Players had to evacuate the Pavilion bingo hall in Galashiel, Scotland when part of the ceiling collapsed during a game. Luckily no one was injured; however games were suspended until the damaged ceiling could be repaired. An adjoining cinema also had to be evacuated as a safety precaution to ensure that no one was harmed during the collapse. Rescue services gave the following statement: “The information we have is that a large part of false ceiling has come down in the bingo club. No persons were injured and the matter will be investigated by building control.” 

Collapsed ceiling issues such as this one are not altogether uncommon in older halls. What causes the problem are apparently leaks in the external roof material in older buildings over a period of time, which leave tiles absorbing water, which in turn will eventually cause the ceiling to cave in. Many old halls have been around for decades, some even for centuries - and with limited funding, the halls are often in disrepair. For players at the Pavilion hall, many are turning to their computers during the closure of their local halls, and many more players will choose to play bingo online while the hall is being repaired.