South Yorkshire bingo halls CAN remain open under Tier 3, says Sheffield Council, despite Julie Dore saying the opposite

Last week when the city was put into Tier 3 lockdown along with the rest of South Yorkshire, Sheffield council leader Julie Dore accused the government of attacking northern working class culture with restrictions on betting shops and bingo halls - but it has now been confirmed bingo halls can remain open.

Coun Dore said: “I can go to a pub serving lunch with my family and sit for a couple of hours but you can’t go to a bingo session or nip into a bookies to place a bet. It’s unfair.

“We have to stop the spread of the virus but it’s balancing that with people’s mental and physical health and the economy. A weekly visit to the bingo hall might be the only social contact some people get.”

A council spokesperson since confirmed bingo halls are allowed to remain open with measures in place to prevent the spread of the virus.

They said: “For Sheffield restrictions under Tier 3 ‘very high’ category, there is no requirement for bingo halls to close at the present time, unlike in Lancashire or Greater Manchester. People are therefore allowed to continue to enjoy socially distanced bingo in Covid-secure premises.”

Betting shops and casinos are still banned under current rules.

A spokesperson for the Betting and Gaming Council said the restrictions for them were ‘hugely disappointing’ and that betting shops and casinos in the region employ 1,300 people between them.

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