Westminster City Council has signed off on plans for Genting Casinos UK to open a new casino near the famous Piccadilly Circus in London.
Genting plans to transform the Trocadero building on Coventry Street into a two-story casino and restaurant. According to the BBC, the operator said the new London casino could create up to 350 new jobs.
Genting will refurbish the first floor and basement of the building. The venue will replace the former Bubba Gump restaurant and Opium nightclub, both of which closed in 2019.
This approval does not constitute another casino license for Genting. Instead, the operator will be relocating from another venue, having closed its Crockfords Club location on Curzon Street in 2023.
Casino to Open Despite Opposition in London
Approval came despite the local Soho Society voicing its opposition to the plans. The group said the venue would “encourage late-night drinking.”
The Soho Society also said the casino would “represent a massive intensification of gambling and alcohol-led activity.” It also flagged concerns over crime and anti-social behavior.
However, James Axelby, chief financial officer of Genting, played down the concerns. He said: “At the heart of the scheme is a robust operational management plan which addresses matters such as dispersal, noise and smoking so the venue operates smoothly and respectfully.
The council viewed the casino as an improvement on the site’s previous life as a nightclub, noting that its being open 24 hours a day would avoid “mass exits” late at night.
