A POPULAR Dumfries bingo hall is to close its doors next month.
Buzz Bingo Dumfries is one of nine of 91 clubs that the company look set to close across the country.
The closure will impact on 11 workers at the Shakespeare Street hall.
The shock news was confirmed in a social media post, which said: “It’s with a heavy heart we announce the proposed closure of Buzz Bingo Dumfries on Monday, April 10.
“We’re really sad to bring you this news as we know this will be a difficult time for our community and our colleagues.
“We’d like to thank you for your all support – we’re going to miss you so much.”
The news has been called a “devastating blow” by South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth. He said: “My thoughts are very much with those who sadly look set to lose their jobs.
“It will also be deeply disappointing for loyal customers, many of which will have attended the bingo over many years.
“It has been a fixture in Dumfries for many years and its loss is yet another blow to the town centre that really is on its knees.
“We lost our cinema in 2018 and now the bingo hall which means yet another empty building and a lower footfall in and around our High Street.
“The fact that the company have chosen Dumfries as one of the halls they plan to close tells it own story about the falling number of people coming into the town centre.
“I hope this acts as a wake up call to both our governments who seem oblivious to the decline of our High Streets.”
Buzz Bingo say they are committed to supporting the staff at this difficult time.
