Bingo Lovers Braced for Impact as Reeves' Budget Tax Hikes Loom

On a typical Monday night, the historic art-deco bingo hall in Tooting, South London, buzzes with excitement as players eagerly await the call of "eyes down." However, the atmosphere is tinged with apprehension as regulars and staff brace for potential tax hikes in Chancellor Rachel Reeves' upcoming Budget, which could spell disaster for the cherished venue and others like it.

Buzz Bingo, the sprawling Grade I-listed building that once hosted legendary performances by The Beatles and Frank Sinatra, serves as more than just a gambling house. It is a vital community center, offering a social lifeline to many, especially the elderly.

Chantal Ramon, a 78-year-old widow, has been a regular at Buzz Bingo for three decades. She travels from the nearby suburb of Sutton to enjoy the social atmosphere and escape the loneliness that followed the loss of her husband, Jose.

"Bingo is my one little pleasure," Ramon said. "If this place closed, it would uproot so many lives. Putting more tax on bingo is not fair on older people."

The venue's management shares Ramon's concerns. CEO Dominic Mansour revealed that Buzz Bingo paid around £63 million in taxes last year, nearly a third of its annual turnover. With the company still reeling from last year's National Insurance hikes, any further tax increases could be catastrophic.

"The painters, builders, and decorators working on our £50 million refurbishment would also be affected," Mansour said. "We're already burdened with at least four different gambling taxes, and fears are that some levies could rise to as much as 50 percent."

Buzz Bingo's Tooting hall is a crown jewel among its 79 venues nationwide, with an interior described by The Times as "as dazzling as the House of Lords." Built as the Granada Tooting picture house in 1931, the art-deco masterpiece has a rich history, having hosted iconic musicians and serving as a concert venue in the 1950s.

General manager Shiva Jeevah, who started his career in a bingo hall as a student from Sri Lanka, emphasized the family-like atmosphere among the staff and patrons. He recalled an incident where staff checked on a missing regular and ultimately saved her life.

With the upcoming Budget announcement on November 26, bingo lovers and venue operators across the country are holding their breath, hoping that the Chancellor will consider the impact of tax hikes on these vital community spaces.