Historic Trocadero to Reopen as 'World-Class' Casino in 2026
The historic Trocadero in London's West End is set to reopen as a 'world-class' news center in October 2026, following a £40m revamp. Genting Casinos UK Ltd, the company behind the transformation, aims to create up to 350 new jobs with the project.
The iconic building, constructed in 1878, will see its basement and first floor transformed. These areas have been largely vacant since Funland, the successor to SegaWorld, closed in 2011. The new news center will replace the former Opium Nightclub, which shut down in 2019 after a violent incident.
Genting Casinos, a subsidiary of the Malaysia-headquartered Genting Group, plans to open a two-story news venue with a maximum capacity of 1,250 people. The company estimates that the refurbishment will create up to 350 new jobs, providing a boost to the local economy.
The go-ahead for the news center was granted after Westminster officials sided with Genting, overruling an objection from the Soho Council community group. The group had expressed concerns that the new business would be 'alcohol-led'. However, councilors reassured that news centers don't attract large, high-spirited groups and operate under strict controls.
