Customer sadness after Crown Bingo in Gosport announces closure

Crown Bingo in Forton Road, Gosport, will close on Sunday, May 3 after 52 years of operation.

Kim Collins has been going along to the hall with her family for 14 years and would visit for a game once or twice a month.

The 59-year-old said: ‘It is so sad because it is like a community and everyone knows each other.

‘The numbers have been going down and I think everyone thought it might happen but even so it is still a shock.

‘It will really affect older people as well because for them this is where they come along when they are retired or if they are on their own to chat to people.

‘Younger people come here as well and my daughter has been coming since she was 18 and she is now 32.

‘That is all the entertainment gone in Gosport now.’

Seventeen members of staff worked at the Gosport site with the longest standing employee serving for 34 years.

A post on Crown Bingo’s social media read: ‘It is with great sadness that we must announce that we have made the difficult decision to close our Crown Bingo Gosport club.’

‘We would like to say a huge thank you for the continued support from our loyal members and to our excellent team of staff.’

Readers of The News have also reacted to the announcement.

Rosinella Giordano wrote: ‘That's a shame not nice for the older people where are they going now?’

Rachael Davison posted: ‘Sad times indeed. Had many laughs here.’

Other halls are in Bognor Regis, Cosham and Leigh Park.

The News has contacted Crown Bingo for comment.