AN HISTORIC bingo hall will get a lease of life when it becomes a bathroom showroom.

The former Mecca Bingo premises near Westminster Bridge in Ellesmere Port town centre have been taken over by plumbing and heating company Glowquest Ltd.

They took possession of the Grade Two-listed building last week after Mecca moved into new premises in Marina Drive, part of the Port Arcades redevelopment scheme.

Glowquest has promised to respect the building's history by keeping both the original architecture and former name.

A company spokesman said: 'The bingo hall used to be the Queen's Cinema, a very popular and important venue in the town.

'We will be retaining this old name so when we open we'll be known as Queen's Glowquest.

'We want to remain very respectful of the Queen's and what it means to the people of Ellesmere Port, so we're being very sensitive towards the old features.'

Glowquest is fitting out the premises with its range of equipment in time for a grand opening in September.

The business has for many years been situated in the old Post Office in Cromwell Road, Ellesmere Port.

It is managed by director Paul Copeland, from the town.

The bingo hall dates back to 1913 and still has many of its original fixtures and fittings.

The building boasts an ornate frontage with a small foyer and an auditorium.

The curtain finally fell on the picture-house in 1968. It was made a listed building in 2000.