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It's a full house for the bingo club
TWO little ducks are proving to be "doctor's orders" for city bingo-goers looking for an entertaining night out to beat the recession.
TWO little ducks are proving to be "doctor's orders" for city bingo-goers looking for an entertaining night out to beat the recession.Attendances at the Gala bingo club in Westfield Road, Peterborough, have gone up by more than 400 per cent over the last few months, as city residents get their "eyes down" for a credit-crunch-busting night out.
The nights have become so popular that, on some evenings, people have even had to be turned away from the club.
And the success is all the more enjoyable as it comes on the back of the smoking ban, introduced in July 2007, which saw the club endure some tough times.
In the months following the ban, some nights at the club saw just 100 punters coming through the doors.
But after management introduced a number of special offers reducing prices to lure people who were looking for entertainment, while still tighening their belts, through the doors, people have been picking up their dabbers in their droves and heading down to the club.
Last Thursday more than 1,500 people queued to get in for the monthly free bingo session.
General manager of the Peterborough club Craig Hobson said it was not just the lure of a big win that was bringing people to the club.
He said: "The whole club was heaving with customers – some of them were regulars, but many were new faces that hadn't played bingo before.
"We have gone from being in the doldrums to turning people away on some nights because we are so busy, in just a few months.
"People are looking for good value for money when they go for a night out, and we offer that.
"We now have a real variety of people coming along.
"We have seen grans bringing their grandsons along, and then the next week the grandson is back with some of his friends, because they have enjoyed it so much.
Maysie Whittaker (73), of Anthony Close, New England, Peterborough is a regular at the club.
She said: "It's a nice day out. You can come along, meet friends and have a good time.
"I prefer it to be quiet, but it has been getting busier in the evening recently.
"I've been coming for years and years, and it has never been so busy.
"I think it might be because of the economic situation. Everyone is looking to save a bit of money and it is a cheap night compared to town.
Daniel Cade (25) and Paula Nicholl (26), from Werrington, are two of the younger generation of punters picking up bingo.
Mr Cade said: "I've been coming for nearly a year. We normally come with Paula's family on a Sunday.
"It does have a reputation as an old person's game, but when our friends hear about some of our wins, they are quite excited.
"It is also a lot less pricey than going into town, and, at the moment, that can only be a good thing."
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Wednesday 08 February 2012
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