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Wolverhampton

Wolverhampton

Wolverhampton Racecourse, which not only boasts the busiest racecourse in the UK, but also a 54-bedroom hotel and extensive conferencing and banqueting facilities, is moving forward with fantastic plans to develop the site into one of the most exciting leisure, entertainment, banqueting and conferencing facilities in the West Midlands.

The Racecourse has been granted planning permission by Wolverhampton City Council for the extension of the 54-bedroom hotel into a 170-bedroom Holiday Inn hotel, with modern rooms and excellent amenities. Hotel guests will enjoy superior restaurant and bar facilities and will be able to relax in the new health and fitness centre, which will include state-of-the-art gym equipment and a swimming pool.

In conjunction with the expansion of the hotel, the conferencing and banqueting facilities will be enhanced whilst maintaining the flexibility to host a variety of events - from intimate meetings in private hospitality rooms through to exhibitions, weddings and large conferences in one of the largest pillar-free halls in the region - all within the unique environment of Britain's first floodlit racecourse.

The extended facilities will involve the 'filling-in' of the already paved area within the existing U-shape of the current building, thereby maintaining the open views of the Green Belt for all local residents and visitors to enjoy. Other planned improvements include the tarmacing of the over-spill car park, which will create further parking for visitors, but more importantly will eliminate the dust and noise currently caused by the loose surface, thereby creating a more pleasant environment for local residents and visitors alike.

The project also includes an integrated casino, creating the UK's first 'racino', or destination casino within a racecourse. When combined with the significantly improved existing, complimentary leisure activities, the casino enhances the attraction of the Racecourse as an important, integrated, regional leisure and entertainment destination.

The development will cost an estimated £26 million and will generate up to 280 additional jobs in total, once fully operational.

In 2008, the City of Wolverhampton was granted a 'small' casino licence by Parliament. In 2007, the Casino Advisory Panel commented that: "if the casino happens to end up at the racecourse it would add to its uniqueness and provide an interesting and unusual social impact test". Arena is optimistic that Wolverhampton Racecourse will be chosen as the best site for the casino, however current indications are that the process for awarding the 'small' casino licence will not conclude until the end of 2009.


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