shipleys brochure

Bringing bingo back to the high street

BINGO LOUNGE Bringing bingo back to the high street Thirty years ago, bingo was a regular fixture on the high street, an accessible and popular past-time for many. Then came the out-of-town big bingo halls.

But bingo is again evolving. Relaxed venues are starting to appear, which are smaller with lounge areas, but all linked nationally. Bingo is coming back to the high street, creating communities and much needed leisure areas in town centres.

At a time when many high streets are struggling, we are introducing the Shipleys Bingo Lounge as a Bristol first – a place to relax, affordably in a modern, safe and responsible environment.

A new community for a new generation Shipley’s Bingo Lounge is where you can enjoy coffee and cake as well as ‘full house’. The new format is modernising a much-loved, traditional British pasttime, taking bingo to the next generation.

In this digital age, bingo is evolving, just like everything else.

By design, let’s help people rediscover both the joy of playing and indulging in good, oldfashioned conversation.

Our vision for the new Bristol venue is a far cry from the traditional bingo club and caller.

Let’s move away from the old-fashioned image of bingo. Visitors to Shipleys Bingo Lounge in Bristol will find it convenient to pop in, take time out and recharge their batteries, meet with friends and make new ones.

The game may be played on paper or tablets, but Shipleys Bingo Lounge is a return to a place for bingo enthusiasts to meet socially.

The UK bingo sector is increasingly looking to diversify from its traditional model. Increased pressure from digital channels, the growth of in-home entertainment, the lingering economic impacts of austerity and subsequent lack of consumer confidence – these are all factors affecting our traditional customer who now wants something a little different.

This new bingo lounge concept provides a new customer offer and format reflecting modern lifestyles. The new smaller venues will offer those living nearby, a warm and friendly sociable place to meet, play, try new games, have a bite to eat and relax.

The long-term plan is to develop the concept and create a chain of UK venues which can link up nationally and provide a cost-effective place to play bingo.

In this digital age, bingo is evolving, just like everything else. By design, let’s help people rediscover both the joy of playing and indulging in good, old-fashioned conversation.

That way, everyone’s a winner.

Jim & Michael Shipley January 2018

The benefits for the Bristol community: • Bringing something new, exciting and different for The Galleries shoppers to try – representing a £300,000 investment.

• Attracting new customers for The Galleries and encouraging them to stay longer at the centre.

• Helping to build communities within Bristol and providing a venue to gather and socialise.

• Easy access to venue.

• Shipleys is committed to creating jobs for local residents.

• Our target visitor profile are high street regulars and people who want to feel part of a community.

• Currently there is not a bingo club in the city centre – Shipleys will meet this need.

The NEW bingo lounge concept Shipleys will launch a new concept for bingo in Bristol which refreshes the traditional customer experience.

This is the future of convenience bingo, blending the hospitality of a coffee shop and bistro with relaxed gaming.

Shipleys new gaming format embraces the social and community context of bingo and places it in a more accessible and contemporary environment.

The Shipleys Bingo Lounge concept reimagines the bingo experience by combining traditional gaming elements and bingo machines with a distinctly modern, coffee shop-style design as well as usual paper bingo. Customers can choose to play using tablets in the coffee lounge or use traditional-style bingo machines.

History of stability and growth Shipleys has a strong heritage in the amusement and leisure industry.

It dates back to 1899 when the current owners’ great grandfather, William Shipley established the business. A tradition now carried on by his grandchildren who are involved in the business.

Today, under the brands Shipley Amusements and BJ Bingo, the company has 20 venues.

Leading the way with bingo technology, Shipleys, along with a group of national gaming providers, designed and manufactured its own bingo machine, Bingo Express, using technology to bring back the social side of the game and connect bingo players nationally.

Shipleys is an active member of The Bingo Association and The British Amusement & Catering Trades Association (BACTA). The company does not operate high stakes FOBTs within any of their venues, the highest stakes on Shipleys machines are £2.

Accepting its responsibilities to its team and customers, Shipleys’ strong market position is based on making sustainable profits while evolving new entertainment to meet modern player needs.

Today that’s Shipleys Bingo Lounge. Tomorrow that may be Shipley’s Virtual.