DICE WORK!

UP to 350 new jobs

are to be created

in Sussex, it was announced today.

The opening of a new casino at Brighton Marina will lead to 150 new positions.

At the same time, DIY firm B&Q has revealed 200 new jobs will be

created with the opening of a new warehouse in Eastbourne.

The scheme to build the casino at Brighton Marina has been welcomed as a boost for the town's economy and the police do not intend to object to the application.

London Clubs International will put forward their case for alcohol and gaming licences on January 24 in a case which is expected to last a week.

If permission is granted, work will start soon afterwards on the building opposite the entrance to the Marina car park where the first-floor casino would open by the end of the year.

A plan to build a nightclub on the ground floor of the building looks set to be scuppered after operators expressed a lack of interest.

London Clubs International is now looking for an alternative use.

The firm's marketing director, Marilyn Eden, said: "With the advent of the National Lottery and the recognition of gaming as a mainstream leisure activity, we are seeing significant changes in culture and attitudes.

"We are confident that our Rendezvous-style of casino will reflect these changes and provide Brighton with a new venue for quality entertainment, adding substantially to existing attractions."

The casino would offer games including roulette, blackjack, poker and dice and allow players to bet on a wide range of stakes designed to cater for everyone from occasional players to serious gamblers.

A private room would be set aside for high stakes gaming.

There will also be a "soft" gaming area for games of equal chance such as backgammon and kalooki, while slot machines would offer large jackpots.

The site would also have a bistro and a more formal restaurant plus a sports bar and a private dining area.

Proprietors say up to 150 jobs will be provided for local people, ranging from croupiers to waitresses. Judy Parkes, president of Brighton and Hove Chamber of Commerce, said members would meet on Wednesday to discuss the application.

She added: "Anything that brings prosperity to the town is welcome but it's something I think we need to look at from all angles."

Kareen Plumpton, Sussex Police's licensing officer for Brighton, said the force had no objections to the scheme.

Several others casinos are currently planned for Brighton and Hove - at the King Alfred, on the Kingswest site and as part of the ABC cinema development in East Street.

Meanwhile, B&Q has announced it plans to have a total of 125 new warehouse stores open by 2003, including one in Eastbourne.

The scheme will mean at least 200 jobs for the Eastbourne area and a total of 2,000 nationally.

Vacancies will include posts for shop floor staff, experts in the hardware trade and store managers.

A spokeswoman for B&Q said: "This is part of our overall expansion and Eastbourne is just one of the areas included in that.

"There will be a number of new warehouse stores and exact details of our plans will be announced shortly."

B&Q already has a store in the town and a planning application has now been submitted for the new premises.

It is planned for land near the Crumbles retail park.

The application is currently under consultation and is expected to go before Eastbourne Borough Council's planning committee on January 18.

B&Q owner Kingfisher has seen its DIY business prosper over the past year.

But despite the pending planning application, company bosses are already inviting jobseekers to put forward their interest in working at the new store. Their recruitment hotline number is 0870 6060349.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.