Next year the Judges Bingo Hall in Tonypandy will be celebrating its 100th birthday and special plans are afoot to celebrate this momentous occasion. The building was erected in 1909 at a cost of ₤6 000, and opened in July by the Duke of Argyll and Princess Louise. It was originally called “The Judge Williams Memorial Hall”. The building was gifted to the people by Lt. Col. Sir Rhys Williams.
In more recent times the bingo hall was dubbed “Judges Hall” as a shortened version of the actual name. It is a popular venue for people of the bingo loving fraternity and many of the staff members at the bingo club has worked in bingo for over forty years. The long standing Deputy Manager of the club, Adam Rowlands said that they are looking forward to the 100th birthday celebrations and together with their staff they hope to make it something special.
This is a remarkable story in that many bingo halls do not make this milestone, indeed many are closed down and flattened to make was for progress before they even reach this milestone. Fortunately it looks as though Judges Bingo Hall is going to be left standing for a very long time. No one would dare to turn a 100 year old building into a block of flats, at least that is what I hope. Obviously this bingo hall is not suffering any ill effects from the onslaught of double taxation and the smoking ban.
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