The long room
“Go through the archway and the evening changes pace”
The casino floor at Tallowwood House has six tables, a croupier at each, and no machines. This page walks you through the room.
Before you go in
“Take your time at the archway”
The long room is exactly what it sounds like: a narrow room along the side of the building, behind the dining room, with a pressed-metal ceiling and a row of low lamps. You step through the archway from the dining room and the noise of dinner drops away in about three paces.
The casino floor is for adults only, and it's all in person. We run nothing on this website: no online tables, no app, no accounts. The tables here are real, the felt is green, and the chips are house chips with no value outside the room.
The tea servery sits at the far end, so you never have to leave the room for a cup of tea or a glass of lemonade. Coats go in the cloakroom beside the front door, and there is a stool at the end of every table for anyone who wants to watch before joining in.
The room is warm without being stuffy, and quiet without being hushed. The carpet absorbs footsteps, the felt softens the sound of chips, and the ceiling does the rest. Conversation at a table is easy, and shouting across the room isn't expected.
Six tables
Roulette, blackjack and poker, table by table
Roulette is the slowest and friendliest game in the room. There's one wheel and seven places, and the croupier calls each spin in the same unhurried voice. Newcomers often start here, because there is nothing to decide except where to put their chips.
Blackjack runs on two tables of six seats. The rules fit on a small card, and the croupier will say them aloud on your first hand. Poker takes the three tables at the back, nine seats each: Texas Hold'em, Omaha, Seven Card Stud and Five Card Draw, with the croupier naming the game as you sit.
In all, the long room seats forty-six. It's the number the room was built for, and we stop there. If every seat is taken, the host will put your name on the list and bring you a cup of tea while you wait.
Tables are numbered from the archway. Table one is the wheel, tables two and three are blackjack, and tables four to six are poker. The numbers matter on tournament nights, when seat cards are drawn and players move between tables as the field thins. Each croupier stays at their table all evening, so you see the same face at your elbow from the first hand to the last.
Roulette
One wheel, seven places, calm and unhurried
Blackjack
Two tables of six seats, with a lesson on Wednesdays
Poker
Three tables of nine seats, with four poker games
Tea servery
Tea, coffee, lemonade and sparkling water at the far end
Good to know
About the room
Do I need to know the games before I come?
Not at all. Most guests pick it up on the night. Tell the croupier it's your first time and they'll slow down, explain each step and nod when it's your turn. Wednesday's lesson before the floor opens is the easiest way in, and it's open to anyone who has booked. The only things we ask are a little patience and a willingness to ask questions.
Can I just watch for a while?
Yes. Every table has a stool at the end for watching, and nobody will push you to sit down. The host can bring you a pot of tea from the servery. The stools are placed so that you can see the wheel and the community cards without leaning over a player. Many guests watch for half an hour before taking a seat, and that is perfectly normal.
What should I wear?
Smart casual. A collared shirt and good jeans are fine, and so are dresses and tidy shoes. Hats and caps come off at the tables. The room is warm in winter and the verandah is the place to cool down in summer.
Around the long room
