Buzz Bingo will upgrade its properties and venues as it sets its sights on a new £25 million modernisation programme beginning in July 2025.
The UK’s largest bingo hall operator has announced that it has secured funding from Barclays to begin a multi-year investment programme aimed at upgrading its 91 venues across Britain.
The programme will begin with upgrades to eight clubs in 2025, including the Buzz Bingo halls in Sheffield Parkway, Leeds, and Stockport.
The media were informed that, as part of the programme, “Buzz will introduce 10,000 of the latest electronic bingo terminals, next-generation self-serve bingo kiosks, and new digital registration terminals in every club. In addition, over 1,300 new slot machines and fully integrated Digital Membership Cards are also being rolled out to enhance every stage of the player journey.”
This investment plan holds strategic importance as part of the leadership’s five-year strategy (launched in 2023) to drive sustainable, profitable growth through an enhanced omnichannel approach.
Dominic Mansour, CEO of Buzz Bingo, said: “Our new investment programme will see clubs across our estate being transformed. This is all about modernising bingo for the next generation of players and taking our clubs to the next level to offer a truly unmatched experience for our players.”
Buzz Bingo was formed in 2018, following the sale of Gala Coral’s bingo business to Caledonia Investments.
The modernisation of Buzz venues was originally planned for 2020 and 2021, but the initiative was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced Buzz to reassess its UK property portfolio.
From 2020-to-2021, Buzz Bingo entered a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) to restructure its business following months of forced closures and financial strain due to the pandemic. As part of this CVA, 26 of its then 117 bingo clubs were closed permanently.
In 2021, Intermediate Capital Group (ICG) acquired a majority stake in Buzz Bingo, providing capital to support the business’s recovery and future transformation plans.
The upgrades aim to attract Gen-Z and millennial audiences through immersive experiences, state-of-the-art technology, and modern interiors. Buzz also plans to introduce a new “Bingo Club of the Future” concept that reimagines the traditional bingo hall with cutting-edge tech, immersive design, and enhanced hospitality.Dominic Mansour concluded:By combining cutting-edge technology, more modern interiors and even better food and drink, we’re not just refurbishing our clubs — we’re going to be reimagining what bingo can be in the future.”
