Bingo Heading For Princes Street

Bingo is coming to Princes Street, Scotland's premier thoroughfare. An English-based leisure firm is to open an adult gaming centre and tanning studio close to Edinburgh's west end – with "Housey-Housey" sessions as part of the entertainment.

Tyne and Wear-based Matchurban has successfully applied to Edinburgh City Council for a public entertainment licence for the property – where a wide range of gaming machines will be set up on the ground floor and basement along with bingo.

Matchurban, part of the Noble Organisation, will operate the tanning facilities on the first floor of the sandstone building, which formerly housed an American Express office.

Donald Anderson, the council leader, yesterday called it "a backward step" for Princes Street. The local authority has tried in the past to halt the proposal for the property – which is in the New Town conservation area and a World Heritage Site.

Councillors refused to give Matchurban planning permission for a change of use of the building from a bureau de change and telesales office to an adult gaming centre with retail and catering facilities.

The company appealed and a Scottish Executive public inquiry reporter overturned the council's decision. He said there was no reason why the character of the conservation area should be adversely affected by the planned use "which, on the evidence, functions like a shop in the clientele which it attracts and externally looks like a shop in having a shopfront and display windows".