Memories of York's Mecca bingo in Fishergate - photos

The bingo hall was opened in 2003 - replacing its Art Deco counterpart which dated from the 1930s and was situated next door, but demolished to make way for the new building's car park.

The old Mecca bingo hall began life as a cinema, and was famously the Rialto venue which hosted The Beatles three times in 1963. Other famous stars graced the stage at the Rialto including Count Basie, Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong as well as Sarah Vaughan and Cilla Black. In The Press archive, we have a photo of a young Mick Jagger there too.

We asked readers in our nostalgia group on Facebook, Why We Love York - Memories - to share their stories of the place from yesteryear, here are some of them:

The Rialto in Fishergate - where The Beatles played in 1963

Stephen Oxlade: "During the Second World War, along with its companion The Clifton, it was a normal weekday cinema, with Sunday variety/big bands and Edward Farley on the organ sing along. Attended those Sundays with great relief and pleasure from the grinding sameness of rationing and wartime blues. My wife Lilian worked there when it became a bingo hall, serving tickets and hot soup on cold winter nights, plus feeding same to The Beatles and Cilla Black before they became world/TV famous. Said they were nice to know in those happy days."

Heather Green: "Many years ago it was The Rialto Cinema and I remember my mum taking us there as children. Later it became a venue for many well known groups including The Beatles, Gerry and the Pacemakers, Roy Orbison, to name but a few. Later it was The Cat's Whiskers."

Mecca building in Fishergate 1978.

June Caunt: "I remember it being the Rialto. I played violin in the York school's concert there in 1966, Mr Easy was the teacher at Tang Hall school. When I was older also used to go to the Cat's Whiskers on a Monday night . I think Jackie Egan was on the door at the time , good memories."

Carole Mennell-Walker: "Cat's Whiskers was a great night, lots of happy memories. Started going there when I was still at school, platform shoes and a bit of make up, it was easy for girls back then. Had my 18th at the Ebor Suite and I’d probably been going there four years by then."

Side by the side - the new and the old Mecca bingo halls in Fishergate

Beryl Gibson: "I remember it being The Rialto. Saw some fabulous concerts there, including Cliff Richard, Helen Shapiro, Shirley Brassey. Was also previously a cinema. Happy days!"

Sandie N John Warters: "I remember it being the Rialto and saw some great concerts there too. It was owned by a Mr Prendergast, father of John Barry Prendergast (the Bond theme composer, of the John Barry Seven). Also remember it being the Cat's Whiskers, a great night club spot. Happy times for sure."

Jack Prendergast, the Rialto promoter

Judith Morris is upset at the news: "Absolutely gutted about this. I don't play bingo but know many older people who love the game, and it is now being taken up by younger ones. Such a shame, it has been a bingo hall for many, many years, certainly as long as I can remember with the Cat's Whiskers at one side and the Heartbeat at the other side - such great fun times. And all to be replaced with what - more student housing, more unaffordable houses with no parking - what is our city coming too!"

If you love sharing stories and photos of York, please join our group of Facebook - click here to start sharing your memories right away!