Nearly 2,000 angry residents just forced Ealing Council to reject plans for a round-the-clock gambling venue next to Hanwell Clock Tower. The council threw out Pure Gaming Limited’s application on August 29, 2025, after discovering the proposed “bingo hall” at 153-155 Uxbridge Road would actually operate as a 24-hour slot machine arcade just 400 meters from three local schools.
The numbers tell us that 1,971 people objected, five supported it, and two stayed neutral – and that’s the kind of community response that makes councils pay attention.
Pure Gaming’s Track Record and What They Really Wanted
Pure Gaming Limited didn’t just want to open a bingo hall – the company, which already runs venues in Denmark Hill and Chatham under names such as Red9Nine and Casino Slots, asked for permission to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, without closing time or breaks.
The company tried to sell it as contributing to Hanwell’s “night-time economy,” but residents saw through the marketing speak. Pure Gaming even admitted in their application that they’d successfully overturned council rejections before, which only fired up locals more.
But what really worries parents is that St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School sits close to the proposed site. Liberal Democrat leader Gary Malcolm spotted this violation immediately and flagged it to planning officers.
The UK gambling industry pulled in £15.6 billion in gross gambling yield last year, up 3.5% from the previous year. While regular gambling faces increasing pushback from communities such as Hanwell, the industry keeps moving on. So, many people now turn to regulated online alternatives instead of the high-street.
Gaming expert Wilna van Wyk recently reviewed the best verified crypto casinos with impressively transparent, blockchain-based platforms with way better consumer protections than most physical venues.
How Hanwell Organized and Won
The fightback started in July when locals spotted a yellow notice on the old Barclays Bank calling it a “Bingo Hall” – but nobody bought it, though. Within weeks, more than 40 residents formed a campaign group, organized leaflet drops, and set up a mailing list that’s still active today.
Two major protests at Hanwell Clock Tower showed the council this wasn’t going away – the first rally on July 30 drew hundreds. The second, on August 28, just one day before the decision, brought out MP Deirdre Costigan, multiple councillors, and representatives from Ealing Foodbank.
The campaign worked because it stayed focused on facts – residents submitted detailed objections citing specific planning violations. Also, they mentioned that Hanwell already has a Ladbrokes and William Hill, and adding a third gambling venue would make a harmful cluster effect.
What Ealing Council Actually Said in Their Rejection
The council’s rejection notice pulled no punches – they stated the venue would “remove an active food and beverage use” and replace it with something that “fails to support footfall or linked trips during the day.”
They noted the venue would “diminish retail diversity” and “undermine the vitality of the centre.”
Translation: This venue would make Hanwell worse, not better.
The Battle Isn’t Over Yet
Pure Gaming Limited still stands some chances, and they’ve beaten councils before. So, that’s why Hanwell’s campaign group keeps its mailing list active, and residents stay ready to fight again. Monica Hamidi, Labour councillor for Hanwell Broadway, celebrated on social media but warned supporters to stay vigilant.
The empty building at 153-155 Uxbridge Road has quite a history – after decades as a Barclays, it became a Domino’s Pizza, then almost became the Grand Pasha restaurant before that plan collapsed in April 2025. Now it sits vacant again, waiting for its next chapter.
But one thing’s certain – it won’t become a 24-hour gambling den. Not if Hanwell has anything to say about it, since this community just proved that when almost 2,000 people speak with one voice, councils listen – and if Pure Gaming comes back for round two, they’ll find Hanwell ready and waiting.
