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London Hippodrome to become Casino
by:Danielle Almond
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
The London Hippodrome in Leicester Square has been open since 1900 and has since then taken many different forms including a music hall, theatre, cabaret club, nightclub and most recently an alternative circus. However, now the Hippodrome is set to become a casino.
In the pipeline are £8 million plans to convert the venue to a casino with slot machines, gaming tables, a poker room, cabaret bar and a Gordon Ramsey restaurant. The company behind the conversion has already won planning permission making it extremely likely the plans will go ahead.
The casino plan has been opposed by other casinos in London. However, the United Leisure Gaming Company has been allowed to take their plans forward based on the proposal that their casino will bring a unique venue to the capital. Included in the building work are plans to restore the building to its former glory by reinstating the minstrel’s gallery and other areas of plasterwork and balustrades.
Simon Thomas, chairman of Hippodrome Casinos says plans are progressing at a quick speed and that work will hopefully start in the summer of 2009. He said: “It is a big project, and has to be done properly. We are getting all of the detailed plans in place. Westminster council are fantastically thorough, which is a good thing because we want to make it stunning again.”
About the recession, Thomas was optimistic saying that it will mean better prices from construction companies. However he also said: “It is possible that people might be less inclined to gamble but we are trying to offer something a bit different. London has a lot of hard gambling casino but we are not going for the big gambler. We think our customer will only spend a little over £30 a head. Our customer will get the opportunity to see some free cabaret, see a beautiful building, have a little flutter – we are not looking at the high end.”
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