Casino Red in Huddersfield rolled out the red carpet for its opening on 25 September 2008, complete with Scarlet Restaurant and Ruby Lounge Bar. The £5 million casino conversion in the listed building that had been the old Princess Cinema was claimed to be one of the world’s most technologically advanced but this did not prevent the doors closing a mere eight weeks later, a victim of the economic downturn that caused banks to withdraw funding.

At the end of November 2008 a notice on the closed doors of the casino told would-be gamblers that, due to unforeseen circumstances, the casino would be temporarily closed for business. Nearly two years on, it seems that Casino Red may be about to reopen for business. According to the company’s website operations will begin once again on 6 October. The Huddersfield Daily Examiner reports that finally new finance has been secured from new bankers.

Before the reopening a few alterations to the interior are being made, including repainting, and some of the original employees are being contacted. It is hoped that the second opening will be as successful as the first and that the casino will be welcoming back its many previous customers as well as new ones. As CEO Nick Boyes-Hunter told the Examiner: “As a casino, we were obliged under the terms of our licence to have a substantial gaming reserve amounting to a seven-figure sum. Having to close so soon after opening has been one of the hardest moments in my career.” (E-09.23.10)

© Copyright 2010 CasinoCompendium



>>> return to archives
>>> return to frontpage