Slot machine casino set to open in Coventry's former Boots store
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An adult gaming centre with casino-style machines and slots is set to open in Coventry city centre. The new amusements arcade will be based in the Cross Cheapings shopping area by Primark in Broadgate square.
It will be run by Luxury Leisure as one of over 230 Admiral Gaming centres in the UK. 12 jobs are set to be created by the opening of the centre which will be for over-18s only and have a limited number of machines with jackpots of £400 and £500.
Planning permission for a change of use from Class E to allow an adult gaming centre was granted last week by the City Council. The decision will allow the arcade to open in a vacant unit left empty since a branch of Boots moved out in 2019.
No businesses showed an interest in opening on the site despite its prime location in Coventry's centre, according to a council officer's report. "This demonstrates that this unwanted unit would benefit the centre by being occupied and putting a unit back into use," the officer wrote.
One person objected to the application, stating that the new gaming centre could cause a rise in anti-social behaviour. They added that allowing gambling could impact residents' health and wellbeing.
But none of the council's Conservation or Planning Policy teams had any objections to the proposals. A separate bid to install a light-up sign outside the adult arcade was also given the green light.
The planning application stated: "It is hoped that the reoccupation of the subject property will help to restore some confidence in the city centre."
It comes as UK high streets change from places to shop to social hubs and places to be entertained. The growth of out-of-town retail parks and online shopping is somewhat to blame, according to a Local Government Association (LGA) briefing earlier this year.
But Covid-19 also had a devastating impact, the briefing added. 8,700 chain stores across the UK closed in the first sixth months of the pandemic and spending on some streets fell by 75% in the first month.
The City of Culture 2021 has seen more investment in Coventry - but it is still in the national bottom 10 for high street spending, according to data from the Centre for Cities.
