Newport Councillor Backs Casino for Vacant Cineworld as Friars Walk Empties

_{Calls to repurpose the vacant cinema. (Image: Editor5807, CC BY 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons)} 

A Conservative councillor has called for a casino to be built in Newport city centre, naming the long-vacant former Cineworld cinema complex at Friars Walk as the ideal location, as the shopping centre braces for the departure of two more high-profile tenants.

David Fouweather, who represents the Allt-yr-yn ward on Newport City Council, made the proposal as River Island and the Marks & Spencer Foodhall confirmed they are both leaving Friars Walk. The M&S exit is expected to leave one of the centre's largest units empty. The calls come amid mounting concern about the long-term viability of the site, which has lost more than a dozen major brands in recent years and currently has several prominent units sitting vacant.

The proposal reflects a broader debate about what Newport city centre needs to attract visitors and sustain footfall beyond traditional retail. The former Cineworld site, which has been empty for some time, is among the most visible vacant units in the complex, alongside the former TGI Fridays, Smok'd restaurant, Pierre Bistrot and Cosmos cocktail bar. The Debenhams building is only partially occupied, with activity largely limited to the ground floor.

'Think Outside the Box'

Fouweather argued that Newport was being left behind by neighbouring cities on the entertainment front. 

"A casino would be a great draw for the city centre and one would fit perfectly into the old Cineworld complex," he said.

"Cardiff, Swansea and Bristol all have casinos, but not Newport?"

His proposal extends beyond gambling. Fouweather also suggested that empty units could be converted into live music venues and small nightclubs to strengthen Newport's night-time economy.

 "I would also suggest trying to fill some of the empty units in Friars Walk with music venues featuring a DJ or live bands," he said. 

"The former TGI Fridays unit would make a great site for a small nightclub." He acknowledged that the centre still has 'great retail stores and restaurants', but said a broader mix of uses was needed to secure its future.

Wellbeing Concerns and Previous Opposition

The casino idea is not new. In 2022, opposition councillors argued that Newport city centre needed a 'radical overhaul', with expanded attractions beyond retail cited as part of the solution. But the proposal has faced resistance before and is likely to again.

Jane Mudd, who previously served as leader of Newport City Council, warned at that time that a casino risked putting 'people's financial and mental wellbeing at risk', and said the city's recovery should be driven by community-led activity rather than large commercial operators. Her position reflects a persistent concern in regeneration debates about whether gambling venues address the underlying causes of declining footfall or simply redirect spending.

Newport City Council has not publicly responded to Fouweather's latest proposal. Whether the Cineworld site's owner would support a change of use, and whether a casino operator would meet UK Gambling Commission licensing requirements for the location, remains unclear. The fate of Friars Walk's vacant units is likely to become a more pressing political question as further departures take effect.