Bingo hall operators Simon and Jerry Thomas have bought out their joint venture partners in the redevelopment of London’s Hippodrome club into a casino. The Thomases, who owned one-third of the joint venture, United Leisure Gaming, reached an agreement on Tuesday to buy the two-thirds owned by two stakeholder groups. Simon Thomas said he and his father were more comfortable undertaking the GBP 15m refurbishment scheme on their own.

More than 100 years ago 76 polar bears frolicked in its water tank. Eighty years ago there were musical comedies on stage, including such shows as No, No, Nanette. Forty years ago Shirley Bassey or Judy Garland might have been performing before a smoke-filled room of diners. Last night you could have seen a man contort his body through a stringless tennis racket.

London Hippodrome is set to be converted into a casino, after United Leisure Gaming was finally successful in its application for a licence on the site. Initial attempts to secure a gaming licence for the venue were turned down, but one has now been granted - on appeal - by the gaming justices. The Hippodrome is one of the capital’s most historic live entertainment venues and used to host water circuses and large-scale spectacles at the beginning of the 20th century.

From dancing penguins, performing elephants and polar bears to star turns from the likes of Judy Garland and Frank Sinatra – the Hippodrome in its heyday was a byword for glamour and excess. Now an ambitious attempt to revive London’s landmark to 1950s’ splendour faces being derailed by plans to turn it into a casino. The Hippodrome, on the corner of Leicester Square, is to open its doors to the public soon for the first time in years for a cabaret show...