Paddy Power to open 80 shops

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Paddy Power to open 80 shops
By Geoff Percival

BOOKMAKER chain Paddy Power has announced plans to open more than 80 outlets in Britain in the next two years, as part of a major high-street expansion drive, costing nearly €23 million.

The development will largely be focused on Scotland — three shops are opening in Glasgow almost immediately — and will bring to 150 the number of British-based retail outlets run by the firm.

According to Paddy Power chief executive Patrick Kennedy the decision to launch a visible high street retail presence in the Scottish market was made on the back of the previous success of the company’s telephone and online betting channels in that region.

"Scottish punters have already experienced significant exposure to the unique brand offering of Paddy Power through our phone and online betting services. This move to ground and complement our brand with a bricks and mortar presence is very exciting," he said.

The new Scottish investment — worth between £16m and £20m (€18m- €23m) — will create more than 400 jobs when fully complete.

The first new shop, on Glasgow’s Cambridge Street, opened yesterday and two more are due to open in the city centre in the next few weeks.

With regard to the remainder of the shops, most will be in Scotland, some will be in England (with Manchester a planned destination), while none are planned for Ireland.