European-wide gaming group Stanleybet, which handles bets totalling more than £500m a year, relocates Liverpool headquarters to heart of city’s central business district. Tony McDonough reports
Stanleybet Group is relocating its Liverpool headquarters and 100 heads office staff to The Plaza in St Paul’s Square from Exchange Station in Tithebarn Street.
Originally started in Ireland in 1958, the company moved to the UK in 1979. It grew its business opening casinos and high street bookmakers. It floated on the stock exchange in 1986 and became Stanley Leisure.
Its betting shops were a familiar sight on the UK’s high streets. It’s portfolio swelled to 700 outlets before they were sold to rival William Hill in May 2005. Following this deal the business shifted its focus to more tightly regulated betting markets overseas such as Italy.
In 2014, after a non-competition agreement with William Hill expired, Stanleybet returned to the UK high street, albeit with a smaller presence. Its 2,000 betting shops are now spread across the UK, Belgium, Cyprus, Italy and Malta.
Stanleybet is now a major player in the European gaming market, on and offline and employs more than 3,000 people. The firm also develops original gaming software for a range of commercial customers through its Magellan Robotech subsidiary.
Its most recently published accounts, for the 12 months to December 31, 2021, showed a turnover of £55m and a pre-tax loss of around £1.95m. This was a period when it had been hit by the pandemic. During the year its customers staked £536m in bets.
Stanleybet has agreed a deal with The Plaza owner, Bruntwood Works, to occupy 5,300 sq ft of office space on the 14th floor of the building.
Tom Green, chief financial officer at Stanleybet, said: “The location – with train stations and car parks nearby – all the facilities within the building and, last but not least, an inspiring view above the Mersey river from our desks, made The Plaza an easy choice for the group.”
Bruntwood Works has developed The Plaza in recent years under its £200m Pioneer programme.
Its £3.7m investment at The Plaza includes a hospitality-led ground floor space complete with bike storage and shower facilities, a fitness studio, study spaces, lounge and audio zones.
Other new features such as a Bold Street Coffee shop and dining space Nord with a programme of community events.
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Tony Reed, head of commercial at Bruntwood Works, added: “The Plaza has become a destination address for a large number of aspiring, ambitious businesses.
“Its new ground floor amenities and the sense of community collaboration in the building, allied with large refurbished spaces, make it a popular choice.
“Stanleybet Group is a well-known name in the world of gaming and entertainment, with a strong locally-based workforce and plans for future growth. We are delighted to welcome its team to The Plaza.”