THE Grosvenor Casino in Bolton was forced to close its doors on Wednesday evening only hours after it reopened following the Government decision to extend the coronavirus restrictions in the town.

The Ormrod Street casino welcomed customers through its doors at noon for the first time in months but was told to shut again at around 8pm after receiving notice from the Government and a call from the police.

Grosvenor Casinos managing director Jonathan Swaines heard about the news of Bolton being kept under the Greater Manchester covid-19 restrictions following a spike in cases at 12.35pm and sought clarification on whether the casino should be closed.

Mr Swaines said: "Technically 12-and-a-half hours after we could have been open I found out about the U-Turn.

"We were waiting to hear news from the Government and they did not get back to us by 8pm as the police helpfully attended the casino and advised us to close.

"We find it very frustrating and wholly illogical.

"The Mecca Bingo next to us, which is also part of the rank Group like the casino, has been open during the pandemic and has been very responsible and safe. There are pubs and hotels that are allowed to open too.

"We made the casino safe with social distancing measures which were signed off."

The casino boss worries about the effect that keeping the premises closed will have on workers.

"It creates uncertainty for our 74 colleagues who work in Bolton," Mr Swaines said.

"My thoughts go out to my colleagues as they were excited and happy about the opening.

"We had brought them back from furlough in the days leading up to Wednesday. The timeline is costly for the business and emotionally costly for our colleagues.

"While we are shut clearly that is costing the taxpayer in terms of the furlough scheme and the Government is missing out from the gaming tax."

The managing director said that he hopes a decision will be made as quickly as possible on the reopening of casinos in Greater Manchester.

Four Grosvenor Casinos venues, including the Bolton premises, remains closed. The only other one that is still shut is in Leicester.

The MD added that a decision on if any staff will be made redundant in the business will only be made once all the casinos have reopened.

A company spokesman also said that the health and safety of colleagues and customers remains its top priority and it will be closed until further notice.