Sadness as Sunderland's Grosvenor Casino closes doors to customers for final time
“It wasn’t just a place to go and gamble, the casino was also a place to meet people and to socialise”
National gambling business Grosvenor Casinos have confirmed they have closed their Sunderland casino.
The company posted a message on Social media across the weekend, confirming the city casino would close its doors to the public on Monday, August 31.
The post stated: “Today we're sharing the news that Grosvenor Casino Sunderland will be closing on 31st August. We'd like to thank all of our customers for their support over the years. It's been a privilege to welcome you and to be part of so many great moments. While this casino is closing, we hope this isn't goodbye. You can continue to enjoy the Grosvenor Casinos experience at Grosvenor Casino Newcastle.”
The post then went on to thank customers for being “part of our story”.
The news was today (September 1) confirmed by Grosvenor Casinos chiefs.
A spokesperson said: “After a thorough consultation process we have made the difficult decision to close Grosvenor Casino Sunderland.
“This is not a decision that we have taken lightly but we need to remain focused on the longer-term health of the business.
“We sincerely thank our colleagues for their professionalism, dedication and contribution to Grosvenor Casinos over the years especially during this difficult period.”
We did ask Grosvenor Casinos for further details about the reasons behind the closure, job losses and whether some staff have been transferred to other casinos, but as yet, this information has not been provided.
The closure has come as sad news to poker player and Sunderland casino member Jon Bryan.
Jon, 58, said: “As a member, I got an email from Grosvenor informing me they were closing their Sunderland casino down. The poker room has been a lot busier recently, and so I was surprised when I saw the email. It’s sad news. The casino was a big part of the local community and I know a lot of people will be disappointed.
“It wasn’t just a place to go and gamble, the casino was also a place to meet people and to socialise. I watched some of the world cup games there and I know it’s a popular venue for watching sport and engaging with other people.”