The heartland of England boasts some of the UK’s richest poker pickings as we run down the best the Midlands has to offer. (All tournaments No Limit Hold’em unless specified.)
1. Dusk Till Dawn
WHERE: Redfield Way, Boulevard Retail Park, Lenton, Nottingham NG7 2UW
CONTACT: www.dusktilldawnpoker.com; Tel: (0115) 845 4300
GETTING THERE: Train: Nottingham (15 minute taxi-ride); Car: A453 (from south) or A610 (from north). Free members’ parking.
MEMBERSHIP: Free. Over-18s with photo ID. DTD is a members-only club with no waiting period between signing up and becoming a full member.
CAPACITY: Approx. 600
TOURNAMENTS:
Wednesday: £75 Freezeout
Thursday: £50 Freezeout
Friday: £75 Freezeout
Saturday: £50 Freezeout
Sunday: £75 Freezeout
CASH GAMES:
NLHE, PLO and Dealer’s Choice all available around the clock at £0.50/£1 and above. One table reserved for high roller stakes in the VIP area.
SPECIAL EVENTS:
DTD Monthly Deepstack Tournament – Europe’s only monthly ranking event boasts a £100k guaranteed prizepool over two events. The event kicks off with a Saturday £300 Freezeout (£80k GTD with 10,000 starting stack). Sunday afternoon sees a 3pm £150 Freezeout (£20k GTD with 6,000 starting stack).
BURGER RATING: 4
THE LOWDOWN:
Far and away Europe’s largest dedicated cardroom, Nottingham’s Dusk Till Dawn continues to set the standard for live poker in the UK. Boasting 45 custom built tables in the main cardroom and a special high rollers area, there’s non-stop tournament and cash game action to suit all bankrolls, while the club’s monthly Deep Stack frequently attracts the cream of European poker talent.
Gala Sol
WHERE: Sol Central, Marefair, Northampton NN1 1SR
CONTACT: www.galacasino.co.uk; Tel: (01604) 623500
GETTING THERE: Train: Northampton (5 minute taxi-ride or short walk); Car: A5080. Free transport to the casino when you book a table for five or more in the restaurant.
MEMBERSHIP: Free. Over-18s with photo ID. Membership is valid at Gala casinos nationwide.
CAPACITY: 120
TOURNAMENTS:
Monday: £15 Freezeout
Wednesday: £30 Freezeout plus £10 ‘Wildcard’
Thursday: £10 “Beginners’ Night”
Sunday: £30 Freezeout plus one re-buy or add-on.
CASH GAMES:
NLHE: £0.25/£0.50, £0.50/£1, £1/£2 and occasional £2/£5.
SPECIAL EVENTS: First Sunday of every month - £100 Deep Stack tournament.
BURGER RATING: 4
THE LOWDOWN:
One of the many jewels in the Gala casino chain, the Gala Sol in Northampton is a gaming Mecca right in the heart of England. Serving up a range of great value tournaments and all the cash trappings you could hope for, the casino is also home to the signature “Chargrill” restaurant and hosts regular live entertainment. Well, if Tom Jones tribute acts are your idea of “entertainment”, that is.
Broadway Casino
WHERE: 1-4 Broadway Plaza, 220 Ladywood Middleway, Birmingham B16 8LP
CONTACT: www.broadwaycasino.co.uk; Tel: (0121) 456 5557
GETTING THERE: Train: Birmingham New Street; Car: M5, M6 or M42. Free members’ parking in 1,300 space car park.
MEMBERSHIP: Free. Over-18s with photo ID. Members-only casino with no waiting period between signing up and becoming a full member.
CAPACITY: 120 (150 at special events)
TOURNAMENTS:
Monday: £25 Deep Stack freezeout
Tuesday: £30 with one re-buy or add-on
Friday: £20 re-buy (double chips for add-ons)
Saturday: £30 Double Chance freezeout
Sunday: £20 with one re-buy or add-on.
CASH GAMES:
Wednesdays and Thursday from 8.00pm - games on request.
SPECIAL EVENTS:
Last Thursday of every month - £150 Deepstack freezeout.
BURGER RATING: 0 (though the gourmet pan-Asian fare is out of this world).
THE LOWDOWN:
Without question one of the plushest venues in all the Midlands, the Broadway Casino in Birmingham is the perfect place to unwind with a good meal and a deck of cards. The dedicated poker room offers well-structured tournaments for the value conscious, while cash games to suit all levels of player can be found on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Grosvenor Walsall
WHERE: Bentley Mill Way, Walsall WS2 0LE
CONTACT: www.grosvenorcasinos.co.uk; Tel: (01922) 645222
GETTING THERE: Train: Walsall; Car: M6 (Junc.10)
MEMBERSHIP: Free. Over-18s only with photo ID.
CAPACITY: 200
TOURNAMENTS:
Monday: 4.15pm - £5 freezeout
Tuesday: 4.15pm - £10 freezeout; 9.15pm - £50 Triple Chance
Wednesday: 4.15pm – £25 Double Chance; 9.15pm - £30 Triple Chance
Thursday: 4.15pm - £20 Bounty Freezeout; 9.15pm - £30 Deep Stack
Friday: 4.15pm - £10 freezeout; 8.30pm - £5 freezeout; 12.15am - £15 Speed freezeout.
Saturday: 3.30pm - £25 freezeout (with free meal); 8.30pm - £20 Deep Stack
Sunday: 3.30pm - £20 Double Chance; 9.15pm - £50 Triple Chance freezeout
CASH GAMES:
NLHE, Omaha, and Dealer’s Choice available. Buy-ins range from £25-£1,000 and there’s an hourly charge of £2. Call ahead for full list of games.
SPECIAL EVENTS:
GUKPT holds a leg here each year, plus the venue recently held a stop on the GUKPT’s Summer Series. APAT also held its UK Amateur Championship here earlier in 2009. The casino itself holds regular satellites to GUKPT legs around the country, but if you’re on a slightly smaller budget, there’s a £15 freezeout every Monday at 9.15pm that carries a £4,000 GTD pool. The last Sunday of the month features a £200 Double Chance freezeout.
BURGER RATING: 5
THE LOWDOWN:
The home to the Walsall leg of the GUKPT, the APAT plus various Midlands-based pub poker outfits’ national finals, the Grosvenor Walsall, together with DTD and the Broadway, offers a serious poker service to the west Midlands. Tournament junkies are well serviced with at least two tourneys a day, and where else can you find a tournament starting at 12.15am? |
