. Between the fun games and activities, the DJ will be spinning the best tunes from 80s, 90s and 2000s. Yep, that was us putting in a request for ‘Return Of The Mack’.
Drag & Bingo
Yet another revamp of the popular game of chance – Ginger’s Big Drag Bingo a smutty, saucy version dreamt up and hosted by the gorgeous Ginger. This bingo night is as glitzy and as glamorous as they come and definitely isn’t your grandma’s bingo, so don’t bring them; unless she enjoys a raucous night of fun alongside the comedic stylings of one of the most hilarious drag acts around, that is. Expect plenty of ball fondling and other attempts at bingo-based innuendo to pepper the night with a sense of frivolity. Where do we sign up?
Brunch & Bingo
How about something a little more permanent? Dabbers Bingo is the UK’s first ‘contemporary’ (see: live music, pub grub, comedy sets) purpose-built Bingo Hall, serving your number calling needs every single night of the week.
There are lots of different offerings at Dabbers so you’ll be sure to find a bingo calling card to suit your tastes, from High Tea Bingo on a Saturday afternoon to their Doggie Bingo, where you can bring your poochie pals along for the ride.
The highlight of the week is undoubtedly held on Saturdays, and it’s this day you want to be aiming for, as it hosts a gorgeous brunch and the week’s largest jackpot. That’s not to say the other nights of the week aren’t lively, on Monday nights members get 50% off food and drink and on Friday, holidays are up for grabs. Hold us back.
Old School Bingo
If you’re looking for something a little more traditional, then Palace Bingo in Elephant and Castle may well suit your needs. This is a London institution that not many people know about. Set in a huge retro room with psychedelic carpet and boasting seating for up to 2000, at Palace Bingo huge portions of curried-goat from the canteen are served, the bingo is boisterous and the wins potentially big. The ideal night out, some might say.