“The lodge, closed to everyone else”

On a small number of Mondays and Tuesdays each season, when the lodge would otherwise be closed, we open for a single group. The long table is set for dinner, the kitchen cooks a menu chosen with the host, and the casino room is opened afterwards for roulette, blackjack and poker with a croupier at every table.

Groups of between eight and thirty are welcome. Teams from the forest industries, families marking a birthday and circles of friends have all used the lodge in this way. Each evening is arranged with Renee Wells beforehand, by email or telephone, and she agrees the menu, the order of the night and the hours.

Everything at a private evening follows the ordinary rules of the house. The casino room is for guests aged 18 and over, all games are played with chips that carry no money value, and nothing is offered online. A private tournament may be arranged, and ends, as every tournament here does, with a name on the board.

Gareth Clarke plans the dinner around the season and the group. A table of ten that loves pies will be given pies, and a table that prefers a lighter evening will be given trout and a pavlova. Dietary needs are taken seriously, and the kitchen likes to know about them a week ahead.

The casino room can be arranged in several ways. Some groups ask for all five tables dealt at once; others prefer two tables and a quiet corner for conversation. Megan Atkinson will talk through the options, and she is happy to prepare a short lesson for any group that includes newcomers to the games.

To ask about a date, use the booking form and write 'private evening' in the notes box, or telephone the host. Please say how many guests you expect, what the occasion is and whether you would like cards after dinner.