Every town has its iconic buildings and Southport is no exception, its pier and promenade are among the most popular in the UK. But times change and all too often classic landmarks are closed and fall into a state of disrepair. The Grand Casino in Southport is a classic example.
Art Deco icon
The building on Lord Street opened in 1923 and began life as a car showroom and was later converted into a cinema. It was then transformed into a casino in 1999 before closing eight years later and has remained empty ever since. The sight of such a delightful building deteriorating is tragic for locals and visitors to the area alike. But there is always hope that someone will come along and breathe new life into these landmarks.
Fortunately, that has proved to be the case with the Grand Casino. In the summer of 2022, the building is scheduled to reopen after being redeveloped by local firm The Mikhail Hotel and Leisure Group. The redevelopment is expected to create more than 100 jobs.
No Plans for Casino on Site
This is welcome news for the area, but fans of table games may be disappointed to hear that there are no plans to include a casino in the new venture. Casino options have been limited in the town since the Grand closed in 2007 with the promenade casino also shutting its doors in 2021. On the flip side, there is an ever-increasing number of online casinos available with more new sites that are available to UK players every year. These offer varying welcome bonuses for customers as they aim to attract new business, as well as a range of payment methods to ensure the experience is as smooth as possible.
Future gaming options should not be ruled out, however, as the new owners are also the brains behind Arcains, a dedicated gaming venue located in Liverpool. It features arcade games, pinball machines, PC games, and console games.
Strong Track Record
Any doubts that the company will succeed can be alleviated by looking at their past ventures. Their other projects in the area include the Bold Hotel and the Lord Street Hotel.
The immediate plans for the Grand include a 5-Star hotel, corporate facilities and a range of restaurants. Entertainment will be in the form of tenpin bowling, pool tables, darts, and sports simulators among other things. Rooftop terraces will take advantage of the city views, and a car park will also be a welcome addition to the Northern Quarter.
The company behind the refurbishment is APM Design. They are planning to retain many of the original features, as well as bringing the facilities bang up to date. The result should be a modern art deco theme that pays respect to the splendour of 1920s Southport. A total of £3 million has been earmarked for the transformation.