A BELOVED bingo hall has been sold off by its owners, sparking fears that it could close for good as a result. 

Bosses at the Rio Bingo Hall, on Furtherwick Road on Canvey, confirmed to the Echo that the business had been sold, but were unable to provide any further detail. 

Shocked residents have been sharing their devastation since rumours spread across Canvey about the sale of the “iconic”site. 

The bingo hall on Canvey initially started out as a community cinema in the 1930s, prior to the Second World War.

The last film was shown in 1976, before it was converted into a social club, which has been playing bingo ever since.

Canvey resident Tracey Foyster said: “I have been going for years and have even started taking some of the elderly down there.

“It is their only source of socialisation, and now it has been sold they won’t have anywhere to go to be around people and just be at home on their own.

“It gives the elderly stimulation on the brain.

“It upsets me as people have been going for a number of years. It is iconic.”

Canvey councillor Dave Blackwell added he had “heard the rumour it has been sold”.

He said: “It was so popular for bingo.

“I hope the new owners keep it for community use as it is an iconic building.

“It was a cinema when I was a boy.”

Ray Howard, also known as Mr Canvey, said this would be a huge lost to the community on the Island.

He said: “This place is very sentimental to me.

“Being born and living on Canvey all my life, coming from a working family, this place provide pleasure for me.

“I have been there many times, and it has been a real landmark for Canvey over the years.

“The future is now at big risk, and I am sure it will concern the community.

“We just have to hope, that what its future is for, that we will be able to scrutinise that very careful, because it is an iconic site.”

Rio was contacted for comment by the Echo but they are yet to respond.