Europe, Caesars Entertainment today announced plans to develop and operate a luxury casino resort in London
Adjacent to the redeveloped Wembley National Stadium and the legendary Wembley Arena. The project is part of a major redevelopment effort intended to transform the historic sporting area into an international leisure and tourist destination.
Caesars’ partner in the casino project is Quintain Estates and Development PLC, one of the United Kingdom’s leading property investment and development companies. Each company will own 50 percent of the planned joint venture. Quintain specializes in strategic property acquisition, redevelopment and asset management across the UK.
The $600-million Caesars Wembley, to be built on 13 acres in the 58-acre redevelopment area, will comprise a world-class casino, a 400-room luxury hotel, an elegant spa and swimming pool, a collection of designer shops, convention and meeting facilities and a wide variety of exciting restaurants, bars and lounges.
The joint venture launches the next stage of Quintain’s plans for the revitalization of Wembley, which when completed is expected to draw millions of visitors a year from London and its surrounding areas, as well as the rest of the United Kingdom and overseas.
The Wembley renewal project, to be financed and developed by Quintain, will surround the new National Stadium. The project will include the redeveloped Wembley Arena — a major music and entertainment venue soon to undergo a design overhaul; designer shopping outlets; a dedicated sports mall; a nightclub and the largest cinema multiplex ever built in Britain.
Peter George, Caesars Senior Vice President for Development and Managing Director of the company’s International Group, noted that Caesars has worked closely with officials of the communities in which it operates its 28 international casino resorts to promote economic development and new employment opportunities. George served as vice chairman and chief executive officer of London-based Ladbroke Group PLC (later Hilton Group PLC) before joining Caesars Entertainment’s predecessor company, Park Place Entertainment, in 2002. In that role, George oversaw Ladbroke’s extensive gaming, hotel and leisure businesses.
The plan to bring a casino to Wembley is subject to scheduled deregulation of the UK’s gambling laws.
Caesars Wembley will include:
75,000 square feet of gaming space accommodating 135 gaming tables and 1,250 slot machines, in line with the Draft Gambling Bill legislation.
A 400-room luxury hotel, to complement the Stadium, Arena and other facilities, located on 9 levels above the gaming area, overlooking Wembley and the surrounding area.
A new swimming pool and full-service spa, open to the public and which can be opened to the rooftop sun deck and gardens in good weather.
26,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, with a large single, multi-purpose ballroom supported by smaller meeting rooms and a large outdoor covered breakout terrace. Additional event space will be available at the Wembley Arena and Wembley Stadium.
A diverse array of restaurants, bars, and lounges, all open to the public, including a 200-seat 24-hour cafe, Asian and Italian restaurants, steak-house and sports / entertainment bar. Several of the restaurants will offer outdoor cafe-style dining lining the pedestrian way.
9,000 square feet of designer retail outlets