READERS have suggested Worcester’s recently closed bingo hall should become a music venue again.

Eighteen workers from Buzz Bingo, in Foregate Street, have been told they face redundancy after the company announced 26 venues will permanently close across the country.

The closure was due to the “severe impact” by the coronavirus pandemic.

John Holmes worked at the bingo when it was called Zetters in 1990.

He said: "I worked there for 22 years. I started in the diner cooking then moved my way up to main stage caller which I liked.

"It was Zetters then went to Corals then later on Gala."

Worcester News readers have flocked to the comments section and proposed the building should be used to host gigs.

Wes Jones said: “Would be nice for this to be a music venue again.”

Lin Hale said: “Me and mom been going there for years. We loved our night or two out at bingo.”

Gilly Erica said: “I would love to see us with a proper music venue again attracting new and old bands. Having to travel to Bristol, Birmingham and Wolverhampton is a hassle.”

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Phill Barnes said: “If I had the money I’d buy that and the Northwick and open them as music and theatre venues.”

Ben Burford said: “Someone please take it on as a live music venue . With the size you could get some big names once gigs are allowed to happen again. Just like when it was the Gaumont cinema with the Beatles, Bowie, stones, Roy Orbison to name a few all playing there.”

Terry Phillips: “What an opportunity to get Worcester a proper concert/symphony hall to replace the lamented Public Hall. Surely too good an opportunity to miss?”

The building was once the venue that drew the world’s top pop stars to the city.

It had opened in 1935 as the Gaumont Cinema at the height of the movie boom, but blessed with the best performing stage in Worcester, following the demolition of the Public Hall in The Cornmarket in 1966, it took full advantage of the post war teenage music explosion.

When top American rock ’n’ roll acts began touring the UK in the 1950s, the Gaumont, Worcester, was a regular gig.

Famously Buddy Holly and the Crickets played there on March 11, 1958 on their only British visit (Buddy was killed in a plane crash less than a year later) and they were followed by Gene Vincent, Eddie Cochran, Bo Diddley, Brenda Lee and Bobby Vee among others.

But it was when Merseybeat exploded in the early 1960s that things really began to roll. The Beatles played there twice, once supporting Roy Orbison on his 1963 tour, and once as a headline act, later in the same year. The Rolling Stones also played there a couple of times, in October and December 1963.

Jimi Hendrix played a four number gig at the Gaumont on April 2 1967 as one of the support acts on a tour by The Walker Brothers. Also on the package were Cat Stevens and Engelbert Humperdinck. The great guitarist was still relatively unknown, but Worcester got the full Hendrix treatment as he played Hey Joe, Purple Haze, Like A Rolling Stone and Wild Thing.

And the names just kept on coming – Queen, David Bowie, Rod Stewart (both solo and fronting The Faces), The Seekers, Cliff Richard three times, Gary Glitter, Mott the Hoople etc etc.

If only those dressing room walls could talk.

What do you think of the city building being used as a music venue?

Have you got any special memories at this building that you’d like to share with us?

If so, contact grace.walton@newsquest.co.uk