Napoleons Sounds Sheffield Warning To US Investors

UK operator A&S Leisure Group is standing defiant in the face of US investment in its home city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire, with work set to start on the Owlerton Experience, an £8m, home-grown 'racino-style' gambling and entertainment development.

The plans will combine the largest and most luxurious cabaret, banqueting and conference suite ever seen in the northern city with the existing Napoleons Casino Owlerton and the Owlerton Stadium greyhound track. The state-of-the-art, 500 seater Napoleons Banqueting Suite will provide a 365-day-a-year venue for entertainment and business functions.

Dave Allen, chairman of A&S Leisure Group, was keen to highlight that the venue will have a far larger capacity than any similar function rooms included in the various 'gambling resort' schemes presently being proposed by American or South American operators looking to exploit the South Yorkshire market. "We're better placed than anyone to expand gaming and entertainment in the South Yorkshire area," Allen proclaimed. "Sheffield people want quality venues, quality service and a bit of style and panache and nobody does it better than us. A number of American casino operators have expressed an interest in developing sites in Sheffield but they can't progress unless the government gives the green light to deregulation. Once planing permission is granted, A&L Leisure Group will be free to build its cabaret/banqueting suite as long as it doesn't rely on a change in legislation."

A&S hopes to open the venue in 2006.