Weekly program
Plan your week around the rhythm of the house
The week
Four evenings, four characters
ThursdayA calm start to the week, with a quiet supper, an unhurried roulette wheel and a gentle poker table at the far end, where beginners are made welcome and the dealer has time to talk.17:00
FridayThe tournament evening: supper at half past five, check-in by half past seven, and the first level at eight, with twenty-four players, a tea interval and a final table beneath the brass lamp.17:00
SaturdayThe long supper, the busiest night and a lively front room, with roulette and blackjack until the last hands, and the largest menu of the week, from which the sponge sells out by eight.17:00
SundayA roast, a slow sponge, soft tables and an early close for guests with a long drive home, and the quietest and most forgiving front room of the week for anyone learning a game.17:00
Inside an evening
Follow an evening from the first pot of tea
Doors openLamps are lit, the verandah is swept and tea is poured for the first guests, who often arrive well before the hour.17:00
Supper startsThe kitchen sends out the evening's menu, with the sponge cooling at the back and the first pies leaving the oven.17:30
Front room opensDealers take their places and the casino tables welcome adults on chips, with a short word of welcome from the croupier.19:00
Last supper ordersThe kitchen takes final orders for mains and moves on to puddings, which are served until the tea interval.20:30
Tea intervalA pause for tea, sponge and conversation for everyone in the building, with the chips left safely in their trays.21:00
Tables resumeDealing begins again, often at a more relaxed pace than before, since the supper has been eaten and the cards seem friendlier.21:20
Last handsFinal hands are dealt and the chips are counted back into their trays by the dealer, in full view of the table.22:30
Doors closeThe lamps are lowered, the verandah is locked and the house is quiet, until the lamps are lit again at five.23:00
Choosing an evening
Pick the evening that suits you best
For a first visit I recommend Thursday or Sunday. The dealers have more time to explain, the front room is calmer and you can watch a few hands before deciding whether to sit down. Supper is just as good on any evening, but the pace is gentler and the tables are easier to join.
Friday is for those who enjoy a tournament. It is the most structured evening of the week, and the list fills quickly, so telephone early in the day. Players who miss the list are welcome to watch, and the benches at the rail are rarely empty before the final.
Saturday is the busiest evening. If you wish to dine and then play, I suggest booking both a table for supper and a seat in the front room, as the list for the cards grows long. The kitchen serves its largest menu on Saturday, and the sponge sells out by eight.
Sunday evenings suit families who have driven in from the valley, since the roast is served early and the front room closes in good time for the road. Children may dine until half past six, and a high chair is kept in the storeroom for the youngest guests. Alana Curtis will have it ready if you tell her when you book.
The program does not change with the calendar, though the menu does. If you plan to visit for an occasion, such as a family gathering, please ring Alana Curtis, and she will advise on the best evening and the quietest table.