Listen to this article:A planning proposal has been submitted to convert a former shop in Eastbourne town centre into a 24-hour bingo hall. According to the application, the new venue would create jobs, support nearby businesses, and bring more overall activity to the high street.
The plans were submitted on behalf of Slots Trading Ltd. They are for the location of the former haberdashery store, Closs and Hamblin, at 82 Terminus Road. If the plans are approved, ten new jobs are expected to be created as part of the project, after the unit is converted into a 24/7 bingo arcade in Eastbourne.
According to the planning documents, the aim is to bring a currently unused retail site back into action in the town centre without making major changes to the building itself. The proposed internal changes include a new entrance lobby, office, customer toilet, and service station, while the overall layout of the premises would remain largely unchanged.
There are many benefits to being able to dab along to 24/7 online bingo. However, having a round-the-clock venue where you can experience the real thing whenever you like offers even more advantages.
A key argument in the application is that a 24/7 bingo venue is fitting for a central shopping area. The planning statement argues that gaming arcades and bingo-style premises are now well-established features of the modern high street and should be treated as part of the wider town centre mix rather than as an out-of-place addition.
The documents state:
“Arcades such as this are intrinsically town centre uses and are part of the modern-day high street, so much so that they are considered a ‘main town centre use’ by the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).”
In fact, this is the argument central to the entire proposal. Rather than presenting the bingo venue as a niche leisure business, the application claims it is something that will both fill an empty commercial unit and draw activity to an important town centre location.
Because the venue would be open 24 hours a day, the application also argues that it would bring a visible presence to this stretch of Eastbourne after many other businesses have closed, which will help boost safety. The application states, “Being 24-hour, Slots Trading Ltd can provide surveillance for the immediate area throughout the night.”
The application also suggests that the late-night and early-morning trade would not rely only on traditional bingo customers. Instead, it says the venue is expected to attract workers finishing late shifts in local restaurants and other businesses who may want somewhere to spend time after work.
As with many applications of this kind, the impact on the surrounding area is a major issue. Addressing these issues, the documents argue that the change of use would not create excessive noise as the machines that are used inside the venue would operate at a relatively low noise level compared with the sort of noise already associated with other commercial premises on a busy high street.
The proposal also claims that the new bingo hall could increase pedestrian movement nearby, which in turn may help neighbouring businesses. Slots Trading Ltd has said it expects that the bingo hall would bring more people to the high street and could encourage visits to other venues in the area.
The planning application also addresses concerns about gambling-related harm. It states that the venue would focus on providing a safe gambling environment and that customer welfare would form part of its day-to-day operations. It says that gaming machines would include safer gambling settings and functions, including time-limit tools and staff oversight.
It also says that staff would receive annual training covering compliance, social responsibility, and safeguarding vulnerable people and children. While this is a standard point in planning and licensing applications for adult gaming venues, it is still a subject that is carefully reviewed by authorities.
Another point made in the submission is that Eastbourne would not become oversaturated with this type of business if the scheme goes ahead. The documents say there are currently two other gaming centres in the town, and argue that one additional venue would not create an excessive concentration.
Whether the plan for a 24/7 bingo arcade in Eastbourne is approved or not, it is another demonstration that bingo venues are still very much in demand and that the game has a promising future on Britain’s high streets.
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