Northern Ireland bomb closes Strand Bingo hall

7th August 2010 12:17 AM

It seems that land based bingo halls face a threat of another kind this week. The introduction of online bingo sites has had an effect and the smoking ban has tipped many bingo halls over the edge. It seems now that bingo halls come under threat from a different source as a Northern Ireland bomb closes a Strand Bingo hall. Obviously this kind of activity in the UK is isolated and currently seems to be confined to Northern Ireland but it does make us wonder how our ailing bingo halls would survive if this activity were to spread, or new terrorist activity were to resume in the UK.

Tuesday’s car bomb in Londonderry affected many business including a Strand Bingo hall which was forced to close its doors along with other business. Unfortunately this is another blow that UK bingo halls could do without. Strand Bingo owner Kevin Doherty has described the incident as ‘devastating’. The Strand Bingo hall could be closed for a week while clear up continues leaving a community without their regular meeting place. This kind of incident would not affect online bingo sites, but using online bingo sites is not for everyone and those who do not use them need bingo halls like this to survive.

The owner of Strand Bingo still doesn’t know exactly what he will be facing when he is finally allowed to enter the hall. Electricity and water do not mix very well so it could mean quite a big cleanup operation before Strand Bingo can open again. In the meantime, players at Strand Bingo may choose to visit online bingo sites to play bingo for the first time and while it is good that there is an alternative for them, once they discover the delights that online bingo sites have to offer, they may want to carry on in this way.

Written by Hannah Jones

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