Local Support, International Reach
Our business community recently had a fantastic opportunity to experience the luxurious surroundings of the newly refurbished Genting Casino Westcliff. We were delighted to welcome so many valued businesses to connect and enjoy the exceptional hospitality of the casino team.
We’ve hosted several networking events at Genting Casino Westcliff over the years, and the evening consistently proves popular with local businesses. It was a pleasure to return and showcase the venue’s newly revealed transformation.
As a premier entertainment venue located on Southend’s seafront, Genting Casino Westcliff has been a staple of the town since the 1980s. However, the building’s history stretches back even further, with many previous incarnations, including a popular lido that opened in 1915.
Attendees heard all about the venue’s fascinating past from John Harland, Public Relations & Marketing Manager at the casino. Beneath the casino, the building extends four floors down, with each level representing a layer of its history, from a swimming pool belonging to a long-closed leisure centre to a former hairdresser’s and a nightclub.
It wasn’t just the building’s history that captivated attendees, they also learned about its recent transformation. After RAAC was discovered in the ceiling in 2023, the team acted quickly to ensure the building’s and business’s survival. External and internal scaffolding was installed as work began to replace sections of the roof.
Throughout the refurbishment, the casino remained open and even achieved a record-breaking year in 2024, despite the disruption. This resilience is a testament to the team’s dedication, a sentiment echoed by our CEO, Denise Rossiter, as she addressed attendees. As a local resident, Denise shared how encouraging it has been to see the building’s transformation and its determination to remain one of the go-to entertainment venues in the city.
John explained how the team embraced the construction work as an opportunity to refresh the venue. The new aesthetic had only launched a few weeks before our event, meaning attendees were among the first to experience its fresh and sophisticated style.
Guests also enjoyed an impressive spread of delicious food, the salt and pepper prawns were particularly popular, along with the mini passion fruit custard tarts. Conversations flowed easily as attendees networked over great food and a glass of fizz. The casino’s hospitality is second to none and a key reason why this event remains a favourite within our community.
While the evening celebrated the venue’s transformation, attendees also received a bittersweet update from Denise, who announced her retirement as CEO of Essex Chambers of Commerce. After more than two decades as custodian of the Chambers, she will be passing the torch and looking forward to a well-earned retirement.
If you’d like to experience one of our high-quality networking events, why not join us at an iconic gallery in the heart of Colchester? We’ll be hosting our next event at The Minories on Tuesday 12 May.
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24.04.2026
