Buzz Bingo Tooting, a Grade I-listed bingo hall in south London, has been awarded a blue plaque for its history as the legendary Granada music venue. The plaque was unveiled on June 27 after a three-year grassroots campaign led by local historian Geoff Simmons.
From cinema to music mecca
The Granada opened in 1931 as a 3,000-seat cinema designed by Russian theatre director Theodore Komisarjevsky. Its interior features a baronial foyer, gothic flourishes, and a hall of mirrors copied from the Palace of Versailles. Historic England, which granted Grade I-listed status in 2000, described it as 'without doubt the most lavishly decorated interior of any cinema in Britain'.
In 1963, The Beatles played two shows there on the opening night of their co-headlining UK tour with Roy Orbison. The Rolling Stones performed the following year alongside the Ronettes, kicking off an era that saw Frank Sinatra, the Kinks, the Beach Boys, and Dusty Springfield take the stage. Jimi Hendrix famously performed in April 1967, and the Bee Gees closed the venue's music chapter in 1968.
Saved by bingo
The building was saved from demolition in 1976 when it was converted into a bingo hall. The historic stage, original orchestra pit, and grand medieval wall panels were preserved. Today, visitors can play bingo under the same Versailles-style mirrors where Hendrix and McCartney once tuned their guitars.
According to Simmons, the campaign included free guided walks, school talks, and 'show time' street performances on the building's steps. The unveiling event featured live covers of songs by the venue's alumni, with gig-goers taking over the front steps while keeping the right-hand entrance clear for bingo regulars.
Blue plaque significance
Blue plaques commemorate the exact spots where historical figures lived, worked, or made an impact. They protect buildings from developers and turn ordinary streets into living museums. The Granada's plaque now joins others across London honoring iconic music venues.
Buzz Bingo Tooting is located at 50 Mitcham Road, SW17 9NA.
