“IMPROVEMENTS” have been made to a former bingo hall, after an enforcement notice was served.
Worcester City Council has provided an update after serving the notice on the owners of the Buzz Bingo site on Foregate Street last year.
Known as a Section 215 notice, it allows a local authority to order a site be cleaned up if its condition is believed to be adversely affecting an area.
The council has previously said that the notice referred specifically to the front of the building.
With the deadline for the owners to comply having passed in March this year, the council said some improvements had been made.
Council update
“Following the serving of a formal notice, improvements have been made to the appearance of the building at 20-21 Foregate Street, including re-painting and removal of vegetation,” a Worcester City Council spokesperson said.
“We will continue to work with the building owner to ensure that it is maintained appropriately and a future long-term use secured.”
The authority did not specify if this now means the notice has been officially complied with.
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Building empty for years
INSIDE: Urban explorers took snaps inside the empty Buzz Bingo (Image: Domonic Jackson)
Buzz Bingo has been out of use for almost six years after the bingo chain announced in 2020 that 26 of its venues, including in Worcester, would be closing permanently due to the impact of the pandemic.
Over the years, the site has suffered vandalism and graffiti, as well as posters accumulating on and near the main entrance.
The building is on the city council’s risk register, and was been added to the SAVE Britain’s Heritage risk register in 2024.
EMPTY: Bingo booths and equipment were still inside when urban explorers found their way in (Image: Domonic Jackson)
In photos taken by urban explorers last year, much of the bingo equipment, tables and chairs remained in place.
It’s not known if there are any plans to bring the building back into use.
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History of the site
Originally, it was opened in 1935 as the Gaumont cinema and live music venue. It continued as an entertainment venue until 1974, before closing and later reopening as Gala Bingo. It then became Buzz Bingo in 2018.