A landmark building near Piccadilly Circus is set for a new lease of life after Westminster councillors approved plans to turn it into a casino.
Genting Casinos UK has been given the go-ahead to convert the famous Trocadero building on Coventry Street into a two-storey casino complete with a restaurant.
According to Genting’s Chief Financial Officer, James Axelby, the project could create around 350 new jobs. The company says the venue will bring fresh energy to the area while remaining respectful of its surroundings.
Despite the unanimous approval from the council’s planning committee, not everyone is thrilled. The Soho Society raised concerns that the new casino might encourage more late-night drinking and anti-social behaviour.
Axelby pushed back on those worries, saying alcohol sales are expected to make up less than 7% of the casino’s total revenue. He also stressed that a “robust operational management plan” is in place to handle issues like noise, dispersal, and smoking.
The transformation will see the first floor and basement of the Trocadero refurbished, replacing the former Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. restaurant and Opium nightclub, which closed in 2019 following a shooting. The new venue will be able to accommodate up to 1,250 guests.
Planning officers described the proposal as an improvement over the site’s previous use as a nightclub, noting that casinos tend to attract a calmer crowd. They added that the 24-hour operation would prevent the large, disruptive “mass exits” often seen when clubs close in the early hours.
Westminster City Council doesn’t issue new casino licences, so Genting plans to relocate its existing licence from the Crockfords Club in Curzon Street, which shut down in 2023.
If all goes to plan, the Trocadero’s next chapter could soon see the lights of a new casino glowing once again in the heart of London’s West End. Photo by The Trocadero on Coventry Street by Steve Daniels, Wikimedia commons.