Alchemy Partners has bought out Panico Panayi's Buckingham Bingo company for a reported £90 million. The Buckingham sale comes as Panayi's bingo empire has grown into the largest independent chain in northern England. With 2.5 million visitors each year, the Greek businessman has come a long way from when he set up his first bingo hall in 1970. Though little is currently known about the private bingo bigwig, Panayi will now become more widely recognizable as one of the 50 wealthiest people in north England.

Alchemy is a private equity venture capital firm based out of Manchester and is headed by Jon Moulton. Bingo isn't the only thing that is piquing the interest of Moulton's company at the moment. Alchemy has just taken over Inventive Leisure, a vodka-bar chain, for £42.5 million. Maybe they'll serve up a new intoxicating innovation once they officially take over the bingo halls...