August 3, 2020 3.47 pm This story is over 44 months old

Casino company looks to set up shop in Boston

The business wants to open 24-hours-a-day
A Merkur Cashino centre elsewhere in the UK. Photo: Facebook/Cashino

A casino company wants to turn a former Boston pub into a 24-hour adult gaming centre.

Merkur Cashino has applied to Boston Borough Council to open the new business at the former Delight Pub, at 45 West Street, along with changing the shopfront.

In documents before the authority the company which runs 162 such centres in the UK, says it bring a vacant unit back into use and will complement surrounding shops.

It seeks to reassure members that it will not “attract anti-social behaviour” or be “noisy” due to a lack of Fixed Odds Betting Terminals, low stakes gameplay and a focus on bingo machines and tablets including complementary refreshments.

The new centre will go in place of the former Delight Pub on West Street. Photo: Google Streetview

“AGCs are where people go to spend their spare change, have a game of bingo and enjoy their favourite pastime,” said the documents.

“The customer base during the late evening and into the early hours is predominantly the local entertainment workforce and shift workers who like to relax after their busy shifts.”

The company said previous applications to extend opening hours at the previous business had seen no objections and that doing so would be unlikely to impact or cause harm to neighbours amenities.

“The principle of proposed change is entirely acceptable and the proposals will protect and enhance the vitality and viability of this part of the town centre.

“[It] will lead to improvements to the appearance, and accessibility of the frontage, high footfall, linked trips, new job sand will assist in diversifying the centre’s offer,” it concluded.