Part of the Lake Winnipesaukee Historical Society
Preserving the History & Heritage of Lake Winnipeasukee & Vicinity
 

 


Separate smoking room, bingo computers and catering by Patrick’s Pub.

Article originally published in The Weirs Times 02/26/09. Reprinted with permission of The Weirs Publishing Company.
By Brendan Smith, Assistant Editor

For the past 13 years, the Funspot Bingo Hall has been the setting for local charities as they’ve raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to benefit their local missions.

Two new improvements at the Hall, one aesthetic, the other technological, have been added to help keep the fundraising alive and viable in this changing economy and computer-saavy world. A third addition brings a new level of culinary kick for the enjoyment of the thousands of players who visit the hall every year…catering by the famous Patrick’s Pub of Gilford.

The first addition is a fully-enclosed smoking section that was built on the second level.

“We eliminated smoking about a year ago when we thought it was part of the ‘non-smoking’ law passed by the legislature,” explains Funspot owner and General Manager, Bob Lawton. “We did see a decline in attendance as some of our players went to other halls where smoking was still allowed. We knew a lot of them loved our Bingo Hall so, after deciding that smoking at Bingo Halls was still allowed statewide, we went to work walling in a part of the second-level and installing new windows.”

The new smoking section has been open now for about a month and the word has been getting around and a lot of familiar faces are coming back.

For 13 years players at the Funspot Bingo Hall have been listening to state required reading of the Bingo House Rules before very game. The familiar line  “Use of a Bingo Brain is not allowed” has been absent now, on most nights, as the state-of-the-art “Traveler” Bingo computer system has been installed throughout the Hall and has become a big hit.

With the “Traveler” computer, players can play as many as 54 cards (that’s three Bingo packages) on one Hand-held machine and virtually have the computer tell them when they have a Bingo. “It’s a great way for the new players to get their feet wet as well as an addition for some more experienced players, who like to play a few Bingo cards at once, without having to worry about getting behind on the numbers,” says Tina Gebhard who runs Bingo games at Funspot for the Miss Winnipesaukee Scholarship program.

There are only a limited number of the “Traveler” computers available each night and more will be added as their popularity increase. There is a $6 fee to rent the computer for the night.

Players can choose to play the computer, paper or both.

The latest addition to the Funspot Bingo Hall is to the kitchen. Patrick’s Pub of Gilford has taken the reins of the catering and has brought a whole new menu and variety to the hall.

“Hart’s Turkey Farm Restaurant catered the Bingo Hall since we opened it in 1986,” says Sandra Lawton, Assistant to the General Manager at Funspot, “They decided earlier this year to suspend their operation at Funspot and we were fortunate to be able to have Patrick’s step in to fill the void.

Patrick’s Pub offers a different main entrée each night the Bingo Hall is open. The first weeks saw items like homemade meatloaf, vegetable lasagna and roast sirloin grace the menu. On the lighter side there are appetizer, sandwich wrap, grilled Paninis as well as salad and grill specials each night. Chicken fingers, egg rolls, shaved steak and chicken wraps and turkey Paninis with vegetables and ranch dressing are just a few of the specialties offered since Patrick’s took over the catering at the Bingo Hall.

“We’re very happy to see all of these positive changes at the Bingo Hall,” said Bob  Lawton. “These are challenging times, especially for non-profits trying to raise funds. We’re glad to be able to provide, and improve on, a place where they can carry on their important fund-raising missions.”

Since the Funspot Bingo Hall has been open, nearly one million dollars has been raised by local charities,

Presently the Funspot Bingo Hall holds fundraising games for Holy Trinity School, The Lake Winnipesaukee Historical Society, St. Joseph’s Church, The Miss Winnipesaukee Scholarship Program and the Antique and Classic Arcade Museum. The charities pay a per head fee, as required by state law, to Funspot each night that helps in the cost of running the hall and maintaining the equipment needed to run the games.

There are Bingo games at the Funspot Hall Tuesday through Sunday, Tuesday through Friday night the doors open at 4pm and the games start at 6:45. Saturday the doors open at 3pm. The Lake Winnipesuakee Historical Society has an early session that starts at 4:30 and an evening session that begins at 6:45. Players can choose to play either or both. On Sunday the doors open at noon. Holy Trinity School’s afternoon game begins at 1:45 and St. Joseph Parish takes over at night with a 6:30 game.

The Funspot Bingo Hall is located next to Funspot on Rte. 3 in the Weirs between Meredith and Weirs Beach, For more information call 366-4377 or visit them online at www.funspotnh.com.

 

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