DEVELOPERS have teamed up to buy the Mecca Bingo building in York just a month after acquiring a city nightclub venue.

North Star and Grantside, two of York’s leading property companies, have bought the site in Fishergate, which is in a prominent location on the edge of the city centre.

They have completed the deal for an undisclosed sum following their joint acquisition in March of the historic Grade II listed building in Clifford Street which housed Kuda nightclub.

The Mecca venue was purpose-built for bingo, and has provided a popular social scene since it opened, with traditional and electronic games, a bar and cafe, as well as parking.

York Press:

Grantside’s founder and chief executive officer Steve Davis said: “This is a key site for York and a gateway into the city centre.

"We are currently reviewing all our options for the future of it and how it can add to York’s landscape.

“This deal follows our other recent joint venture with North Star. We are both proud York businesses and understand the importance of both sites we have bought recently.”

The two companies previously said they want to bring the Clifford Street nightclub venue back to life. They confirmed last month that they were searching for a new operator after Kuda's former owners were placed into administration, in a bid to rejuvenate the city's night-time economy.

The 23,282 sq ft building has been acquired from BAE Systems Pension Fund and also houses the York Dungeon which will reopen once Covid restrictions are lifted.

Grantside was established in 1993 and has delivered more than £750 million worth of real estate across the UK. It was relaunched earlier this year with a focus on integrity and sustainability.

North Star's major development sites in York include the former gasworks site on Heworth Green where work is underway to transform the large brownfield site into a vibrant new community of more than 600 homes and neighbourhood park.

It also has various commercial developments in York.

The boss of Mecca owner Rank Group has previously reported that audiences at its bingo halls were getting younger, with older players staying home during the pandemic.

John O’Reilly, chief executive of the gambling and gaming firm, told the PA news agency that Mecca Bingo had seen the number of customers aged 70 and over drop significantly after it was allowed to reopen.

Older players were “more fearful” to return to venues amid continued health concerns during the pandemic, he said.

However, the company has seen total bingo revenues at 70% of the levels from the same period last year, as younger players had swiftly returned to its halls across the country.