Listen to this article:In a recent interview, Jonny Bongo, the co-founder of Bongo’s Bingo talked about how his unique take on bingo has grown in popularity beyond his wildest dreams.
Bongo’s Bingo was launched by Jonny Bongo and Joshua Burk in Liverpool in 2015, and they had no inkling of the success it was to become. What started as a fun experiment quickly turned into a cultural phenomenon by bringing together classic bingo with high-energy entertainment, music, and quirky prizes. Today, with Bongo’s Bingo fast approaching its tenth anniversary, they have firmly established itself as a staple in the modern nightlife scene.
Speaking about the beginnings of Bongo’s Bingo, Jonny said:
“It was like “we’ll see how it goes and if it goes down well, we can do another one”. The fact that we’re ten years down the line and we’re at the scale we are at is something I’m immensely proud of. But certainly, in those early days, it was always about, let’s just try it out and put a bit of a show on. Hopefully, people will turn up and they’ll enjoy it. It was very, very quick, since we did the first night, how it snowballed.”
Much of Bongo’s Bingo success is due to its accessibility. Pub quizzes have long been a popular form of entertainment, but by swapping trivia for bingo, the event became even more appealing. As Jonny explained, bingo is great fun and open to everyone. There is no need for any special knowledge of skills. The result was an event that attracted a wide audience, from groups of friends on a night out to curious first-time players looking for something different.
What began in Liverpool soon grew into a nationwide phenomenon, with events taking place in cities across the UK. However, the demand didn’t stop there. Bongo’s Bingo has since expanded internationally, hosting events in Ibiza, New York, Dubai, and Australia.
It is so popular that even celebrities have been spotted at events. Samuel L. Jackson made a surprise appearance at a Glasgow event in April 2023, where he handed out glowsticks to the crowd. Over the years, the event has also featured performances from music icons such as Craig David, Kelis, Natasha Bedingfield, and the Vengaboys.
Jonny Bongo talked in the interview about how he believes Bongo’s Bingo has successfully embraced the shift in nightlife culture. He said that there is a big focus now on the “experiential hospitality market”, and simple nights out at a pub have become less popular. Instead, modern audiences are looking for interactive experiences, whether it’s playing darts, crazy golf, or an eccentric version of bingo.
“We were really at the forefront of that”, Jonny said. “People would come to our nights and they would be able to get up and dance and they’d be able to play bingo as part of the experience, and there wasn’t anything like it”.
One of the many things that Bongo’s Bingo is known for is its unconventional prizes, which range from thousands of pink unicorns to disco ball helmets and Henry Hoovers. A particularly special moment came when the team collaborated with UK-based manufacturer Numatic to create a neon pink limited-edition Bongo’s Bingo Henry Hoover.
Speaking about the famous prize, Jonny said, “When I went down to the factory to watch them and help make the first one on the production line, it was a really, really big moment for me. I was very emotional.”
In addition to providing thousands of people with an unforgettable night out, Bongo’s Bingo has also played a role in reviving interest in traditional bingo. Major bingo operators such as Mecca have noticed a sharp increase in younger players, many of whom first experienced the game at a Bongo’s Bingo event.
Excitingly, Jonny Bongo is anything but complacent and he has plans to expand even further and bring his unique flavour of bingo to new audiences across the world.
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