The doors are closed. There are no more screenings of this film.

Loading the player...
Return to Main Page

Synopsis: Every day, on the top floor of an iconic 1960’s shopping centre near the heart of the city, hundreds of regulars take up their usual spots in the London Palace Bingo Club. Some come for the cheap dinners and the free tea and coffee, but many stay to relax, socialise, play bingo, dominoes, gossip, and party together.

As this area’s billion pound redevelopment nears its finish, the club finds itself the last piece of the old neighbourhood now sitting within a drastically altered picture, surrounded on all sides by gleaming towers of high-end apartments.

The Palace film is a loud, emotional portrait of a unique community rooted in South London saying a reluctant goodbye to their social hub and playground of the past 20 years. Told through the stories of the regulars that loved it, and the owner who couldn’t save it.

Language

English

Run Time

28 minutes

Directed by

Jo Prichard

Edited by

Gareth Pugh

Director's Statement

I’ve lived in South London near the Elephant & Castle shopping centre – home to the The London Palace bingo club, for nearly 15 years. I’ve followed the ongoing news on the proposed demolition of the shabby but well-loved shopping centre to make way for high-end retail redevelopment. The plans were challenged by community campaigns advocating for a better deal for the locals who relied on the centre, but the efforts to adapt the plans or stop them going ahead ultimately failed.

The Elephant and Castle shopping centre finally closed its doors in September 2020.

Before the end, I wanted to document the unique community of Londoners who spend their days at the London Palace bingo club on the top floor of the centre, and the owner Patrick’s frustrations in trying to save the business. After gaining unprecedented access to film inside, The Palace documentary is a celebration of the club’s life and a record of its final chapter.

In looking at the bingo club I wanted to shine a light on a part of the story of the redevelopment that had been overlooked, and to document a significant loss to the area. The reality was that hundreds of members of the local ageing population relied on the club for their social life, and were supported by the cheap food on offer daily. Many of these pensioners are from the Windrush generation; hard working citizens born all across the world who came to Britain. Many spent their careers working in UK public services, to now find themselves disregarded in retirement.

Director's Bio

A new Director presenting her first film, my background is as a Producer who works in independent and television documentaries spanning from Current Affairs programmes to biographical films. I’ve been fortunate to learn from a range of respected, award winning Directors who I’ve worked alongside across the industry.

I’ve Produced single documentaries for the BBC and other UK and US Channels, including last year the Grierson nominated Tigers: Hunting the Traffickers for BBC 2.

In feature documentaries my Producing work includes Cajun Navy, for Discovery from Academy Award winning production company Lightbox, and my current project Frankie; a film for cinema release with Embankment distribution and Sky Documentaries on the world’s most famous jockey, led by an Emmy and triple Bafta winning Director.

The Palace is a personal project started in 2019 which I Produced, Directed and filmed myself.

Production Year

2021

Official Website

Please don't close or refresh the page while we are processing your submission
Please be patient, this could take a few minutes.

Choose the plan that’s right for you!

Change or cancel anytime

Single Channel
Click to subscribe
Multiple Channels
Click to subscribe
All Access
Click to subscribe
Subscription Price From: $4.99 / month $9.99 / month $14.99 / month
Free Trial Period
Automatic with subscription
Yes Yes Yes
Watch on your laptop, TV, phone, or tablet Yes Yes Yes
Single Festival Access Yes Yes Yes
Multiple Festival Access No Yes Yes
Unlimited Films On Demand
VOD Library
No No Yes

Request A Screening

Oops! We could not locate your form.

Search

Create an Account

You will create your account during the first purchase on Film Festival Flix. To create an account now, select the Channel that's right for you? Subscribe or select the ticketing page. If you're not ready to purchase at this time, you can create your account at any time in the future.
close