To mark National Bingo Week (22nd to 28th June 2026), Buzz Bingo Tooting is delighted to announce the official unveiling of a prestigious commemorative Blue Plaque this Saturday 27th June.
Funded entirely by public subscription, the plaque permanently celebrates the Grade I-listed building’s rich legacy as the former Tooting Granada — a legendary cornerstone of Britain’s music and entertainment history where legends such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Frank Sinatra, Jimi Hendrix, and Dusty Springfield have performed.
The milestone is, at its heart, a beautiful human story of community triumph. Led by local champion, Geoff Simmons, a passionate group of Tooting residents have spent three years running guided walks, school talks, and street presentations to keep the building’s history alive.
Buzz Bingo is proud to stand alongside Geoff to turn this grassroots, community-led dream into a permanent reality. Reflecting on the journey, local campaign leader Geoff Simmons said: ” ‘As we approach the fiftieth anniversary of bingo being played at this location – our plaque is a perfect celebration of the magic that made this area ‘The Vegas of South London’. Its extraordinary that so many people really didn’t know about the stars who once performed here. This plaque will change all that and add to the affection in which the building is held. I love the fact that almost 100 years on from Sidney Bernstein’s ambition to create somewhere spectacular which would light up people’s lives, today they can still enjoy affordable entertainment in a jaw-droppingly beautiful setting.”
The General Manager of Buzz Bingo Tooting added: “We are absolutely thrilled to host the unveiling of this plaque during National Bingo Week. This building has always been a people’s palace, and while the entertainment has changed over the decades, our role as a warm, welcoming community hub remains exactly the same. As proud custodians of this spectacular Grade I listed landmark, we are honoured to protect its unique architectural history while continuing to give our players a fantastic modern venue to catch up and play every single week.”
Opened in 1931 as a grand 3,000-seat cinema, the venue features a breathtaking Gothic interior designed by Russian theatre director Theodore Komisarjevsky, including a baronial foyer and a “Hall of Mirrors” modelled after the Palace of Versailles. Historic England upgraded the building to Grade I listed status in 2000, recognising it as possessing “without doubt the most lavishly decorated interior of any cinema in Britain.”
While high streets across London evolve, Buzz Bingo has kept this vital civic space active, welcoming, and accessible as a vibrant social hub. The new plaque permanently honours the incredible era when the venue’s stage, which remains flawlessly intact alongside the original orchestra pit and grand medieval wall panels, hosted global music icons.
Transitioning into a bingo hall in 1976 actively rescued the architecture from demolition. Today, Buzz Bingo exemplifies how a modern leisure operator can strike a perfect balance between high-tier commercial entertainment and historic preservation, proving that heritage and modern play can coexist beautifully.
The public and passers-by are invited to gather outside the front of the building on Mitcham Road on Saturday, 27th June, to enjoy the afternoon’s celebrations.
The event kicks off at 2:00 PM with the final performance of the ‘Show-Time Spectacular’ right on the front steps, offering a joyous, music-filled commentary that celebrates the venue’s legendary history while keeping the right-hand entrance completely clear for daily bingo players.
At 3:30 PM, local community members, past concert attendees, and prominent heritage figures will gather outside, including local historian Lynda Cazeaux, author Allen Eyles, community champion Jeevah, and Richard Gray of the Cinema Theatre Association (CTA), who will say a few brief words.
The finale takes place at 4:00 PM as the group pulls back the banner to officially reveal the publicly funded blue plaque, which has been installed using a completely non-invasive and sensitive method leaving the Grade I listed facade completely undamaged.
Whether you are a lifelong resident, a music fan, or a daily bingo player, this unveiling is a celebration of a shared heritage that continues to bring people together.