A bingo operator that has premises in Dundee, Angus and Fife has revealed plans to close 26 sites.
Buzz Bingo counts the Stack Leisure Park in Dundee, Arbroath High Street and Flemington Road in Glenrothes among its estate of 117 locations in the UK.
The company’s chief executive Chris Matthews said coronavirus had had a “significant impact” on the company.
In a statement to members, he said: “We have therefore had to make some difficult decisions about how we move forward and ensure that we protect the future of Buzz Bingo.
“It is, therefore, with sadness that I need to share with you that 26 of our clubs will not reopen, and will close permanently in a proposed restructure of our retail business.”
None of the Tayside and Fife sites are among the 26 sites earmarked for closure.
Buzz’s workforce of 3,400 staff is expected to be reduced by around 570 as a result of the closures.
Mr Matthews added: “Our Buzz Bingo community means the world to us, and we know how disappointing this news will be – especially for those of our customers who are losing their local club, and of course, our colleagues – we know that we are more than just a club, we are part of your community, and for that, I am really sorry.
“We could never have expected this outcome when we closed our doors on March 21, but the coronavirus crisis is a completely one-off event.
“The decision to restructure our club portfolio is the right way to secure our long-term future and make sure that we can still bring bingo to our customers in the majority of our clubs around the country and online.”
The firm said it would start to reopen its premises from August 6.
The full list of clubs to close:
Chatham, Salford, Salisbury, Antelope Park, Banbury, Boston, Bournemouth, Bridlington, Carlisle, Chorley, Cramlington, Derby Foresters, Edinburgh Westerhailes, Harpurhey, Hereford, Kilmarnock, Milton Keynes, Oxford Kassam, Stockland Green, Tamworth, Wednesbury, Weymouth, Wigan Robin Park, Wolverhampton, Worcester, Wythenshawe
