Bongo's Bingo

Bongo's Bingo is back at MECA Swindon on Friday 27 November, one of several dates they've got lined up across the winter. If you've never been, it's a far cry from the quiet bingo hall you're probably imagining. They trade the hushed atmosphere for rave intervals, dance-offs and prizes, and they pitch it as an alternative night out that works as well for hen and stag dos as it does for student nights.

Between the games, the night fills in with cheesy singalongs and cash prizes to be won. It's as much about the party as the bingo, and the rave intervals are where the energy really picks up. The promoters describe it as reinventing traditional bingo as a high-energy party night, and that's pretty much the gist of it: the bingo is the thread that holds the whole thing together, but the singing and the dancing are what fill the gaps.

A typical session runs from 6:30pm to 11:30pm, with doors opening at 6:30pm and last entry at 8:00pm. The first game of bingo is called at 8:30pm, so if you're arriving later in the evening, you'll want to be in before then to catch the start of the action. If you're planning a group, it's worth keeping that 8:00pm cut-off in mind.

This is one of a few dates they're running in Swindon over the next few months, so if the 27 November one doesn't suit, there are more sessions on 18 December, 29 January 2027 and 26 February 2027, all starting at 6:30pm. You'll find them at MECA, Regent Circus, Swindon SN1 1PR.