SOCIAL DABBERS BINGO HACKNEY REVIEW
We recently attended the launch of Dabbers Bingo in Hackney and I didn’t know what to expect walking into and up the yellow and pink flights of stairs. When I arrived in the main room, it was like a disco kind of environment with lots seating and tables of different sizes and shapes. On the night it was a mixed crowed consisting of predominantly young to middle aged people out for a good time. The host for the night, along with the dancers were brimming with energy and fun vibes. Staff on the night were really friendly and accomidating. Food wise, it was served tapas style, with my favorite being the mushroom arancini. Drink wise, The pink lady cocktail was pretty good and I really liked the Tequila Rose shot.
As for the main event there were plenty of giveaways and to my surprise I actually won twice on the night! Winning two small prizes.
One of the defining features of social dabbers is mid way through the bingo games The DJ takes control and plays a song at random. Everyone then gets out there chairs to shake a leg, but if you want to be quick on the bingo draw you have to listen carefully as the song played hints at a bingo number but if you don’t catch it straight away don’t worry the host will state the bingo number once the song comes to an end. To round it up I had a fun evening with good company and I’d recommend Social dabbers to others !
Open Tuesday to Sunday with a 6-7pm happy hour on Tuesdays, and the opportunity to indulge in a Hackney-themed lunchbox on Saturdays and Sundays and bar snacks alongside cocktails, spirits and beers.
Also exclusive to Hackney, the Bow Bells Bingo on Saturday afternoons brings an East London experience, complete with cockney rhyming slang bingo calls. Hosted by a Hackney local whose mother tongue has always included a wide range of cockney lingo; expect an immersive bingo show, theatrical cocktails, bangin’ tunes and hilarious prizes. Pro tip? Make sure to arrive when the doors open to soak up the bottomless bubbles and disco vibes before the bingo show begins.
Sundays in Hackney will bring Sunday’s a Drag hosted the legendary Kate Butch; The most outrageously fierce bingo Show in the East End. The weekly celebration of all things drag will bring top London DJs and sensational Drag Queen hosts, taking audiences on an interactive bingo journey. Whilst the teams are dabbing their afternoon away, they’ll be entranced by shimmy-worthy disco balls, simply fabulous tie-breaker challenges, and a healthy amount of sass. Audiences can also entertain their taste buds whilst the show kicks off on-stage with tantalising tipples, Hackney-inspired snacks and bottomless bubbles.
Speaking about the opening Creative Director and Founder Jonny Unknown said: “The hospitality industry has been, and continues to be, one of the sectors hit hardest by and post pandemic. I’m so grateful to everyone who was with us through the virtual shows and continues to keep the party going IRL. Dabbers was started not only to repurpose and modernise the beloved game of bingo but also create an inclusive, sociable, accessible and entertaining community hub. When we found this brilliant venue, the idea of creating the UK’s smallest bespoke, bijou bingo hall was just too appealing to pass up. So it’s with great happiness for myself and the team to announce Dabbers is now opening a second venue in Hackney. I can’t wait to put bingo back on the Hackney map, as the borough’s only venue dedicated to the game.” JONNY UNKNOWN | CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Bookings can be made directly on their website: https://dabbers.
Written by Kit Chan Oliver
