A new casino will open at Brighton Marina by the end of the year, creating 150 jobs.

Magistrates yesterday granted a gaming and alcohol licence for the new venue despite objections from existing casinos in Brighton and Hove. The new club, which will be called the Rendezvous, is expected to provide new jobs ranging from croupiers to waitresses.

Building work is scheduled to start soon on a £15 million building, The Waterfront, which will include the new casino as well as shops, restaurants and a 100-bedroom hotel. The licensing justices made their decision after considering evidence given during a five-day hearing last month.

The successful application was made by London Clubs International, which runs seven casinos in London. The company claims the new venue will be the best in the country outside the capital. Patrick Hayward, commercial director, said the firm hoped its new venue would be open as soon as possible.

He said: "We are very pleased at the decision. We are convinced that a new casino will make a very welcome addition to the marina facilities. The new building obviously has to be constructed now and we hope the casino will be open towards the end of this year."

The committee of five magistrates heard from 30 witnesses during the hearing. Chairman Ann Holt told the court it was an "onerous and complex" task and the committee had spent two days examining the evidence before making its decision.

Objectors from existing local casinos and the Gaming Board argued there were already enough casinos in the area to meet demand from punters.

But the justices ruled that demand was not satisfied and granted the application for the new venue, which will be open for business between 2pm and 4am.

The first-floor casino, which will take up more than 1,700 sq ft of space, will offer games including roulette, blackjack, poker and dice. There will be a restaurant, a sports bar and a non-smoking area.

Several other casinos are currently planned for Brighton and Hove. These include a venue at the proposed King Alfred redevelopment, the Kingswest site and part of the new ABC cinema scheme in East Street.

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