Listen to this article:As experienced bingo players know, the game is far too often associated with quiet halls and serious players. However, this has all changed in recent years, with the online bingo sites and, especially, modern bingo nights designed for those looking for a livelier environment and perhaps a younger crown.
One of the most famous examples of this is Bongo’s Bingo, where the game takes on an entirely new meaning. Participants will take part in dance-offs, enjoy rave intervals, and have the chance to win some truly outrageous prizes. As such, it is far from the stereotypical image of pensions enjoying a quiet evening in relative silence.
However, while you may think that Bongo’s Bingo exclusively appeals to those at the other end of their working lives, it turns out that one of its biggest fans is 97-year-old Anne Gandy from Liverpool.
Anne, who is a great-grandmother, has been attending Bongo’s Bingo for six years after being introduced to it by her granddaughter Sarah.
In a recent interview, she said, “It’s fun because it’s not just boring bingo, there’s all kinds going on”. She enjoyed her first visit so much that she soon became a regular, and she’s not just a spectator. She joins in with the dancing, music, and even the wild “rave round”.
Bongo’s Bingo was founded in Liverpool in 2015 by Jonny Lacey and Joshua Burke. It has since expanded to more than 40 locations worldwide, including the UK, Australia, Dubai, and even New York. The event markets itself as an “immersive, inclusive, and incredible” experience where “everyone parties together.”
There is no denying that Anna embodies everything that Bongo’s Bingo stands for. She attends with four generations of her family, including her daughters, grandchildren, and even a great-grandchild.
“I like to mix with all the young ones and all the things they are doing. I enjoy it very much and they seem to go along with me, they don’t treat me as an old woman, they treat me like one of themselves so I’m made-up.”
Earlier this month, a huge Bongo’s Bingo 10th-anniversary celebration event in Liverpool was held, and Anne was part of the 3,500-strong crowd that came decked out in cowboy hats, bride’s veils, and glowsticks.
By all accounts, it was a night to remember, with Bongo Bingo’s characteristic mix of high-energy performances, group karaoke, and surreal prizes. While Anna did not win this time around, in the past, she won a mobility scooter, which is typical of the wacky prizes awarded at Bongo’s Bingo, such as pink unicorns, Henry Hoovers, and disco ball helmets.
Anne says that she enjoys the entire event, “The dancing, the music, I just like the atmosphere”, and it is certainly a stark contrast to the church bingo she also attends.
“I’ve always loved to have a boogie from going to dance halls when I was younger to being the first and last off the dance floor at parties. It always has a lovely atmosphere. I do usually get up and have a boogie with the lads. I even got on stage with Boyzlife when they performed at Bongo’s.”
Over the years, Bongo’s Bingo has hosted an eclectic mix of live performers, including R&B singer Craig David, pop artist Natasha Bedingfield, Eurodance group Vengaboys, and even political guest appearances, such as when Jeremy Corbyn called out numbers during the Labour Party’s annual conference in Liverpool in 2018.
Speaking about her recent trip to Bongo’s Bingo with her mum, Anne’s daughter Donna explained, “There’s all age groups and everybody’s all enjoying themselves”.
The family normally attends the Christmas specials, but Anne’s health prevented her from going last year. However, she has every intention of celebrating her 98th birthday at Bongo’s Bingo, and it will surely be an evening to remember.
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