MECCA Bingo, Sale

The building on Washway Road in Sale, best known in recent years as Mecca Bingo Sale, has a long and varied history as a local leisure and entertainment venue. It originally opened in July 1935 as the Sale Lido, during the interwar period when swimming baths and lidos were popular symbols of modern leisure. Designed by architect Arthur Edward Lancashire, the complex featured a large covered swimming pool, a domed solarium for sunbathing, a café and restaurant, and small retail units along the frontage. The pool could be covered in winter and repurposed as a dance floor, making the building a flexible social space.

By the 1960s, changing leisure habits and the decline of traditional lidos led to the site’s closure as a swimming venue. The building was taken over by the Mecca Leisure Group and converted into the Locarno Ballroom, part of a nationwide chain of dance halls. During this period, it became a popular nightlife destination, hosting dances, live music, and social events for people across Sale and the wider Trafford area.

As interest in dance halls declined in the late 1960s and 1970s, the building underwent another transformation, this time into a bingo hall. Operating as Mecca Bingo Sale, it became a well-established community venue, providing not only bingo sessions but also a social hub for many local residents. The club remained in use for several decades and became one of Sale’s longest-running entertainment venues.

In 2023, Mecca Bingo Sale closed permanently after almost fifty years of operation. The closure followed the expiry of the lease and concerns over the condition of the ageing building. Today, the former Sale Lido site stands vacant, with its architectural and historical significance recognised as discussions continue about its future and potential redevelopment.