Entertainment in London, but also in general, isn’t what it used to be 50, 20, or even 10 years ago. If there’s one thing that can be said about entertainment, and its various forms, is that it is always changing and evolving into something new and exciting.
However, as much as everything is moving fast, mostly thanks to technology and progress in general, in a way, entertainment is unchanged in the sense that it is based on the same concept. Just a look at the Wikipedia definition of entertainment and you will immediately realise why that is the case. Any activity that holds the interest and the attention of those who participate, or even just watch depending on the type of activity, is entertainment. It has been around since the beginning of time and it will be around since the beginning of time.
The entertainment scene is one of the key reasons that draws so many people, particularly younger folks to London. In fact, London, and Shoreditch and the surrounding area in particular have been the go-to places in the last few decades, not just in the UK, but on an international level as well.
Post-war popularity and online bingo
We mentioned young people, but there’s one particular type of entertainment that’s considered to be aimed at the elderly. Namely, we’re talking about bingo, a type of entertainment that has been particularly popular in London and all over the UK, especially after the WWII.
Bingo has usually been considered to be a form of entertainment that appeals to slightly more experienced members of the public and is particularly popular with senior citizens. There is certain evidence that bingo might be beneficial for the elderly, as it helps them keep their brains alert, but the it is clear that the game is popular because it features a social element, namely it allows players to have fun and communicate with their co-players. The social element of the game was the primary worry and concern as to whether online bingo will be a substitute for traditional land-based bingo.
The second reason why many felt that online bingo will be just a fringe thing and won’t reach the level of popularity of land-based bingo was the fact that bingo was very popular with the elderly and in the early days of the internet older people where not that big on the whole thing.
Chic and unique bingo halls
Online bingo opened the door for a lot more variety. There’s no limit on the number of games that an online site can offer, and British players who went online got a chance to familiarise themselves with variants that are popular elsewhere, most notably the US and North America in general.
It’s not like land-based bingo halls have not caught up with the trend though, bingo today is a lot different than what it used to be a decade ago. Sure, many halls still stick to the older, traditional variants and don’t offer a lot of variety, but there’s a plethora of exciting bingo halls all over the UK that are taking things to a whole new level.
For instance, the Dabbers Social Bingo in Aldgate serves espresso martinis and salted edamame instead of beer and popcorn. On the other hand, if you like to go on a time-trip, Palace Bingo in Elephant and Castle is the place to be, as here you can feel an authentic 60’s atmosphere.
In addition to traditional bingo halls, where you get to play standard 90-ball bingo, there are quite a few halls in London where you can play a mashup of bingo and other activities. Bunga Bunga Bingo Bingo in Battersea, for instance, combines bingo and karaoke, whereas UKG Bingo combines bingo with retro music or Hip-Hop and R’n’B depending on the night.
