24-hour Bingo Hall Plan Tossed Out By Council
17 November 2025
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Emily DaltonLocal Democracy Reporting Service
A strategy to turn a former branch of NatWest bank in Surrey into a 24-hour bingo hall has actually been thrown away.
The decision by Spelthorne Borough Council last week followed a debate amongst councillors and opposition from who described the concept as "the final stroke" for Staines town centre.
The proposition was to convert the uninhabited noted building's ground floor into a 61-seat adult-only bingo hall running all the time - a relocation which designers Sunni Ed Ltd claimed would bring "vitality and viability" back to the location.
But some dissenters questioned whether the site would rather be used as "an out-and-out gambling hall".
According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, preparing documents showed that, had actually the project been greenlit, the designers had actually meant to request a betting licence before opening.
As part of the licensing procedure, a threat evaluation would have then been carried out.
Councillor Denise Saliagopoulos called the strategy "outrageous", saying: "We're decreasing a domino effect.
"Why would anyone want to play bingo 24 hr a day?" asked Councillor Chris Bateson.
"I can't envision a couple saying at 10pm, 'Let's go and play bingo'."
Ward councillor Howard Williams said the proposition broke local policy developed to protect shopping areas in Staines town centre, while numerous others added that the adult-only place would do little to support an inclusive, family-friendly space.
Its result on issues like the general public Space Protection Order (PSPO) currently in place on the High Street was also discussed.
However, some did yield that bringing the structure back into usage might help generate step, while previous remarks on the application suggested perhaps repurposing it for neighborhood benefit.
Other ideas consisted of turning it into a post workplace, a cultural centre, a health and health and wellbeing center or independent stores.
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