The article in the link below was kindly sent to me (thanks Angelo) to try and further identify a chip which I had listed on EBay as being from London. Looks as though the casino was in Southport, - I have reproduced the text of the article below, but please have a look at the link as there is some interesting history and pictures of 1960's gaming!

http://lookback.merseyblogs.co.uk/2007/02/kingsway_the_place_to_be_seen.html

And of course a plug for the Ebay auction, for a nice condition 50p Kingsway chip (jockey mold)

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150100653181

Jason

Southport, you bet!

IT’S far from over, and the doors remain open, but news that The Kingsway could be replaced by apartments prompted a nostalgic archive hunt.

On its inception, the famous nightspot was known as The Kingsway Casino and was run by gambling magnate Mr George James.

George James came to Southport after returning with his family, penniless, to his home town of Port Talbot in South Wales.

He had gambled away his money in London and was forced to start afresh.

But the vice that cost him so much turned to be the making of him when gambling laws were relaxed in 1961.

He immediately focused on establishing The Casino Club in Port Talbot, bringing huge success, and modelled on the seemingly altruistic mantra of a man who’s had plenty of experience on the other side of the croupier’s table.

At the time, and possibly with a glance over his shoulder at the Free Church Council who opposed the venture, Mr James said: “We don’t cater for people who want to come in and lose their pay packets.

“We want no-one to get out of their depth. People are not encouraged to go into the gaming room, but the facilities are there if they require them.

“We want people to enjoy themselves, for this is entertainment where a man and his wife can come to town with five pounds in their pockets, have a meal, a few drinks, dance and see a show and still have a couple of pounds left.

“If they want to try their luck in the gaming room with what remains they might lose their two pounds or on the other hand they might win enough to more than pay for the evening out.”

It was a philosophy that worked, and a year later the Prince of Wales club opened in Cardiff, followed by the Charlie Chester Casino Club in Piccadilly, London, the Casino Club, again in Cardiff, and culminating in the biggest venture – Southport’s Kingsway Casino Club.

Offering a 2,000 seat restaurant and three floor shows a night with international stars such as Adam Faith and Sandie Shaw, huge success quickly followed.

Gaming would start at 2pm and continue until 7am, with blackjack, roulette, dice and poker keeping the tables busy and the money rolling in.

Unsatisfied, George bought out the failing 2,000 seat Grand Cinema on Lord Street and swiftly transformed it into another haven for gamblers, with a casino, bingo hall and amusement arcade.

The business passed into George’s son, John’s hands and the Grand remains a casino to this day.