Former Bradford city centre casino could become new leisure destination
The large unit at the Leisure Exchange has been vacant since Grosvenor Casino shut in May 2018.
A CITY centre casino that closed its doors over eight years ago could soon re-open as Bradford’s latest leisure destination.
The large unit at the Leisure Exchange has been vacant since Grosvenor Casino shut in May 2018.
The 2,330 square metre space is one of the biggest vacant units in Bradford city centre.
Now a planning application to bring this space back into use has been submitted to Bradford Council by Legal and General Leisure Fund. It calls for the use of the unit to be changed from casino to leisure use – an umbrella term that can include indoor sport, recreation and fitness.
Entry to the unit is from the main square at the Leisure Exchange – next to the Cineworld cinema – but the bulk of the unit is down a flight of stairs, space backing onto the Funzy inflatable centre and next to Vicar Lane.
The application includes little detail of what business would be based in the unit, and when the Local Democracy Reporting Service asked Legal and General for more information a spokesperson said they were not able to comment.
The application says: “The wider complex comprises several leisure and retail operators, including Holiday Inn Express, Hollywood Bowl, Cineworld and Nando’s alongside Funzy, a children’s inflatable play park.
“It is served by a multi-storey car park to its north and is located approximately 100m from Bradford Interchange railway station.
“The unit was previously a Casino which has since ceased trading. Pedestrian access into the unit is taken from adjacent to the junction of Ebenezer Street and George Street, via a flight of steps leading to ground floor level of the building. Once inside, a small customer access point leads to an internal flight of stairs leading down to the lower ground floor unit. The remaining floorspace at lower ground floor is occupied by ‘Funzy.’
“The change of use will enable the currently vacant space to be let to an operator of the above use, restoring the vitality and viability of the unit.
“The use is fully consistent and complementary to other established uses within the Leisure Exchange.”
A decision on the application is expected in August.
Coinciding with this new planning application, an application to transfer the unit’s casino licence has been submitted.
The Gaming Group Limited and Grosvenor Casinos (GC) Limited have both submitted applications to Bradford Council to transfer the unit’s casino licence to Unit A2 at the Leisure Exchange.
This is the former Marco & Carl restaurant that has stood empty for several years.
The LDRS has contacted Grosvenor Casinos for more details of their plans for that unit, but has yet to receive a response.
People have until July 2 to comment on that licence variation.