How the 24-hour new gambling establishment’s interior could look in the basement

A “WORLD class” casino is one step closer to being built at the Trocadero building after a planning application was approved.

Westminster City councillors voted unanimously to approve Genting Casinos UK’s plans, which include turning the site in Coventry Street into a two-storey gambling establishment capable of catering for up to 1,250 people.

Genting Casinos applied to refurbish the first floor and basement of the Trocadero to replace the former Bubba Gump restaurant and Opium nightclub, which closed in 2019 following a shooting.

The project is set to cost £40million, according to Genting Casinos’ chief financial officer, James Alexby, and see a new shopfront installed.

He told councillors during a planning meeting last week the casino could result in 350 new jobs in the borough.

Mr Axelby also brushed aside concerns the casino would be “alcohol-led” saying drinks aren’t expected to account for more than 7 per cent of revenue and that it was focused on offering a “first-class” gaming experience to customers. He told a planning committee: “We’ve worked hard to ensure these proposals are responsible and carefully thought through.

How the first floor VIP room could look

“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 within the area.”

A representative for the Soho Society said housing a large casino with multiple floors of gambling at the Trocadero would “represent a massive intensification of gambling and alcohol-led activity”.

They said: “This is not simply a refurbishment of existing uses. It is a step scale change in impact. Casinos of this size encourage late-night drinking and increased drinking comes with increased crime and antisocial behaviour.”

Council planning officers said there is no legal change in use by introducing a casino, which they said is an improvement on the site’s previous life as a nightclub. They said casinos don’t typically attract “large, high spirited” groups and the venue’s 24-hour nature means there are no “mass exists” early in the morning. Officers also said casinos are held to strict controls.

The Trocadero building will have a new shopfront

Councillors want Genting UK to install a bike rack in the general area. The company’s original offer to do so was rejected by the council’s highways team due to a lack of space in Piccadilly but Councillor Robert Rigby pushed officers to secure another agreement.

He said: “We are missing an opportunity. This application, with no disrespect, is a casino. They’re going to be making quite a lot of money, which is great, good for the economy. But we have an opportunity to get some money here for some cycle racks.”

Genting Casinos UK is also requesting its gambling licence for the Crockfords Club in Curzon Street be relocated to the Trocadero premises. According to a council officer at Tuesday’s meeting, Westminster City does not approve new casino licences, therefore,­ to run the venue, Genting Casinos UK will need to relinquish one of its gambling licences in the borough.

According to Genting Casinos, Crockfords Casino closed in 2023. At that time, the company’s intention was to relocate it to another site within the City of Westminster.