Sitting in pride of place on Basnett Street, the George Henry Lee building is a Liverpool landmark. Having sadly sat empty since the closing of its former occupant, Rapid Discount Outlet, in early 2017, it had begun to look increasingly forlorn and abandoned.
Happily, however, its fortunes now seem to have taken an upturn, after Niboco submitted a detailed planning application earlier this year. Hoping to change the building’s use from shop to luxury hotel and casino complex, the developer has ambitious plans to transform this iconic property.
A rich history
For residents of Liverpool, the George Henry Lee building has sat in pride of place on Basnett street for as long as anyone can remember. Formerly home to Rapid Discount Outlet, it has also – more recently – been used as a temporary base for the Independents Biennial exhibition and a pop-up charity shop.
Unfortunately, however, it has spent most of the last two years standing empty – a sad fate for a once-magnificent structure – but thankfully, it seems the building is to be spared the ravages of decay and disuse.
Martin Doherty, who ran Rapid Discount Outlet, explains in an article from https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/: “Being a local Liverpool family, we are well aware of its heritage, and as such, we don’t want to see such a beautiful and historic building left empty.”
In an effort to stave off such a fate, the Doherty family has teamed up with Williamson Holding, an arm of development company Niboco. Together, they hope to turn the property into a luxury hotel, complete with restaurant, bistro, bar, and a fully outfitted basement casino.
Mr Doherty added: “The building has a very special place in the memories and affections of Liverpool people, and we have been working hard to ensure its future for many years to come.”
Is there room for another casino in Liverpool?
One of the biggest draws of this luxury hotel will be the casino that takes up residence in its sprawling basement. Expected to draw visitors from both Liverpool and further afield, this boutique setup will offer something rather different to the city’s current casino offerings.
It is hoped that its inclusion will help the development to tap into the ever-growing gambling industry. Delivering a total gross gambling yield of £14.4 billion between April 2018 and March 2019 – according to statistics from https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/ – the sector currently boasts 10,761 premises in the United Kingdom alone.
It’s not only land-based casinos that are thriving. The online industry has proven equally lucrative, with many existing businesses expanding into the internet sector too. One example is PaddyPower, which now has a strong online presence at https://games.paddypower.com to complement its chain of betting shops.
With the casino sector continuing to grow apace, it seems there are a wealth of opportunities to tap into for savvy businesses, both online and off. Should the Niboco development go through, it could, therefore, do much to grease the wheels of Liverpool’s economy and round out its already extensive attractions.