THE ARCADE best known as Nessa’s workplace in Gavin and Stacey has called time on bingo at Barry Island, making way for family-orientated fun.

Amusement arcade, Island Leisure co-owners Andrew and Hilary Phillips have called the last numbers on the electronic version of the game – Thomas Prize - that first arrived in the arcade in 1967 – replacing the bottle top bingo that existed at the Western Arcade venue previously.

Andrew said a decrease in popularity of the game now meant that all seven of the resort’s bingo venues that once existed had now shut down and he and his family were going to upgrade the internationally famous venue with the more in-demand redemption machines.

Andrew, 54, said: “We are taking it out because it’s no longer popular. It used to be a 40 player game and it used to get full, but it’s had a decline in the last four to five years. A lot of people used to save up their points. The most popular was the George Foreman grill at 3,850 points and TVs.”

Players got two cards for 20p or four cards for 30p and could win up to 250 points each time.

Popular points redemptions also include black jack and fruit salad chews, milky ways, freddos, and maoam stripes – the most popular with children.

Hilary, her uncle and their children all helped call the numbers over the years in a business which has seen four generations of the family in operation.

Tourism industry magazine Coinslot reported that bingo game venues had declined almost 80 per cent in the last four years.

Andrew said: “It is sad, but we have got to move with the times. People want to win tickets and we are a family entertainment centre. We are going to look towards the family more and the family want redemption machines. It was older people and predominantly women who played bingo. Even the regulars stopped coming.”

Andrew added: “Barry Island is looking good at the moment with the regeneration and everyone is trying to do their bit. That’s what we need to do – make the place bright and cheery when people get here.”