Bingo, but not as your nan would recognise it. Mingo Bingo is a glow-in-the-dark take on the old dabber-and-book routine, all neon lights, confetti and chart tunes. If that sounds like your sort of bag, then the good news is that it is settling in for a run of dates at Scala in King’s Cross. If the idea of eyes down in a darkened room whilst a DJ drops bangers between the numbers sounds like your sort of evening, this one is worth a look. It is designed to be a full night out, rather than just a quick spin of the balls before you head on to do something else.
What You Can Expect
The format runs to around two and a half hours, with a host calling the numbers and slipping in the odd cheeky twist, including interactive games between the rounds and a DJ keeping the room moving throughout. Expect confetti showers, the occasional spontaneous dance floor moment and, as you might imagine, the volume cranked well past the level of your average church-hall session. The prizes are pitched as the draw here, so organisers dangle the likes of an Apple Watch, a scooter, some DJ decks and a popcorn machine as things that could be up for grabs.
Mingo the Mascot
Presiding over the chaos is a giant inflatable flamingo, Mingo, the night’s mascot. There is no strict dress code, but punters are nudged towards neon outfits and fluorescent bits and bobs to make the most of the glow-in-the-dark atmosphere, so it is worth putting a bit of thought into your get-up rather than rocking up in office beige. It is a strictly over-18s affair and you will need valid ID on the door. It all happens at Scala, the live music venue a stone’s throw from King’s Cross station. Doors open at 6pm, with the bingo proper getting going at 6.30pm and wrapping up around 9pm.
DJ Music Set
Rather than a single fixed night, Mingo Bingo is running on selected dates over the coming months, with tickets sold through Fever and priced to climb as each date fills up, so there is little sense in dawdling if a particular evening takes your fancy. One thing worth noting is the fact that the venue is not wheelchair accessible, which is a shame, but worth knowing before you book. None of this is going to convert the purists who like their bingo quiet, quick and free of confetti, and there is an argument that paying premium prices to shout ‘House’ over a thumping DJ set misses the point of the game.
An Experience to Remember
That being said, taken for what it is (a daft, loud, neon night out with the chance of walking away with a scooter), it is hard to be too sniffy about it. There are numerous similar such bingo nights that have become all the rage with younger audiences, so it isn’t exactly a shock that Scala have looked to come up with their own twist on the tried and tested. You’re unlikely to see any of the purple rinse brigade at the club for this, but if they do turn up, then at least there’s a good chance that the blacklight will make their heads glow in an amusing manner.