Mr Lee said: “This will be a great attraction in the city, a beautiful old building restored and turned into a modern, up-market casino. I’m not knocking the other operators, but we won’t be looking at a younger crowd or allowing tracksuits and trainers.

“There’s definitely demand out there because we surveyed more than 500 local businesses and got some great feedback, particularly the potential for corporate entertainment.”

It is also the intention to create a top-class restaurant on the premises.

The State Ballroom, on Dale Street, fell into disrepair when it was finally closed in the mid-90s after a chequered history of violence, shootings and firebombs.

The building was constructed just over 100 years ago and was originally a restaurant used for tea dances and ballroom dancing, and later became Littlewoods’ social club. It became the UK’s first laser disco in 1982. Two years later, its profile was raised by the movie, Letter to Brezhnev, and some years after that it became one of the top venues for acid house music. Facilities include expansive ground-floor and basement areas of 10,000 sq ft each.

An appeal against the failed licence application will be held at Liverpool Crown Court in May.