House! Work has begun to transform land to the rear of what was formerly Harrogate’s last remaining bingo hall into a collection of new homes.
After half a century, the historic Lucky Numbers bingo club on Skipton Road called “Two fat ladies” for the last time in 2012.
Now developers are breathing new life into the derelict site by creating four luxury duplex apartments and a townhouse on land adjoining the building, which was originally a theatre and then a cinema, before becoming a popular bingo venue.
The first phase of the development will be called Bartle Mews – in honour of the Bartle family who owned the bingo hall. The link has been further extended by blending the use of numbered bingo balls into all branding and marketing collateral.
Launched to market through the Harrogate office of estate agents Linley & Simpson, prices range from £235,000 with all properties having three or four bedrooms.
They will be ready to move into by Spring next year.
Phase two of the scheme will see the club itself demolished and turned into new flats.
David Waddington, Joint Head of Land, New Homes and Development at Linley & Simpson, said:
The building is steeped in history and is a well-known landmark in the town. Now it can look forward to the next chapter in its life.
We are delighted that its links with the Bartle family will live on through the name of the new development and they are regularly updated on its progress.
The design and town-fringe location of the homes, wedded to competitive asking prices for each, will make them a popular addition to Harrogate’s new homes market.
With a choice of three or four bedrooms, they will hold particular appeal to young couples and professionals and form a perfect solution whatever buyers’ budgets or preferences are.
The bingo hall originally opened as The Palace in 1914 as a variety theatre. By the end of World War One, the venue was devoted largely to showing films.
The cinema was refurbished in 1947 and became The Ritz. Its screenings included the first showing in Harrogate of Rock Around the Clock, featuring Bill Haley and the Comets, when the audience danced in the aisles.
When it closed in 1962, the Lucky Numbers bingo hall opened shortly afterwards and remained at the heart of the community for 50 years.
Built by Damot Limited, to a high specification, each of the properties’ kitchens will benefit from integrated fridge, freezer and dishwasher.
All will have their own private entrance plus an integral garage and a handy ground-floor utility room with space for a washing machine and dryer. Externally is a brick paved driveway giving access to each garage and offering additional off-street parking.
This is the third landmark building in Harrogate being turned into new homes that is on the books of Linley & Simpson.
The Princes Square-based agency is also handling the sale of apartments being built on the site of the former Little Wonder pub on the edge of Skipton Road and Ripon Road; together with a forthcoming development on South Park Road.
