Rank signs new ten-year lease to keep casino at Ricoh Arena

The Rank Group, which owns the largest casino brand in the UK, Grosvenor Casinos, has signed a new ten-year lease to remain at Ricoh Arena, Coventry.

Grosvenor Casinos, which operates 52 casinos, has been based at Ricoh Arena since 2009 when it took over the casino site and invested £1.6 million in the venue.  The company has now put pen to paper on a new decade-long deal.

The casino is the biggest in the city and features a full range of table and electronic gaming including Blackjack, Roulette and Poker as well as a strong food and drink with brands such as Absurd Bird, Field & Fin, Barrel & Stone & The Real Grill.

The venue also boasts a calendar of national events including Goliath, the biggest annual live poker tournament in the world which runs for ten days at the end of July each year.

The casino attracted around 250,000 people through its doors last year, many coming from different parts of the country to attend specific events, as well as customers on-site for other Ricoh activities.

Paul Davies, General Manager of Grosvenor Casino Coventry, said: “We are delighted to have signed a new ten-year lease with Ricoh Arena, we think this venue is the ideal home for our brand.

“Grosvenor Casino Coventry is a unique venue right in the heart of the country offering gaming, sports, live events and an excellent food and drink experience –  we have an open door policy so anyone over the age of 18 can come along for a drink, a meal, to watch the match or try their hand at one of the many games we have on offer.”

Stuart Cain, Chief Executive (Venue) of Wasps Group said: “This is very good news. It shows just how well the casino continues to trade and is a major vote of confidence in the future strategy of Ricoh Arena and the way that we’re conducting our business.

“The casino gives our venue real diversity in terms of entertainment as well as additional bars and restaurants. Whilst it attracts a loyal audience due to the strength of the Grosvenor name, it also allows us to offer something different to people attending sports fixtures, concert-goers and conference and exhibition delegates.

“We are one of the largest multi-purpose venues in the UK and we view the Grosvenor Casino as a key component of that mix. We are looking forward to working with the management team at the site to keep driving our businesses forward.”