Visited with Maverick and Tart Man.
This was it - the jewel in the urbex crown of Reading. I'm not 100% sure on the history of the place but I know it finally shut down around 2003 and Prince William was once a visitor. Walking the perimetre time and time again showed that it was sealed tighter than a ducks arse (sheet metal bolted over every possible entrance) so getting in was always going to be tricky.
Having spent months and months of planning, preparation and being knocked back time and time again, we finally cracked it! And what a rush it was - when we walked into the main room and saw the old bingo hall spreading out in front of us in the darkness, all the wasted hours suddenly dissapeared from our memories...
...and then we found the electricity! 50 odd switches later and the entire bingo hall (and it aint small) was reverted back to its former, shining glory. The only thing missing was the neon lighting around the edge of the mezzanine - and of course the blue rinse brigade!
We had limited time inside so we rushed around and took some shots, aware that there was an alarm honking every couple of minutes. And then we were gone, on our way home wearing the biggest grins of our urbex lives...
Big thanks to Tart Man for his help with this one
Enjoy:
Decorations outside
The bingo callers stage
View from the mezzanine
Eyes down...
Standy uppy bingo?
The view from above
Funky lighting
These were on every table
Sheesh, mind warping carpets!
View from the stage
The refreshments bar
Big money on offer tonight
Cheers.
This was it - the jewel in the urbex crown of Reading. I'm not 100% sure on the history of the place but I know it finally shut down around 2003 and Prince William was once a visitor. Walking the perimetre time and time again showed that it was sealed tighter than a ducks arse (sheet metal bolted over every possible entrance) so getting in was always going to be tricky.
Having spent months and months of planning, preparation and being knocked back time and time again, we finally cracked it! And what a rush it was - when we walked into the main room and saw the old bingo hall spreading out in front of us in the darkness, all the wasted hours suddenly dissapeared from our memories...
...and then we found the electricity! 50 odd switches later and the entire bingo hall (and it aint small) was reverted back to its former, shining glory. The only thing missing was the neon lighting around the edge of the mezzanine - and of course the blue rinse brigade!
We had limited time inside so we rushed around and took some shots, aware that there was an alarm honking every couple of minutes. And then we were gone, on our way home wearing the biggest grins of our urbex lives...
Big thanks to Tart Man for his help with this one
Enjoy:
Decorations outside
The bingo callers stage
View from the mezzanine
Eyes down...
Standy uppy bingo?
The view from above
Funky lighting
These were on every table
Sheesh, mind warping carpets!
View from the stage
The refreshments bar
Big money on offer tonight
Cheers.
