Adult gaming centre set to open at empty former Edinburgh Woollen Mill store on Wakefield Cathedral Precinct

Planning permission has been granted for an adult gaming centre (AGC) at the disused premises on Wakefield Cathedral Precinct.

Storey Group Limited plans to invest £500,000 to transform the site, according to documents submitted to Wakefield Council.

A planning statement prepared on behalf of the company says the family-run business has been operating for 40 years.

It currently has nine gaming centres in Yorkshire and Lancashire, including Wakefield, Leeds, Barnsley, Sheffield, Dewsbury, Huddersfield, Oldham and Grimsby.

The firm already operates in Wakefield city centre at premises on Providence Street.

Storey Group is licensed by the Gambling Commission.

The statement describes how AGCs differ from betting shops

It says: “The machines in AGCs offer only low stakes ranging from 10p to a maximum of £2 and the average stake is between 30p and 50p.

“AGCs have been on the high street for many years. Unlike other gambling operations, staff do not remain behind a counter, but remain on the floor with the customers.

“There are no fixed odds betting terminals in AGCs.

“AGCs no not show live sports. These premises will be no noisier than a shop.

"The customer usage of this shop would be the same type of person as attracted by nearby shops, but in smaller number.”

The company has also applied to the council for a premises licence. The intended opening hours of the business are from 9am to 9pm, daily.

The unit was previously occupied by Edinburgh Woollen Mill, which closed in 2020. More recently it was a Home Mart convenience store.