Mecca

Palais Bingo Hall

   ©

Palais de Dance

The Mecca Palais Bingo Hall, formerly the Palais de Dance dance hall is now rather dwarfed by the new developments at Fountainbridge.  The former dance hall opened in 1921

It was well known for its revolving stage which could accommodate two bands, allowing them to change over without a break.

However, It closed for refurbishment in 1967, but never re-opened after structural faults were found.

In later years it became, and still is, a bingo hall.

[Edinburgh Evening News,  November 1,  2004, p.6]
[Herald & Post, November 4, 2004, p.15]
[Edinburgh Evening News,  February 1,  2004, p.21]
 

New Developments

Most of the £60m building work at Lochrin basin is now [at Nov 2004] complete.  The first of the nightclubs and restaurants on this site are due to open within the next few weeks, some before Christmas.

The Edinburgh Quay developers are keen to reach agreement with the owners, Rank, to demolish the bingo hall, and to proceed with a £10m development to build new apartments and restaurants on the site.  They would propose to provide a new bingo hall, but not necessarily in the same area.

[Edinburgh Evening News,  November 1,  2004, p.6]
[Herald & Post, November 4, 2004, p.15]

Update

March 2005

Rank Group have had difficulty in obtaining planning permission for their preferred option:

 -  to build a new two-storey leisure complex on the site of their existing Mecca Palais Bingo Hall  beside the canal at Lochrin Basin AND

 -  to relocate their Bingo Hall to premises that are currently vacant at the nearby Fountainpark leisure complex.

Concern has been expressed over the number of licensed premises in  quality of the proposed architecture for the leisure complex at Lochrin Basin and about the number of licensed premises in the area.

A public inquiry is to be held to resolve this issue.

[Edinburgh Evening News,  18 February 2005, p.18]

New Bingo Hall

February 2006

Mecca submitted plans to create a new bingo hall on the Palais site in 2005.  Their plans included a 100-space underground car park and canal-side shops and cafes.  However these plans were turned down by the Edinburgh Planning Committee, so Mecca now intend to create a new Bingo Hall at nearby Fountainpark within the next few months from February 2006.

It is expected that the old Mecca Palais bingo hall will be sold and that new developments on the site may include up-market flats, affordable housing, business units and restaurants, and an extension of the Union Canal.

It is understood that Historic Scotland will not object to the demolition.  However the Tollcross Community Council, Liberal Democratic councillor, Tom Ponton, and others have argued in favour of retaining the 's Art Deco frontage of the Palais.

[Herald & Post   February 9, 2006, p.21]

Proposals for a new Casino

October 2006

The Mecca Bingo Hall, formerly the Palais de Dance, at Fountainbridge has been empty since Mecca opened their new Bingo Hall at nearby Fountainpark.

Mecca have been attempting to throughout 2006 to acquire a licence to operate a casino on the former Palais de Dance site. 

However, the Licensing authorities have argued that Edinburgh has no need for another casino.  There are currently 3 casinos in Edinburgh, at Leith, York Place and South Maybury Road, with a 4th due to open at Fountainpark.

The Licensing Authorities have now turned down Mecca's application for the casino on the Palais de Dance site, 3 times between March and October 2006.

[October 31, 2006, p.16]