Visitors have always been spoilt for choice when spending time in Manchester’s vibrant nightlife culture, and there is no exception when it comes to its multitude of casinos. With the recent introduction of the extremely popular Manchester235 this is a trend which seems set to continue. So, does it look like Manchester could be the new hotspot for a few rounds of Stud Poker or Omaha High Low?
Hotel Industry is Exploding
As Manchester’s hotels continue to outperform occupancy rates across the country, it is clear that tourists are in full agreement that Manchester is the place to be. With an 80% occupancy rate, the 156 hotels available in the city of Manchester, the city of Salford and the towns of Trafford and Bury are proving to be a viable alternative to London for potential investors. A further seven hotels are expected over the course of 2017, bringing a further 1,333 new rooms to the market to cater to the increasing demand for accommodations in the city.
A similar pattern of events took place in the development of Las Vegas, which now offers over 151,000 hotel rooms, and this figure is continually increasing. Though the Vegas market is saturated with hotels and casinos, the development of new buildings continues because visitors simply cannot get enough. Sound familiar? Manchester might not yet compare in terms of numbers, but the trend is clear to see.
Nightlife Outshines London
The phenomenal growth in Manchester’s food and drink industry is another strong indicator of Manchester’s booming trade in tourism. Recent figures indicate that Manchester has seen a 56% increase in food-led businesses in the last few years, which is completely outshining the 32% increase seen in London.
Of course, many of the city’s visitors are visiting to watch the Premier League football teams, but the nightlife is another reason. Famous for its incredible music scene, vast array of nightclubs and the bright lights of its range of casinos, Manchester is certainly leading the charge when it comes to offering a Las Vegas-style experience, particularly with the recent development of Manchester235, which offers a James Martin restaurant, a cocktail bar, multiple floors of gaming and a dedicated poker lounge on 24/7. It doesn’t get much more like Vegas than that!
Change in Image
So, why is the Vegas culture becoming so popular in Manchester? It might have something to do with the fact that casinos have undergone something of an image overhaul in the last decade or so. Previously thought of as the domain of stag parties, they are now seen as upmarket places to socialize while playing a few rounds of Texas Hold’Em. While this has a lot to do with the extensive renovations and changes in door policies that a lot of casinos have undertaken, it could also have something to do with the psychology of risk taking which applies in life as well as in poker, particularly as we now live in an entrepreneurial culture where making decisions based on strategy and risk are a part of daily life. Building a startup is much like playing a game of poker; both are a game of high risk and potentially high reward. So, it is no wonder that many entrepreneurs use strategic games like Omaha PLO and Texas Hold’Em to better inform their risk-taking tactics when it comes to business.
Of course, it also has a lot to do with the atmosphere and excitement. Nothing quite beats the adrenaline rush of waiting for your dice to land or seeing the dealer’s hand flip the next card. Casinos offer a level of entertainment that is almost impossible to replicate anywhere else, which is one of the reasons why Manchester is becoming such a hotspot for casino tourism. With its vibrant nightlife, booming hotel industry, incredible restaurants and a wide range of Vegas-style establishments, Manchester is proving itself to be a wholly viable and attractive option for those looking for all the glitz and glamour of Sin City on U.K. turf. Just remember to pick up your poker chips!
Image by Martin Sylvester from Nottingham, UK (Salford Quays, Manchester) [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons
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