Uncertainty is hanging over two large bingo halls in North Wales after their parent company entered administration. Apollo clubs in Caernarfon and Rhyl are among eight UK venues run by independent operator Majestic Bingo.

The company was hit hard by Covid lockdowns and admissions have since failed to fully recover. More recently, the cost-of-living crisis and the fall in disposable incomes since late 2021 has also adversely impacted the business.

At the time administrators were appointed, Majestic Bingo employed 143 people. Their jobs have been retained to enable trade to continue.

Earlier this month, Tim Bateson and Chris Pole, of Interpath Advisory, were announced as joint administrators and they will continue to oversee the business. All eight venues will remain open while options for a sale of the business and its assets are explored.

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Eric Howell, operations director at Majestic Bingo, said the company had been “heartened and humbled” by the support shown by its customers in Rhyl and Caernarfon since the news broke.

He said: “The Apollo remains open, it’s very much business as usual, and we’ve been delighted that our customers have stuck with us during this time. The administrators are working hard in the background, trying to secure a sale of the business.

“While I can’t say much more on that at this point, I know there has been lots of interest in the business. I’m hoping a way forward will be found.”

Apollo Caernarfon, on Crown Street, Gwynedd, occupies the former Empire Cinema building which, when opened in 1915, was the town’s first purpose built cinema. A bingo licence was acquired in the early 1970s and it became a combined cinema and bingo hall before being taken over by Apollo Bingo in 1986.

Apollo Rhyl, on Brighton Road, Denbighshire, also began life as a cinema, first opening in 1937 as the Odeon. It became a full-time bingo operation in 1996 and the building underwent substatial renovation in 2016.

In its latest accounts, for the year ending December 31, 2021, Majestic Bingo recorded a £6.6m turnover - down from £7.3m the year before. Its pre-tax losses grew from £706,000 to £833,000.

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The joint administrators confirmed that, whilst trading continues, they will honour customers’ Electronic Bingo Terminal (EBT) funds and any valid gift vouchers. Majestic’s online business, Majestic Bingo Online Ltd, is a separate entity which is not in administration and continues to operate as usual.

Mr Bateson said the company had been historically profitable. “Majestic is one of the UK’s most recognisable independent bingo operators,” he said. “But in recent years it has seen trading adversely affected by the impact of lockdowns during the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as the cost-of-living crisis.

“We will continue to trade the business in the immediate term while we seek a buyer for the business, and would encourage any interested parties to make contact with us as soon as possible.”

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