Bongo’s Bingo Manchester

Albert Hall, 27 Peter Street, Manchester, M2 5QR | More Information

The phrase ‘you’ve never experienced anything like it’ is often overused, with marketing people thinking that it somehow gives their product some much-needed caché. In the case of Bongo’s Bingo, though, it really is true. The idea of bingo in the minds of many involves the purple-rinse brigade sitting there for the afternoon, marking off their numbers and then going for a cup of tea and a biscuit.

That is absolutely not what you’re going to experience here. Bongo’s Bingo is a wild night that is as likely to include a mini-rave as it you calling out ‘bingo’ when you’ve got all of your numbers. It is one of the maddest nights you’re likely to experience.

A Brief History of Bongo’s Bingo

In some ways, it is something of a surprise that Bongo’s Bingo has taken off in Manchester. It isn’t that it isn’t a brilliant idea that Mancunians would love, but rather because it all started in Liverpool and the rivalry between the two cities means that Scouse achievements are rarely celebrated in Manchester and vice versa. It started with two blokes in Liverpool wondering what they could to to fill a warehouse space in the city’s Baltic Triangle, with Jonny Lacey and Joshua Burke coming up with the idea of combining bingo with a student rave. Lacey is actually from Belfast, which is perhaps why the Mancunians are accepting of him.

Nowadays, the Bongo’s Bingo experience that you’ll enjoy in Manchester is a full-on production, with 30-plus members of staff pulling it all together. The nature of the night is such that people from three different generations are likely to turn up and enjoy it, so you can expect to see grandmas dancing on the tables next to teenagers. Whilst Lacey might be Mancunian, he does credit the people of Liverpool with helping it grown and develop into the global phenomenon that it has become nowadays. It has grown and grown, to the point that Manchester now has its own home from the Bongo’s Bingo party.

Bongo’s Bingo in Manchester

The Bongo’s Bingo experience takes place at the Albert Hall in Manchester. The Grade II listed Wesleyan chapel was closed for 40 years, all but lost to the public. Then a company called Trof, which had been behind the likes of The Deaf Institute and Gorilla, resurrected it. Nowadays the converted chapel is one the city’s best entertainment venues, which extends to welcoming the team behind Bongo’s Bingo on a regular basis. The grand and ornate old chapel offers a restaurant and a bar, but the main music hall is where Bongo’s takes place and it is where you’ll be heading if you want to enjoy your night with friends.

Themes

There are different themes on offer on a regular basis, such as a country special or a daytime show, but the standard version of the Bongo’s Bingo experience is what most people in Manchester are in it for. There are also some special events that still take place at the Albert Hall if you want to experience the original version of it all. It is the biggest party in town, so it’s little surprise that tickets tend to sell out quickly for the event. There is no standing on ceremony here, with seats going on a first-come, first-served basis. There are plenty of them, though, so don’t worry if you want to have a few drinks before you go.

More Than Just Bingo

Now you will actually be playing bingo during the night, but don’t get confused and think that the bingo is the only thing that matters. Far from it, with the night being as much about having a rave and a laugh as it is about trying to tick off your numbers on your bingo cards. The hosts are all about having a party, complete with the ‘helpers’ being men in dresses that are dressed up like milkmaids and the likes. The prizes are also something of a reflection of the madness of the evening, with such things as cardboard cut-outs of Dermot O’Leary being what’s on offer if you manager to complete a line of numbers on your card.

Prizes

Two lines might see you win a space hopper, say, whilst the main prize could be £50 or it could be an electric scooter. Henry Hoovers are often offered as prizes, with the mid-round karaoke session might result in it raining Coco Pops. You really won’t have experienced anything like it unless you’ve already been to a Bongo’s Bingo night. There are numerous similar ventures that have sprung up in the years since Bongo’s Bingo hit the big time, but this is the original and you really should accept no substitutes. It is one of those ‘you need to see it to believe’ it things, but once you have you’ll be telling everyone you know about it.