Billionaire 'Mr West End' wins permission to turn famous landmark into a mosque

17 July 2023 , 15:27

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Asif Aziz has been given permission to convert part of the Trocadero into a mosque (Image: PA)

A property tycoon nicknamed 'Mr West End' has been given the green light to turn part of a famous London entertainment complex into a mosque.

Billionaire Asif Aziz has planning permission to convert the Trocadero - between Piccadilly Circus and Soho - into an Islamic centre and house of prayer.

The 56-year-old saw previous proposals for a 1,000-capacity mosque there withdrawn in 2020 following complaints from residents and far-right groups.

The approved plans will see space for 390 worshippers in the three-storey building. Mr Aziz is founding the mosque through his charity the Aziz Foundation.

Westminster Council gave the go-ahead at the end of May. It is understood the site will be called 'Piccadilly Prayer Space' - though there remains some reservations among critics about its location.

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The London Trocadero Building first opened its doors in the 1890s (Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

The area in the heart of the city's entertainment district is filled with alcohol-serving bars and clubs, as well as gay venues and strip clubs. All such activities go against the teachings of Islam.

The charity says the mosque will serve Muslims who work in the area, as well as tourists.

A council spokesperson confirmed to The Mail on Sunday: "A planning application by the Aziz Foundation to convert a part of the London Trocadero was approved by the council's planning committee in May 2023."

Mr Aziz bought the venue for over £220million in 2005 through his property firm Criterion Capital. Previously it was one of London's landmark entertainment complexes, including the 490-room hotel the Zedwell.

The plans will see a prayer space opened in the basement (Aziz Foundation)

It originally opened as a restaurant in 1896 before first closing in 1965, but would be converted into an exhibition space in 1984, and would go on to be sponsored by Pepsi and Sega. In 1997 it became the home of the UK's first 3D IMAX cinema.

It was downscaled in 2011 and part of the building reopened as a hotel three years ago.

Criterion Caption boasts 15 commercial buildings in London's West End, the Docklands and Croydon, with Mr Aziz owning and managing a £3.6billion property portfolio across the city and the South East of England.

In January this year, the Mirror reported how the Aziz Foundation was urging ministers to enshrine the UN's day to combat Islamophobia into UK law.

The Trocadero has been a restaurant, exhibition space and hotel over the years (Getty Images)

The March 15 was chosen to commemorate the 2019 Christchurch mosque shootings in which 51 people were killed and 40 others injured.

The foundation said acknowledging the day in legislation would make more resources available to teach religious tolerance in schools.

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“Islamophobia is a type of racism,” Mr Aziz said. “That should be an obvious thing to understand but to many it isn’t.”

Ryan Merrifield