How to host a seasonal bingo night

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Whether you’re getting together with friends or planning a special event on a wider scale, a bingo night should be your activity of choice. You can play bingo any time online these days, but there’s nothing like recreating the magic of the hall to bring everyone together and let laughter flow. Incorporating the spirit of the season only serves to make it more special.

Follow this guide to plan a straightforward seasonal bingo night your guests will love.

1. Choose your season

First things first: choose which season you want to celebrate. This will dictate suitable dates and the wider theme of the party including dress, décor and refreshments. You could even design special bingo cards and plan seasonal calls – although the traditional Cockney rhyming slang is always a hit!

If you’re looking to host your bingo night soon, make it Hallowe’en-themed. Create a haunted house with cobwebs and jump scares and list the dress code fancy dress – the scarier the better. Alternatively, add your event to the Christmas list and go big and bright with festive lights and music.

Feeling romantic? Deck out the space in red and roses for Valentine’s Day and dim the lights – but not so far that the players can’t see their cards! Spring and summer offer ample opportunities for whimsical themes like festival chic and being by the seaside.

• Plan the event

Now you’re ready to plan. Start by creating a budget with your bank of money set against your essential costs such as venue hire (if applicable), bingo equipment, food and beverages. Tracking your spending in a spreadsheet will make it easier to stay within budget. When costs have been confirmed, set your date and send out your invitations with a deadline to RSVP.

If you’re using a venue rather than hosting at home, check if you need to obtain any permits or operating licences from the Gambling Commission for hosting a gambling event. For these larger events, word-of-mouth recommendations and flyers in shop windows are an effective way to reach the local community. You could also use social media to promote it further.

• Organise the game

Ensure everything goes smoothly on the night by organising the bingo game in advance. Invest in a set of bingo balls numbered 1-90 and a ball cage to scramble and draw them. Players will need a card with 15 random numbers spaced out over a 9×3 grid and a dauber to mark them off as they’re called.

Practise your patter – why not throw in some seasonal jokes? – and remind yourself of the rules: the first to a line and the full house are the two winners! Ask your friends and local shops for larger events if they would be happy to provide prizes people can play for.