A Scottish shopping centre has agreed a long-term lease with Club 3000 Bingo, the UK’s largest independent bingo operator.

The deal will see a new "purpose-built, state-of-the-art" club open at Ocean Terminal in the Scottish capital next year

Once the new club is built, Club 3000 Bingo will move from its current Edinburgh venue in Manderston Street to the new 27,500 sq ft unit on the ground floor of the Leith waterfront shopping centre.

The family-run business is investing an estimated £5m in the new club to create a modern and luxurious environment that will complement Ocean Terminal’s existing mix of retail, leisure and hospitality outlets. 

Following the extension of the Edinburgh Tram network to Newhaven, Club 3000 Bingo forms a part of Ocean Terminal’s major redevelopment as a ‘town centre’ for the local community.

The £250m masterplan will see the centre reconfigured, alongside new homes and public realm to maximise its unique waterfront location and fulfil local aspirations for 20-minute neighbourhoods.   

Brian Fraser, founder of Fraser Capital Management Ltd/Club 3000 Bingo, which operate 23 bingo clubs across the UK, said: “We are really excited to be involved in this new project and look forward to opening our new club next year to add to our growing portfolio. It promises to be one of the best clubs ever developed in the UK.” 

Chris Richardson, managing director of Ambassador Investments Ltd, the Scottish owner of Ocean Terminal, said: “We are delighted to welcome Club 3000 Bingo to Ocean Terminal.

"Its modern approach to creating an environment for a great night out fits seamlessly with our wider leisure offering and we look forward to the club opening its doors next year. We have ambitious plans for the centre and Club 3000’s long-term commitment to Ocean Terminal is a tremendous seal of approval for what lies ahead.” 

Donald Syme, who acted for the landlord, said: “Leith is undergoing a huge regeneration, with more housing, transport links and businesses opening up.

"In its new location at Ocean Terminal, Club 3000 Bingo will enjoy a growing and thriving community. We’re looking forward to working with Brian and his team to make this one of the best bingo clubs in Scotland.”

Inflation UK: Rate falls below double figures

Inflation has eased back to its lowest level since March last year, but remained higher than expected as food prices continued to rise at a near record pace.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said that Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation fell to 8.7% in April, down from 10.1% in March, as last year’s energy price hikes were not repeated. It marks the first time inflation has been in single digits since last August, but it was higher than forecast by economists, who had pencilled in a drop to 8.2% in April.

Ivan McKee: We need to sell the 'move to Scotland' message to rUK talent

Talk to any business in any sector and one of the biggest challenges they face is lack of skills, or more precisely labour. People are in short supply. As a consequence we find ourselves in an economy which for the most part doesn’t suffer from a lack of demand but where growth is primarily constrained by supply.

With record low unemployment attention has turned to other sources of labour. This includes an increasing focus on "labour market inactivity", the more than 700,000 people in Scotland of working age who aren’t working.