Residents Back Revival Plan for Iconic Bingo Venue Once Graced by The Beatles and Ozzy Osbourne

_{Residents back revival plan for iconic venue once graced by The Beatles and Ozzy Osbourne.} 

Ozzy Osbourne, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Queen are names famous and infamous with rock n roll, heavy metal and Brit Pop culture, but not so with bingo, one would guess.

A former theatre that once hosted these global music icons is now the focus of renewed local interest, this time as a proposed hub for live performance and cinema in Taunton.

Local resident Helen Shattock wrote to the Somerset County Gazette and called for the transformation of the old Gaumont Palace, currently operating as Gala Bingo, into a dual-use venue for concerts and cinema. The building still retains its original full-size stage and 1,476-seat auditorium, reportedly with seating intact beneath the bingo hall floor.

“Having a large theatre in town would enable Taunton to be suitable for national theatre tours instead of travelling to Bristol, Plymouth, or Torquay,” Shattock wrote.”

In its heyday, the venue drew some of the world’s most famous bands, including Iron Maiden, The Cure, Adam and the Ants and ballet troupes like Sadler’s Wells. Advocates say its restoration could rekindle Taunton’s cultural prominence and support the local economy. The bingo fraternity may have something to say about those plans, and bingo is considered to be culturally relevant. Perhaps a mixture of a heavy metal band playing while the eyes are down, not to everyone’s liking.

A Ready-Made Asset

Located centrally in the Somerset County town, the Gaumont’s structure and seating are largely preserved, according to Shattock. She believes a theatre-cinema hybrid, similar to the former Odeon model, could improve access to entertainment while reducing travel time and associated costs.

“We would again have a concert-sized venue that was not weather-dependent,” she said.

Economic and Environmental Upsides

Supporters of the idea argue that a revitalised venue would also fill restaurants and bars before showtimes, attract new visitors to the high street, and reduce car journeys to larger cities. Shattock added that walking to a local show was both more affordable and more environmentally friendly than travelling out of town.

The proposal comes amid broader discussions about Taunton’s regeneration and how to fill its growing number of empty retail units. It is a conundrum facing many UK towns whose high street shops are being boarded up as consumers continue to shop online. 
For the time being, its legs eleven and top of the shop as it is bingo that draws the Taunton faithful to the hall.