Rushden town centre bingo hall with 'historic charm' goes back on the market

The building in College Street, Rushden was sold for £400,000 to Investment Street, a Milton Keynes-based developer in late 2024, but it is now back on the market for almost double what it was bought for 18 months ago.

The property was sent to auction on October 29, where it fetched £240,000 over its guide price from a starting price of £140,000. Now, the building has been relisted for sale with a guide price of £795,000.

A listing reads: “Originally opened in 1936 as The Ritz Cinema and later operating as a popular bingo hall, this striking period building retains a wealth of original architectural features, offering character and presence rarely found in today’s market. The property combines historic charm with flexible space suitable for a variety of uses, subject to the necessary consents.

"The ground floor provides an inviting main reception area, bar/café space, office or retail accommodation, and generous open-plan rooms. The first floor benefits from a secondary reception area, ancillary rooms, and an impressive 270-seat tiered theatre, presenting excellent potential for performance, events, conferencing, or alternative commercial uses.”

The building is being sold by Stimpsons Eves and was recently added to Rightmove, listed as an ‘iconic art deco building’ that is ‘rich in local heritage, with 8,194sq ft of commercial space available over two floors.

Having been most recently used as a bingo hall after being converted in September 1982, the space had been in use for the past 40 years, but much to the dismay of local campaigners, it closed in 2022. Before that, it was used as a cinema, opening in 1936.

Viewings are by appointment only by contacting Simon Webber at [email protected], or Alisha Fhalora at [email protected].