Who may enter
“Eighteen and over, every time”
Tallowwood House is a venue for adults. This page explains the age rule, the reason for it and the way it works at the door.
The rule
“Adults only, from the lamp to the last table”
Everyone who comes into Tallowwood House must be 18 or over. That includes the dining room, the verandah and the long room, and it applies from the moment the doors open at 5:30 pm until the last cup of tea at eleven.
The reason is simple. The long room holds a casino floor, and a casino floor is for adults. Even though nothing is played for money and the chips are worth nothing, we think a house like ours is best kept to grown-ups, and we hold to that firmly.
Rachel or Colin checks ID at the door for anyone who looks under twenty-five. A driver licence, a passport or a photo card is fine. If you have left yours at home, we are sorry, but we cannot make an exception, however well we know you.
On the website, you will see a short question the first time you visit, and once you answer yes it is remembered in your browser. That is a courtesy, not a check. The real check is a person at the door with a friendly face and a good memory for birthdays.
Questions about the rule are welcome. Ring the house after 4 pm or write to the manager, and you will get a plain answer from someone who works here.
How it works
Things worth knowing
- No exceptions. A parent's permission, a family occasion or a special birthday does not change the rule, and we will not seat anyone under eighteen.
- On the website, the first screen asks you to confirm that you are 18 or over. It is a promise rather than a lock, and the real check happens at the door.
- Nothing happens online. There are no online tables, no app, no accounts and no way to play from home, so there is nothing here for anyone under eighteen to find.
- If you are planning a private evening, every member of the party needs to be eighteen or over, including photographers, musicians and helpers.
- Guests who look well over eighteen may still be asked for ID. It is not personal; the rule applies to the whole room, and the host asks everyone with the same smile.
- If you think someone has been let in who should not have been, tell Colin Bailey at the house or write to us. We would always rather know.
Are you 18 or over?
Tallowwood House is a venue for adults. Please confirm your age before you come in.
Nothing here is played online or for money, and the chips have no value.