What are the rules, and are there many?
Not many. We've kept the rule book short enough to read while you wait for a pie. Here's the lot.
Rules for the long room
- Wait for the dealer to wave you in before you sit; it's quicker and the seat's yours for the hand.
- Chips are placed and moved by the player only, and only when the dealer says play is open.
- At blackjack, a clear hand signal beats a mumble, and please keep your hands off the cards unless invited.
- At roulette, hands off the cloth once the wheel's spinning, and no leaning across for a closer look.
- At poker, your cards are your business; hold them low and show them only when the hand asks you to.
- No coaching from the rail, no commentary on other people's plays and no groaning at the dealer.
- The dealer's ruling stands for the hand. If you disagree, talk to Angus after the hand.
- Spectators stay behind the rail and keep their voices low, especially around the final table.
- Mobile phones are silent in the dining room and off completely at the tables.
- If you need a break, take one. The foyer is warm, and nobody will take your seat.
Why so few rules?
When we opened, the rule book was a single sheet, written by me at the end of a kitchen table with a blunt pencil. Over time, the staff added a few lines and the regulars suggested several more. What's here is what survived.
The principle behind all of them is simple: be kind, be quiet and don't make the dealer's job harder than it has to be. Most of what's written below is that same idea, in different words, for different situations.
Where a rule isn't clear, we go back to the principle. Ask yourself whether what you're about to do will make the table quieter, kinder or easier for the dealer. If the answer's yes, you're fine. If it's no, you can probably guess what Angus would say, and he'll say it gently.
If you break a rule by accident, nobody will make a fuss. The dealer will fix it with a smile, and the table will carry on. Repeated carelessness is a quiet chat with Angus, nothing more.
Rules for the rest of the old theatre
- Photo ID's checked at the old ticket booth on every visit to the long room, no matter how well we know you.
- Kids are welcome in the dining room at any hour; the casino room is for people aged 18 and over only.
- Dinner tables are held for fifteen minutes after your booked time, and Christine rings before releasing one.
- Coats and bags go on the hooks in the foyer, not on the chairs or across the aisles.
- Don't climb on the stage, don't lean on the proscenium and don't sit on the old ticket booth stool.
- No smoking inside; the lane at the side is the spot for a breather.
- Photos of the ceiling and the food are welcome; photos of other guests need their say-so first.
- Anyone who feels unwell, upset or just finished is welcome to leave the table and sit by the heater.