Opera Bingo To Take Over Former Mecca Bingo In St Helens
A bingo hall that closed this summer is set to reopen under new management. Opera Bingo has told members it plans to move from the St Helens Hippodrome to the former Mecca Bingo premises on Kirkland Street during 2027.
The plan was announced directly to members and on the club's Facebook page. Opera Bingo said the move gives the business a more modern home and helps secure its future for many years.
The biggest change for customers is dedicated parking, The operator also promised better heating, improved outdoor facilities and separate areas for the lounge and the fruit machines.
It said the friendly, affordable bingo and the community feel of the Hippodrome would carry over, and that it would keep members updated as the move progresses. No firm opening date has been given beyond the 2027 window.
Why The Mecca Site Became Available
Mecca Bingo, which is run by Rank Group, proposed closing its St Helens and Birkenhead clubs in May 2026. A statement to the Liverpool Echo said the leases at both venues were due to end shortly and that neither site had been commercially viable for some time.
Birkenhead faced added problems from the redevelopment of the town centre and its car park, and both clubs needed significant repairs and maintenance.
At the time Rank said it was in consultation with staff, with closure proposed for Sunday, June 7. The Star reports the Kirkland Street club closed in June 2026.
The Echo noted that Rank runs 49 bingo venues across the UK, and that the Mecca brand opened its first hall in Rose Hill, London in May 1961.
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The Hippodrome Today
Opera Bingo's own venue page describes the St Helens club as housed in a former cinema dating from 1903. The building was renamed the Hippodrome in the 1930s and sits on Corporation Street just beyond the town centre.
For regulars, the announcement settles a question that followed the Mecca closure: what would happen to the Kirkland Street building. The operator has not published a refit timetable or budget.
What It Means For Bingo Players
Mecca said the Kirkland Street club was not viable, so a new operator taking the building is a positive outcome for local players. Newer online brands are on our new bingo sites list.
More industry and regulatory stories are collected on the UK news hub. Whatever the format, players should set deposit limits and keep to them, and tools to help are listed on our responsible gambling page. The next thing to watch is the confirmation of an opening date and any refit work at Kirkland Street.
