Bingo hall in Peterborough draws in new generation of players
Ms Svencika said: "One of the first things I wanted to do when I turned 18 was experience real live bingo. "I am quite competitive and I found my eyes couldn't scan the card quickly enough - but I think I got the hang of it."The National Bingo Game Association said a combination of the Covid pandemic, energy prices and the impact of the recent Budget on employment costs have "made it difficult for smaller independent bingo clubs to survive".Ms Svencika added she was surprised that her first visit to play bingo was free as a taster."I'm not worried about getting hooked on it - it's not that addictive."I would only come with friends for a social time out," she added.
Mr Shuttleworth has been involved in the industry for more than 25 years."We see bingo as low cost, low risk, people can spend a couple of hours here for £6 - it's good value," he said.He felt the game had a future, despite the county losing some bingo venues recently."We are evolving, changing and investing and can see some green shoots, it is a bit like the pub industry, which is also facing challenges."It can be an important part of the community giving people a chance meet with friends, others like to come out for a night of fun, have something to eat and drink and escape the real world for a bit," he added.
Margaret Heaney, 74, plays bingo at the venue with her 45-year-old daughter Jo Heaney."I think online bingo is affecting numbers, it is not as busy as it used to be with my friends, it must be hard to make a profit," she said.Ms Heaney said in 1971 her late mother scooped £1,000 at another Peterborough bingo hall, which has since closed. The winnings allowed her to buy a house in the city, which was later sold for £250,000."I have played since I was 18, it was to be a great way to meet up with old friends but not so many come these days," she said."Bingo hasn't changed much over the years, the most I've ever won was about £80. "I can't play online as I don't have a computer or smartphone. "There does seem to be more younger people coming to play, it does appeal to all ages and both sexes," she added.
Miles Baron, from the National Bingo Game Association, said: "It is a sad day when any bingo club closes, they are often an important part of the local community and those social connections formed by members are often irreplaceable."Our heart goes out to the members, employees and owners of the Winners Bingo club in Wisbech."
If you are affected by issues raised in this article, help and support is available via the BBC Action Line.
Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
11 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Chloe Madeley showcases her incredibly ripped legs in tiny denim shorts during London day out
She is known for her love of fitness. And Chloe Madeley was showcasing the fruits of her labour as she stepped out in London on Wednesday in a pair of tiny denim shorts. The personal trainer, 37, looked lithe as she stepped out with her daughter Bodhi Haskell, two, who she shares with ex-husband James Haskell. In a nod to the soaring climes of the capital, Chloe kept cool in her vest top and shorts with her tanned and toned limbs on full display. She wore a blue bikini underneath her tight white top and matching baseball cap pulled low over her face as well as sunglasses. Her outing comes after she revealed she is 'committed to staying single'. While Chloe has stayed single, her ex James has been linked to two ladies since they split. Most recently, it was claimed he was dating Big Brother star Sara McLean. As James's new romance came to light earlier this year, Chloe also took to Instagram to share a cryptic post about 'negative energy'. Her clip featured a sheep running around a field with a bucket on its head, hinting it was blissfully unaware, and she wrote over the top: 'Me: It's so nice in here. 'She's at a place in her life where peace is a priority and negativity cannot exist. She is no longer matching energy. 'She is simply removing herself from any situation that doesn't vibrate her soul. So if you start moving funny, she's moving on.' James and Sara were seen holding hands as they headed to the races on the second day of the Cheltenham Festival in February. Sara, a beauty queen and reality star has previously dated US World Cup goalie hero Tim Howard, rugby star Ben Cohen, cricket legend Shane Warne and TOWIE's Mario Falcone. In January, James was linked to newly single mother-of-two Helen Barclay, who bore a striking resemblance to Chloe. James and Chloe, who married in 2018 confirmed they had split in a joint statement released in October 2023 Yet the relationship appears to have fizzled out, with James pictured parading his new romance with Sara at the horse racing-based meeting. His ex-wife Chloe previously revealed she knows the former Wasps flanker has been 'having fun' seeing other people, but maintained the pair still have a healthy relationship as they continue to co-parent. Sara is a former Miss Edinburgh and Big Brother contestant who shocked Housemates when she gave a tearful rendition of God Save The Queen, before going on a rant about people who hate the royal family. James and Chloe announced their split in October 2023 after several months of speculation their marriage was on the rocks. During Chloe's ITV reality show, Chloe Madeley: A Family Affair, which aired around the same time they announced their split, cracks in their relationship were apparent.
BreakingNews.ie
11 minutes ago
- BreakingNews.ie
JoJo Siwa to play The Academy in Dublin as part of Infinity Heart Tour
JoJo Siwa has announced a European leg of her Infinity Heart Tour, with a stop in The Academy in Dublin scheduled for September 29th. Siwa will also play in Glasgow, Manchester, Newcastle, London, Brighton, Birmingham, Cardiff, Paris, Cologne, and Warsaw. Advertisement In a post on Instagram, the Boomerang singer said: "My Infinity Heart Tour is coming to Europe! The love and kindness you all have shown me means the world to me and I can't wait to start my Infinity Heart Tour with you! "It's all of your favorite JoJo songs that you know and love plus, new music that I can't wait for you all to hear! Let's make tons of unforgettable memories singing and dancing together!" Local pre-sale will begin at 12pm on Friday, while general on sale will take place from 10am on Monday. View this post on Instagram A post shared by JoJo Siwa (@itsjojosiwa)
Daily Mail
11 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Fiona Phillips' husband reveals the one thing you shouldn't say to someone with dementia after GMB star was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease
Fiona Phillips' husband has shared his key piece of advice for dealing with someone who has dementia, three years after the GMB star's shocking diagnosis. Ms Phillips was just 61 when she found out that she has early-onset Alzheimer's in 2022, and since then has been cared for by her husband, former This Morning editor Martin Frizell. The couple, who wed in 1997, share two sons who are also involved in looking after their ailing mother—whose tome, Remember When: My Life With Alzheimer's is out today. In one of the final chapters of the book, Mr Frizell, 66, shares the biggest learning he has gleaned from his wife's illness, and it's advice that anyone with a loved one struggling with a degenerative brain condition can benefit from. He writes: 'The experts say you are not supposed to challenge someone with Alzheimer's when they're saying things that are completely wrong, but it's very difficult when you are in that moment and you are just desperately hoping you might be able to get through to them. 'What am I supposed to say when she says: "You're not my husband!"? 'Obviously it's not nice—but I don't feel hurt by it because I know that isn't Fiona talking: it's the illness that has taken her mind.' Mr Frizell continues that the most important thing to do when involved in a back-and-forth with a dementia patient is not to say 'no'. He believes that it's best to keep up rapport—even if it's uncomfortable—to stay connected. He said: 'The textbooks say to never argue with a dementia patient. 'Although, even before the illness you could never win an argument with Fiona, so we play along.' The couple live with their two sons, Nathaniel, 26 and Mackenzie, 23, who also have to entertain their mother's terrifying delusions––the most recent of which requires Mr Frizell to pretend that he has smuggled his wife away from her parents. During a recent appearance on This Morning, he explained: 'Fiona and I leave as if I am taking her home. 'We walk around the block as she loudly proclaims, "I'll never forgive you for tricking me," and passers-by stare; then we are back home again, where she goes in and greets Mackenzie as if she hasn't seen him for days.' Both of the former presenter's parents died from Alzheimer's and Ms Phillips herself is an ambassador for Alzheimer's charities––not that she can remember. But Mr Frizell believes that whilst they haven't spoken about her illness once since she was diagnosed, she is always thinking about it subconsciously. Before she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's, Mr Frizell said the former Good Morning Britain presenter was the life and soul of the party. And despite seeing the diagnosis coming as his wife became increasingly withdrawn and anxious Mr Frizell said when it finally came it was 'awful'. 'You realise that there are around 70,000 people who have early-onset Alzheimer's and there is not a lot of help out there. 'As a family we are just kind of left to get through it and at some point we will need more support but there's just nothing really. 'You become kind of invisible', he told the Telegraph in a recent interview. 'If you mention the word Alzheimer's or dementia, it brings it to the front and it's upsetting because she knows the way it's going,' he also wrote in Ms Phillips' new book. Even so, Mr Frizell says whilst he tries his best to protect her from the harsh reality of the situation, no one is perfect. 'It feels as though I have read a million books and online articles about how best to cope with a partner with Alzheimer's. 'Some of the advice I agree with – but other bits I'm not so sure about. I think you just have to trust your instinct and deal with whatever is thrown at you as best you can in that moment. 'By trying to live up to being the perfect Alzheimer's partner, you are just heaping even more pressure on yourself when there is already so much. But every day is different.' More than 150 million people will be living with dementia by 2050, estimates suggest––more than double the number today. Memory loss, thinking and reasoning difficulties and language problems are common early symptoms of the condition, which then worsen over time. Mr Frizell's movingly honest advice about how to live with the disease comes as new research suggests that staying positive can cut the risk of memory loss in middle age. Researchers writing in the journal Aging and Mental Health tracked more than 10,000 people aged over 50 and found those with higher levels of wellbeing were more likely to have better scores on memory tests. They also reported a greater sense of control, independence and freedom to make choices than other people. While the link was small, researchers suggested it was significant. A landmark study last year also suggested almost half of all Alzheimer's cases could be prevented by tackling 14 lifestyle factors from childhood. World-leading experts pinpointed two new risk factors––vision loss and high cholesterol behind the disease which join existing factors, ranging from social isolation to obesity, that experts have identified as increasing the risk a person would suffer dementia. Experts claimed the study, published in the prestigious journal The Lancet, provided more hope than 'ever before' that the memory-robbing disorder that blights the lives of millions can be tackled. Alzheimer's Disease is the most common form of dementia and affects 982,000 people in the UK. Alzheimer's Research UK analysis found 74,261 people died from dementia in 2022 compared with 69,178 a year earlier, making it the country's biggest killer.
