Paddy Power to open 80 shops

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.