THE manager of Ellesmere Port’s new Club 3000 bingo hall has revealed his plan to ensure the venture is a success.

Speaking to The Standard and MP Justin Madders in an exclusive tour of the under-development venue, Kevin Boden said it boiled down to “value for money and customer experience”.

“It’s about people having a fun night out; a place to meet up with friends,” he said. “We keep everything low cost and the prizes big.

“Besides the bingo we’ll have things like cabaret nights and a Christmas party, and there will be home-cooked meals. We don’t really make any money from the food, we do it for the customers.”

Mr Boden, who has relocated to the Ellesmere Port area with his family, plans to take on around 35 to 40 staff and is aiming for at least 3,000 members.

He did not want to comment on the record about why Mecca Bingo – the venue’s previous operators – may have felt bingo in the Port was unprofitable.

But he did say that the membership at the end of Mecca’s run last October was around 1,200 – a figure he hoped to at least double.

“We’ve done our homework,” he said. “We’re confident we can make this a success. I wouldn’t be here if not!”

The entire interior is currently being gutted with an investment of around £1.3 million from Club 3,000, which operates more than a dozen successful bingo venues in the UK.

The lobby area is also being transformed into an open plan area for fruit machines.

Mr Boden said everything is on track for a grand opening in September this year.

Dozens of bingo fans had been left devastated when Mecca announced they were closing last year.

The hall, on Marina Drive, had become a valued community asset over the past 40 years and 900 people signed a doomed petition aimed at persuading Mecca to stay.

Mr Madders said: “It’s really great to see this investment in our local area and I welcome Bingo 3000 to Ellesmere Port.

“I’m sure there are many looking forward to the opening in September and joining the Bingo community, which has been sorely missed by many players. I’m sure they will be impressed with the new facilities.”

* The membership shop is now open for sign up and is based at the Port Arcades shopping centre.