The week in the house, hour by hour

The lounge opens from Wednesday to Sunday and is closed on Monday and Tuesday. Each of the five evenings follows the same pattern, set out in the table below, but each has a character of its own. I find it easiest to describe the pattern first and the differences afterwards.

Wednesday is the quietest evening and the one I recommend to anyone who has never played before. Thursday is given to roulette and blackjack, with an introduction to each at half past seven. Friday is the tournament night, with poker at the first table from half past seven and a crowd along the wall for the final.

Saturday is the fullest evening, with all four tables in use and the dining room usually at capacity. Sunday is gentler, with the roast of the day at five and the last hand dealt a little earlier than usual, so that guests with a long drive may reach home before it is late. All guests are adults.

Differences of this kind are small, and the pattern is stable. I change it only when the town changes, as when a local event fills the dining room or a long weekend keeps people away. A telephone call to the house will always tell you what is planned.

There are no dates on this page because the week is the unit of the house. If you have a particular evening in mind, tell me what you would like, and I shall suggest the night that suits it best.

A word about timing may help those planning a long evening. The doors open at half past four, but the dining room is usually quietest between five and six, when the soup is hot and the first guests are settling in. The board room fills from seven, and by nine it is at its liveliest, which is the hour many regulars prefer.

The table below describes an ordinary evening in order. Where an evening differs, such as the tournament on Friday or the introductions on Thursday, the difference is noted in the row concerned. I am always glad to answer questions about it by telephone, and I will gladly walk through the whole evening with anyone who is coming for the first time.