Review: Bongos Bingo Newcastle

‘Every woman needs a girls’ night out’- Genesis Rodriguez

I was relatively late to the Bongos Bingo party; I thought it was a slow burner publicity wise and admittedly hadn’t really heard much about it. Until me and 9 others bought tickets for Carrie’s 30th birthday the other week and turns out everyone I told about it, knew all about it, and were insanely jealous we’d managed to get tickets. Shows what I know!

For anyone who doesn’t know by now Bongos Bingo, which takes residence in the quirky, hipster, urban Boilershop behind central station is a bingo, cheesy music, dancing on the tables, raucous extravaganza. And it is the perfect girls night out.

We arrived for about 7pm, (we’d been very kindly reserved a table at the front for review purposes) and the place was already starting to fill up – so tip #1 get there in plenty of time. Saying that, even though there was 10 of us, I still don’t think we’d have struggled to find a seat, albeit near the back.

I’d heard rumours that dancing on the tables was not only encouraged; it was pretty much mandatory however I just assumed that would be later on in the night when the £18 carafes of wine had started to take hold. However as soon as the lights dipped and the MC/bingo caller took to the stage, everyone was on their feet and dancing on the benches liked they were in Coyote Ugly.

You’re issued with a game book and pen and the fun begins. The caller briefly goes through the rules then begins the game whereby you get a prize for one full horizontal line, two horizontal lines and a full house. The prizes go up in value from a cardboard cut out of The Rock (coming home with that would have made for an interesting conversation with Dave the next morning) to £500 in cash. The caller and his two helpers rattle through the numbers once and he rattles through them quickly so you need to pay attention, although the numbers also appear on a large screen in the corner of the room too.

In case you were worried at all that sitting playing bingo all night would be a little boring the fear not because there is ample opportunity to get up and shake your money maker, like any time the number 33 is mentioned and a verse and chorus of C’est La Vie by B-Witched is blasted out (tip #2 wear flat shoes – I cannot stress how thankful I was that I worse ballet pumps instead of heels!).

If you think you have a line or full house you call it and it will get checked. If you’ve misheard or simply try and pull a fast one, you will be exposed and the whole room will chant ‘dickhead’ at you so tip #3 – concentrate! And if two people have a line or house at the same time, how else would you settle it than with a dance off on stage? That’s how me and Dave settle all of our household disagreements after all.

Lady luck was obviously shining down on us that night as Emma won some cash and a massive cuddly unicorn which was quickly confiscated off her until the end of the night (for everyone’s safety, including the unicorn’s )

Once all the games have been completed the party continues with more music, dancing and drinks until 11pm. Despite my initial reservations that Bongos Bingo would be a chavvy nightmare I had one of the best nights out I’ve had in a really long time and am hoping they’re back in July so I can go again for my birthday!

More information about forthcoming events can be found here