It’s the end of an era, with Bingay moving from its Imperial Hotel home to a new venue – the Midnight Shift.
Popular ACON fundraiser Bingay is set to reinvent itself with a new home, a new date and start time, a new hostess and a new look. After 13 years at the Imperial Hotel in Erskineville, the weekly bingo event is moving to The Midnight Shift on Oxford St in Darlinghurst. It will also be moving from Tuesday night to Wednesday night with a new start time of 7:30 pm instead of 8 pm.
The new event will be called Disco Bingay to reflect a new retro disco theme and will be hosted by local drag star Summer Salt. Bingay’s long time barrel babe Naomi Palmer will continue to spin the balls and sing up a storm. Hostess Charisma Belle was not available to make the move due to other professional commitments.
Bingay is gay bingo which means there are weird rules, sing-a-longs, penalties and hilarious stories with prizes that range from the silly and camp to great theatre tickets and restaurant vouchers.
ACON CEO Nicolas Parkhill says the move marks an historic turning point for the long- running event. “Over the last 13 years, Bingay has become a LGBT social institution and has raised over one million dollars for ACON, so we’re extremely grateful for the support we have received over many years from the Imperial Hotel and its owner Shadd Danesi.
“Tens of thousands of people have wonderful memories of Bingay at the Imperial and so on behalf of ACON I would like to pay tribute to all the people who have contributed to its success and longevity. I would especially like to thank Shadd and the staff at the Imperial as well as our wonderful hostesses Mitzi Macintosh, Tora Hyman and Charisma Belle who have made Bingay what it is today. However events always evolve and so we’re delighted to be taking Bingay to The Midnight Shift and giving it a bit of a makeover.”
Midnight Shift General Manager Michael Bourke says Disco Bingay will be a great addition to The Shift’s line-up of entertainment. “We’re really excited to be taking up the Bingay baton and we’re really looking forward to helping create a wonderfully camp mid-week entertainment experience for locals and visitors to Sydney. Retro disco bingo in Darlo – what’s not to love!”
New hostess Summer Salt says she’s looking forward to adding her own shameless twist to the madcap proceedings. “I grew up going to Bingay and have always loved it and understand why people keep coming back. While I’ll certainly be adding my own unique allure to the event, there’ll continue to be the outrageous antics, hilarious repartee and those deliciously lewd bingo calls which have made Bingay such a popular night out for LGBT people and their friends.”
