Southend's newest casino would be more of a downmarket club than a plush venue if it were to open, it has been claimed.

London Clubs International (LCI) wants to turn the second floor of the Kursaal into an upmarket gaming club with the same style, ambience and name of its luxury casino, the Rendezvous Club in London's Park Lane.

There would also be a business centre, a restaurant, sports bar, bistro and disabled facilities.

However, top QC George Carmen, representing the Westcliff Casino Group - owners of the Westcliff and Waterfront clubs - who object to the application, believed it would attract the same customers more used to visiting the firm's lower end of the market, the Golden Nugget Club in Piccadilly.

His comments came on the first day of a week-long hearing at Southend Court.

The £3.5 million plan to convert the historic building on the seafront has not faced objections from the council, police or the Gaming Board for Great Britain.

However bosses at the casino clubs on the seafront, claim there is not enough demand for another casino in the town and have taken on the services of the top barrister to argue their case.

LCI commercial director Pat Hayward, said the minimum stake to play roulette at the Rendezvous Club in Southend would be 25p, while at the Rendezvous Club in London it was £2 and £1 at the Golden Nugget.

Mr Carmen said: "Economically, if your minimum stake is eight times higher in London you tend not to get the same kind of people, do you? In London you are talking about people often spending hundreds of thousands of pounds in one night. In some cases a million pounds.

"Do you expect people to spend thousands of pounds when they are only going to spend 25p a bet?"

Mr Hayward said they intended to recreate the ambience and style of the London club but did not expect to attract the same clientele.

LCI's barrister, Anthony Mann QC, said a census of customer numbers at the other casinos showed there was a great demand for a third casino in the town.

Asked why they had chosen Southend, Mr Hayward said: "The main factor here is a huge circulation area. Two million people live closer to Southend than to other casino areas. Customers in Southend would appreciate a choice."

The hearing continues

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