A “wild” new bingo craze with residencies in Ibiza, Dubai and Paris is taking a Norfolk seaside town by storm.
Tickets for Bongo’s Bingo are selling out in minutes at Gorleston’s Ocean Room where monthly weekenders are planned.
With the nearest other venue being in London booking data shows people are coming from all over East Anglia and beyond filling hotels and boosting local pubs.
Ocean Room general manager Kelly Evans said the popular venue was always looking for new shows and events and that the re-booted bingo had been a huge success.
“As soon as I heard about it I thought we would definitely have to try it,” she said.
“It is hard every year to think of new things but the venue is perfect for it, because it is round everyone can see everything.
“On the first night I was a bit apprehensive not having been to one myself and I wasn’t sure how people were going to find it.
“But the atmosphere was just incredible and in the first few minutes I knew it was going to be a hit.”
Bongo’s Bingo started in Liverpool three years ago and has become a huge success story with shows across the world.
Gorleston is one of the latest locations and bosses took some convincing that it would work in the East Coast resort they had never heard of.
“They did a lot of research and were worried there was not going to be enough people to see it out every month.
“But when they started they noticed people were coming from everywhere.
“It is really good for the town.
“A lot of people are benefiting.”
Bongo’s Bingo is described as “an insane mix of a live show, a rave and heads-down game of bingo, with dance-offs, rave intervals, plenty of heckling, audience participation, and countless hands-in-the-air anthems each night.”
Prizes range from novelty celebrity cut-outs and cuddly unicorns to Henry hoovers and cash winnings of up to £600.
Up to 670 people can be seated on each night.
The first weekender earlier this month was a huge success and the next one over April 20/21 is already sold out.
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