The Forum wins approval for new gaming arcade

The Forum is one the longest running entertainment venues in Waterford, having first opened as a cinema in 1935.

Over the last century, the venue has been a cinema, live performance stage and bingo hall.

It could now be a venue for a new amusement arcade, after a long, drawn-out process with Waterford City and County Council.

In late April 2024, An Bord Pleanála overturned a decision by the Council that refused planning permission for a gaming area and amusements arcade in The Forum.

The approval will involve the changing of the ground floor restaurant kitchen into a production kitchen, changing the main restaurant floor area into amusements and gaming use and associated works.

The works will be carried out by Coherent Enterprises Limited.

Speaking with director and manager Ciaran O’Neill, the Waterford News and Star learned what the future may hold for The Glen-based establishment.

He said: "We're very pleased to get it, we applied in 2020."

According to Ciaran, the main ambition for The Forum is to remain as an entertainment venue, and using its spaces for that purpose.

Ciaran highlighted the emerging Gambling Regulation Bill, which will change the way gambling facilities operate in the country.

He is keeping a very close eye on the trajectory of the Bill:

“Once it is signed into law, the Bill allows casinos, formerly not allowed in Ireland, a regulator will be appointed. It is totally in keeping [The Forum] as an entertainment premises, we’re just not sure how it will go.

"It has one more reading in the Dáil, then on to the Seanad. It will open up opportunities for what we could do."

Bingo punters have little to fear, however, as according to Ciaran ‘absolutely nothing will change’ with the hall.

Between the progression of the Gambling Regulation Bill and the decision from An Bord Pleanála, the path is clear for The Forum to implement new features.

The ongoing Gambling Regulation Bill 2022 has been making its way through the legislative process.

Amendments to the Bill were debated in Dáil Eireann on Wednesday, April 24.

Waterford TD Matt Shanahan (Independent) voted no on introducing new amendments over concerns about charity-based gambling and credit card safety.

Deputy Shanahan said: “I urge the Minister of State to look again at the issues of fundraising by community, philanthropic and social groups and the introduction of a credit and debit card gambling block for problem gamblers in this legislation.”