FEATURE
Colourful – inside the Admiral Casino on Newport Road.
BACK IN THE GAME
After more than a decade away, full casino gaming has returned to Middlesbrough, bringing fresh investment, new jobs and a major new chapter for one of Teesside’ s longest-established entertainment businesses.
WORDS: JULIE BURNISTON
Admiral Casino on Newport Road opened its doors on June 25, marking a significant milestone for Luxury Leisure, the UK business-to-consumer arm of the NOVOMATIC Group.
It’ s the first casino opened by the company, which has operated on Teesside for more than 50 years and has created approximately 20 new jobs as part of its launch.
“ This has been a significant project for the business,” says campaign manager Megan Hatton.“ We held the licence for a number of years before opening, so there has been a considerable amount of planning and preparation behind the scenes.
“ From a market perspective, Middlesbrough represents a strong opportunity because the town has been without a casino for many years. Bringing full casino gaming back to the area allows us to meet a gap in the local leisure market.
“ The Newport Road site also has real historical significance for the business, as it was one of our earliest operating locations. Today, it brings together three parts of our portfolio, with the new casino and adult gaming centre operating alongside one another with separate entrances, while our Kwik Tan business occupies the floor above.”
Luxury Leisure has significantly expanded its Middlesbrough presence over the past six to 12 months, acquiring several new businesses and bringing the total to six Admiral Slot venues in the town. The business now employs around 60 people across its Middlesbrough operations, with the opening of Admiral Casino creating a further 23 jobs, reinforcing its ongoing investment in the town and its local economy.
This expanded portfolio forms part of a wider growth strategy. Across the UK, the company operates 304 adult gaming centres, six family entertainment centres, 41 Kwik Tan sunbed salons and a small number of coffee shops, with a longer-term ambition to reach 400 venues by the end of 2027.
Open seven days a week from noon until 6am, the venue combines a B1 gaming floor with progressive jackpots reaching up to £ 20,000, a fully licensed bar and a comprehensive food menu. Customers can access both at-machine and table service in the bar area.
Ahead of the official opening, the team hosted two launch events to celebrate the completion of the project and thank everyone who had helped bring the vision to life. Family and friends joined internal stakeholders, contractors, suppliers and industry partners who had supported the development over the previous 12 months. The evenings were a celebration of a significant milestone for the business and an opportunity to recognise the collective effort that had turned plans and ideas into reality.
Since opening, customer feedback has been extremely positive, providing
120 | Tees Business