A BINGO hall building in Keighley town centre is up for sale – with a guide price of £500,000.

Buzz Bingo announced last month that its Alice Street premises were to close.

Now they are being marketed by Keighley property consultants Hayfield Robinson.

The landmark building began life in 1938 as the Ritz cinema.

At the time of its opening, the art deco structure was described as "leading the way in luxury cinema construction and accommodation".

It seated around 1,500, had a workforce of nearly 40 – including a resident organist – a 100-seat cafe, and a car park for patrons. There was even a stage and dressing rooms to cater for variety turns, and the building accommodated productions by Keighley Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society.

But the cinema, which was latterly known as the ABC, closed its doors in 1974 and subsequently converted to bingo – Gala and then Buzz.

The club is amongst nine nationally being shut by Buzz Bingo, which blames the move on the "ongoing and challenging operating environment".

Nationally, around 150 employees are affected, including more than a dozen in Keighley.

Dominic Mansour, chief executive of Buzz Bingo, said: "In common with the entire leisure and hospitality sector, we have failed to see customers return to the high street in the same numbers as before the pandemic.

"This, coupled with a squeeze on family finances brought about by rising inflation and energy prices, alongside a jump in our own operating costs, means we have no real option other than to cease trading in nine of our locations."

The sale of the building marks a first for Hayfield Robinson.

Ian Hayfield, for the firm, says: "We have sold many buildings and sites over the years, from waterfalls and telephone masts to industrial buildings, but selling a bingo hall is a first for our commercial property team!

"It is a rare opportunity to acquire a town-centre building of this size and nature and will be of interest to local, regional and national developers/investors.

"Occupying a prominent town-centre position, it would be suitable for a variety of uses, subject to planning approval – residential, commercial, leisure, hospitality, community and health."

Colleague Justin Robinson says market conditions in the first quarter of this year have been "active", with numerous sales and lettings agreed, and he anticipates strong demand for what he describes as a "once in a lifetime opportunity".