Protesters have vowed to fight a bid to convert a former bingo hall into an arena with boxing matches and pop star acts such as Pixie Lott.

The plans could see the Grade II listed former Gala Bingo Hall in Richmond Road, Kingston, turned into a dance venue with 24-hour drinking.

Applicants Matthew Deith and Malcolm Farquharson, who plan to rename the building the Kingston Arena, submitted a licensing application on January 6.

The plans include a main arena that could be separated into five performance spaces, with a hydraulic stage and a smoking area on the roof. It would be the first venue in Kingston, apart from hotels, to receive a 24-hour licence.

They pledge “no noise generated from inside the premises will be audible in any other noise-sensitive premises”.

However, Richmond Road residents feared noise, traffic and antisocial behaviour and met on Monday to organise a campaign against it.

Warren Samuels, who has lived in Canbury Park Road for 15 years, said: “You do not need a 24-hour licence for someone putting on weddings or concerts. It’s not the noise, but the disorder it will cause.”

A 16-page brochure accompanying the application described the proposed venue as giving Kingston a “landmark site” and having acts including Primal Scream, the Stranglers and comedians Jimmy Carr and Al Murray.

It said: “The arena will provide a safe, purpose-built environment for the whole family of which Kingston can be rightly proud.”

The brochure said both applicants owned and operated the Wandsworth Palais and the Paper Club in the historic Cafe Royal in Regent Street, London, where Oscar Wilde was once a regular in the Grill Room.

The Paper Club’s licence was suspended for 20 days by Westminster Council following a stabbing at the club on Boxing Day night, 2007.

Minutes for Westminster Council’s licensing sub-committee showed Metropolitian Police were concerned about a lack of suitable conditions on the Paper Club licence and there was a high possibility of a repeat attack.

According to papers from the December 28 meeting, the licensees said they had complied with police suggestions in the past, there had previously been no major incidents at the premises and they had voluntarily closed since the incident.

The licence was reinstated after an extra 15 licensing conditions were added.

Residents have until February 4 to object to the application, which the council expects to decide on between February 22 and March 4.

A council spokesman said objections must relate to the prevention of crime and disorder, the prevention of public nuisance, public safety or the protection of children from harm.

MP Zac Goldsmith is holding a public meeting on January 26, at 9am in the Grey Horse pub, Richmond Road, to discuss the plans.

Attempts were made to contact the applicants but no calls were returned before deadline.

Franco Lumba bought the freehold of the former bingo hall last summer after Gala closed its doors early in 2010.

The 43-year-old Twickenham resident already owns Essence nightclub under Kingston Bridge and the Vanilla Bar in Windsor.

In October he told the Surrey Comet he would submit plans for a 2,000 capacity nightclub capable of hosting major acts in the new year.

On Tuesday, December 7, he pleaded guilty at Richmond Magistrates’ Court to assaulting broadcaster and children’s author Jason Bradbury on October 31 and threatening to burn his house down.

Mr Lumba, who lives in St Margarets Road, also admitted using threatening or abusive words or behaviour against Mr Bradbury, who is best known as presenter of channel Five’s Gadget Show, and two other people on the same date.

He was fined £2,100, ordered to pay £150 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

He was also handed a restraining order against Mr Bradbury and Claire Craddock and banned from entering Marble Hill Gardens, Twickenham, for two years.

Mr Bradbury is director of Surbiton-registered broadcasting company Slaphead, while Claire Craddock is the company secretary.

The incident on October 31 took place at their home in Twickenham.

Mr Lumba is also being investigated by Kingston Council over building work carried out at the Grade II listed bingo hall in October 2010.

A spokesman said investigations into alleged contraventions of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 were continuing.

Repeated attempts were made to contact Mr Lumba before going to press, including a visit to his house, where we left a note. No contact was returned.