Once the sticky-floored realm of pensioners, Bingo has undergone a huge facelift in recent years - with a whole host of famous faces ditching the red carpet to head on down to their local halls.
With WFH becoming the norm, we know it takes something seriously special to pull most of us away from our sofa as temperatures plummet, but with the likes of I’m a Celebrity Unpacked host Joel Dommett, Amanda Holden and Coleen Nolan all singing the game’s praises, we thought we’d chance it for a night away from Netflix.
With dry January upon us, a night out for us also needs an extra dose of entertainment and we’ll be the first to admit that a chance to win cash prizes and a holiday also entices us out after the extravagance of the party season.
Let’s face it, the chance to pull on anything un-sparkly, grab a bingo card and giggle at the impressive patter of ‘bingo lingo’ with pals is just the dose of January joy we need. And if it’s good enough for the likes of party-girl Kate Moss, Adele and Robbie Williams – who have all confessed to being bonkers about bingo – it’s good enough for us.
Taking on the traditional game with a futuristic twist (it is the New Year after all), we headed to our local, Shoreditch’s Hijingo Bingo – a favourite of Joel and Amanda - with the promise of a full night of entertainment.
If you’re not participating in dry January, guests are greeted with a welcome cocktail of martini with a good dollop of candyfloss – both potent and super sweet, if that’s your thing.
We were then led to a long row of tables, which would be perfect for a large group, where we picked up our bingo cards and delved into the menu.
The drinks menu – served in kitsch kitty cocktail mugs that we're now coveting for our own kitchen- serves up themed cocktails and mocktails and the main menu is a mix of tapas style dishes with an Asian twist.
The futuristic graphics and lighting is a welcome transformation and it’s clear the team have put a lot of effort into the show element, with the dancers alone providing enough entertainment for a night out.
Clad in black all-in-ones complete with full face masks and Gaga-esque wigs, the dancers, who also double as the bingo callers, could be super creepy – but they’re actually very cool. Be warned though, if you do win, you will be expected to grab your prize at the front, with some guests impressively sashaying off the stage.
This is definitely not bingo as our grannies' knew it, but we’d certainly rate it for a night out with a little something extra.
Find out more at hijingo.