Bongo’s Bingo turned your average night out at your granny’s bingo hall into something a whole lot different from what you would expect.
And this year marks 10 years of the experience founded by Jonny Bongo.
Five million tickets later – and tours of Australia, Dubai and New York – Mr Bongo himself is sitting back to take heed of his achievements.
“Bingo can be seen as stale,” he said.
“So we wanted to revamp it but keep bingo at the heart of it, just in a different way.
“I’d never been in a traditional bingo hall, but I wanted to make sure that Bongo’s Bingo kept the bingo as the focus but made it a new experience for most people.”
Jonny met his business partner Joshua Burke and went on to rejuvenate the quaint British pastime.
“At first it was just me with a bingo machine and a laptop playing music and then it just took over and expanded,” Jonny explained.
“It quickly went from just students coming along to them thinking ‘oh I’ll bring my mom and nan too’.
“You can just let your hair down and have a bit of craic.”
Various celebrities such as S Club, Five, Nadine Coyle from Girls Aloud, Craig David and Basshunter have also performed at the end of the bingo.
Jonny added: “This was just an event we started for a laugh – never did we think it would get to this.
“I’ve had messages from people who may not have gone out for years for different reasons and then they’re having the time of their life again, it uplifts them.”
And from humble beginnings in Belfast, Jonny has gone on to exceed his wildest dreams.
“Growing up never did I dream I would become a performer or own a business.
“I feel lucky every day to be in this position and do something I love to do.
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“It’s such a vibe when it’s popping off.
“It’s the people who are a bit sceptical or look at it and think ‘that’s not for me’ who actually come and love it the most. You get sucked into it.”
Bongo’s Bingo 10th anniversary show will be no exception for surprises too, as Lee Ryan and Simon Webbe from Blue will be playing a special part in the night alongside N-Trance and The Cheeky Girls at Liverpool’s Exhibition Centre later this week.
