It has been in the pipeline for a long time but details are now emerging of the Luminar Leisure casino project in Bournemouth. Should it get approval, which is not certain as the Council has already written a letter objecting to the plan, Bournemouth could go from two to four casinos - it used to have five. The Majestic Casino development would be on the site of the former ice rink in Westover Road, a building that has been empty for over fifteen years, and include cabaret, fine dining and 14 poker tables.

Luminar Group Holdings PLC describes itself as working to create the UK’s leading destination entertainment business. Based in Milton Keynes, the company has a wide variety of entertainment brands to suit different ages and lifestyles, and is the largest nightclub operator in the UK. In 2005 Luminar failed to turn the Westover Road site into one of its Chicago Rock Cafes. Now its planned casino clashes with a controversial £59 million casino development at the Bournemouth Pavilion that has been approved by the Council.

Two casinos presently operate in the town: Gala Casino, also in Westover Road, and Stanley Casino now rebranded as Maxims Casino in Yelverton Road. Negotiations continue between Bournemouth Council and the Trevor Osborne Property Group regarding the refurbishment of the Pavilion theatre and a possible Aspers casino leisure development on adjoining land. The Council says it is trying to arrive at a plan that will meet with more public approval than the one agreed in April.

In 2005 Luminar together with Accor Casinos (now Groupe Lucien Barrière) had plans for developing several casino leisure venues together, including one in Leeds. Changes to the proposed Gambling Act and the capping of new casinos caused a reassessment of casino projects in the UK for many potential investors.

The local Chamber of Trade has agreed not to oppose the Luminar project, saying that the two projects combined would be no larger than a regional casino originally applied for by the Council under the Gambling Act 2005. It adds the proviso that the venue should be high-class – Westover Road has been described as the Bond Street of Bournemouth. A licence hearing has been arranged for 21 January 2008. (E-12.18.07)

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