I notice that the old Grosvenor Sandcastle in Blackpool has been converted to a 'G-Casino' in what I assume is an estate-wide rebranding and refurbishment exercise by Grosvenor/Rank. The Cardroom, which many may have suspected was under threat, has actually been extended, and is now stated to have a capacity of 250.
Luton was done earlier this year, and although they currently limit capacity, it would seat 250 confortably, in my opinion, and is a stunningly nice cardroom, self-contained (as all good cardrooms are).
I have yet to see the new 'G' in Manchester, but I hear it's pretty neat, and The Vic is almost ready to re-open - they can't fail to improve on the previous situatiion where players were spread over three floors.
It's odd that nobody has commented on Grosvenor's apparent committment to the UK Poker scene. Clearly, they would not do it unless it was financially viable, but it's reassuring to see that by far the largest provider of Poker Venues in the UK has confirmed it's long-term committment to poker. We'd be buggered without Grosvenor, and although they get relentlessly knocked, I for one am relieved to see the road they are going down.
The only type of Venue we lack is somewhere that 400 or 500 can confortably be accomodated in a single sitting. I know, via my own connections, of somewhere between 15 and 20 Events a year that could comfortably require a capacity for 400 or 500 players - blonde Bashes, APAT Events, Sky Live Days, and other high capacity 'series' I happen to know are in the pipeline, and that's without adding in EPT, WPT, GUKPT, WSOP-E and GBPT.
If and when - fingers crossed - DTD open, we in the UK will be as well-served by venues as anywhere in the World, with the possible exception of the USA, where they clearly lead the way in Vegas, but 95% of the country has no poker facilities. Once DTD are up and running, solving the '400 to 500 player' market, we will be truly spoiled for choice.
Those living in Mainland Europe must envy us. I was fascinated to see over 30 Scandies (and a French guy) at Gala Maybury last night for their £500. With cheap flights these days, this could be the start of a welcome trend - brng 'em on! The Scandies, relentlessly knocked and pilloried in chat boxes, are tremendous fun to share a live table with and almost always play in a healthy spirit. Long may it last.
The only cloud I see in the sky is whether the market can stand all these tourneys. Last weekend, if you lived in the Midlands, there were 6 Tourneys of £100 or more within an hours drive, so thay can't all succeed. This weekend we have the wonderful Walsall Monthly £300, the Mini-Fest at Blackpool and the Scottish Open, and that while many players are doing Vegas. Anyway, at least we have been offered the choice, far better than no or little choice, as used to be the case.
One thing which may in fact help to take up the slack is the current initiatives which are bringing new players into the Live Poker marketplace. APAT have done this well, Sky intend to stage more Live Days (and in fact Sky are significantly increasing the online player base already), and I know of several others that will be announced soon.
Good stuff.
Luton was done earlier this year, and although they currently limit capacity, it would seat 250 confortably, in my opinion, and is a stunningly nice cardroom, self-contained (as all good cardrooms are).
I have yet to see the new 'G' in Manchester, but I hear it's pretty neat, and The Vic is almost ready to re-open - they can't fail to improve on the previous situatiion where players were spread over three floors.
It's odd that nobody has commented on Grosvenor's apparent committment to the UK Poker scene. Clearly, they would not do it unless it was financially viable, but it's reassuring to see that by far the largest provider of Poker Venues in the UK has confirmed it's long-term committment to poker. We'd be buggered without Grosvenor, and although they get relentlessly knocked, I for one am relieved to see the road they are going down.
The only type of Venue we lack is somewhere that 400 or 500 can confortably be accomodated in a single sitting. I know, via my own connections, of somewhere between 15 and 20 Events a year that could comfortably require a capacity for 400 or 500 players - blonde Bashes, APAT Events, Sky Live Days, and other high capacity 'series' I happen to know are in the pipeline, and that's without adding in EPT, WPT, GUKPT, WSOP-E and GBPT.
If and when - fingers crossed - DTD open, we in the UK will be as well-served by venues as anywhere in the World, with the possible exception of the USA, where they clearly lead the way in Vegas, but 95% of the country has no poker facilities. Once DTD are up and running, solving the '400 to 500 player' market, we will be truly spoiled for choice.
Those living in Mainland Europe must envy us. I was fascinated to see over 30 Scandies (and a French guy) at Gala Maybury last night for their £500. With cheap flights these days, this could be the start of a welcome trend - brng 'em on! The Scandies, relentlessly knocked and pilloried in chat boxes, are tremendous fun to share a live table with and almost always play in a healthy spirit. Long may it last.
The only cloud I see in the sky is whether the market can stand all these tourneys. Last weekend, if you lived in the Midlands, there were 6 Tourneys of £100 or more within an hours drive, so thay can't all succeed. This weekend we have the wonderful Walsall Monthly £300, the Mini-Fest at Blackpool and the Scottish Open, and that while many players are doing Vegas. Anyway, at least we have been offered the choice, far better than no or little choice, as used to be the case.
One thing which may in fact help to take up the slack is the current initiatives which are bringing new players into the Live Poker marketplace. APAT have done this well, Sky intend to stage more Live Days (and in fact Sky are significantly increasing the online player base already), and I know of several others that will be announced soon.
Good stuff.