No Craic, Just Cards: Genting Plans to Fold The Liffey into Casino

_{Iconic Irish pub in Liverpool city centre could soon become part of Genting Casino’s gaming floor. (Image: Marek Slusarczyk/Alamy)}

A beloved Irish pub in Liverpool city centre is set to be repurposed as part of a casino expansion. Genting Casinos has submitted a planning application to incorporate the now-closed Liffey pub into its adjacent premises on Renshaw Street.

The Liffey, located in the Grand Central Hall building, had been a regular fixture for locals and tourists alike. It closed in March 2022 due to a rent dispute and briefly reopened in March 2023 after a £200,000 refurbishment, only to shut again four months later in July.

According to planning documents, Genting intends to break through the shared wall between the properties to allow direct access between the two sites, adding a new staircase and platform lift to ensure accessibility.

Last Call for Pub, No More Guinness, Just Games

The updated plans show the UK casino venue's casino floor will extend into the former pub, adding 40–50 seats and a mix of gaming machines and tables. The goal is to create a seamless aesthetic that ties the Liffey’s former footprint into the existing casino’s design.

Planning documents state Genting wants to remove the ornamental scrollwork from the Liffey’s windows and add timber moulding to match the current façade.

“All other frontage areas to be made good and painted to match adjacent casino colour scheme to give a cohesive appearance of a single property.” 

Nextdom, the building’s landlord, issued a forfeiture notice to previous operator Crosbie Bar Ltd on 14 July, effectively ending the pub’s lease and opening the way for the casino redevelopment.

Betting on a New Look

Genting Casinos has been a part of Liverpool’s gaming scene for nearly 40 years. Its Renshaw Street location has stood out for its community focus, especially serving Liverpool’s Chinese community as a social hub and meeting point.

In its planning statement, Genting said the transformation of the Liffey site would “bring a fresh new branded establishment to the city.”

“The capital investment will hopefully be successful enough to keep the business open for years to come.”

No formal date has been set for when the plans will go before Liverpool City Council for approval.

Changing Face of Liverpool's Entertainment Sector

Liverpool has long struggled to balance cultural preservation with economic renewal. The potential loss of The Liffey pub, despite its brief resurrection in 2023, is symbolic of changing priorities in the city’s entertainment sector.

For Genting, the expansion offers more than square footage, it signals a commitment to long-term viability in a sector facing increased pressure from online competition. It also deepens its niche appeal as a venue welcoming to underrepresented gaming communities.

If approved, the plan would be another example of heritage hospitality venues making way for modern gaming experiences in the UK’s evolving nightlife landscape.