Listen to this article:Merkur Casino has officially completed the sale of its Merkur Bingo Club located in Lowestoft, England, to the Real Fun Group, which has teased that it has “big plans” for the site as it integrates the club into its growing UK operations.
The decision to sell is part of Merkur’s broader strategy to refine its business operations by focusing on more profitable venues. The management at Merkur has said that concentrating on core business areas is more important to its long-term success.
The sale comes during a time of transition for Merkur, which has recently faced challenges related to social responsibility issues and a data breach.
Meanwhile, Real Fun Group views the acquisition as a step forward in its expansion plans. The company, which already manages ten bingo clubs across the UK, is using the Lowestoft purchase to boost its regional presence and maintain operational momentum.
In a LinkedIn post, Real Fun Group explained its intention to rebrand the venue as Apollo Bingo Lowestoft.
“We are thrilled to announce that as the proud new owners of Merkur Bingo Lowestoft, we’ve had another club officially join the Real Fun Group family, which will now be known as Apollo Bingo Lowestoft! This marks an exciting new chapter for us as we continue to grow and bring the best bingo experience to even more communities. We can’t wait to welcome both new and old faces through our doors and make Apollo Bingo Lowestoft a place filled with fun, laughter, and of course, lots of big wins! We have big plans for this club!”
Merkur Casino UK’s chief operating officer, Mark Schertle, explained that the divestment supports Merkur’s ongoing focus on core strengths, which will ultimately benefit both Merkur and the Lowestoft club.
Kevin McGinnigle, founder of Real Fun Group, was also enthusiastic about the deal. He said that although the deal came a bit earlier than expected, the opportunity to acquire the Lowestoft location was perfectly aligned with his company’s goals. He also thanked Merkur for its smooth handling of the transition.
The bingo club in Lowestoft has an impressive history. It was built on Battery Green Road in 1904 and housed The Hippodrome, featuring a circus ring and a stage. The building has also served as a cinema and music hall, hosting films and variety shows.
The building also served a valuable role in the Second World War when it was used as a meeting point for child evacuees. The circus ring was removed in 1947 and following the war, the building continued to be used to show films and shows until it became a bingo hall in the 1960s.
For many years, it was known as the Hippodrome Bingo Club before later becoming Beacon Bingo. Sadly, the building was destroyed by fire in 1999; however, the hall was fortunately empty during the incident, which occurred late at night. It was then rebuilt and reopened in July 2000 before becoming Merkur Bingo Lowestoft.
The bingo hall also survived the coronavirus pandemic and reopened to the public having undergone renovations in May 2021. With the latest Merkur Bingo sale, it will continue to host bingo fans in Lowestoft and the wider area for years to come.
While Merkur may be reducing the number of properties it owns that are not central to its business, it is still looking for new opportunities within the UK. In 2024, the company expressed interest in opening a casino on Northampton’s Abington Street in a space formerly occupied by a sex shop that relocated in 2023.
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