Day by day
“A week at the lodge, one evening at a time”
Five open evenings, each with its own habit, and two days when the lamp over the door stays dark.
How the week is built
“Dinner is the same every night; the tables are not”
The dining room serves the same menu from Wednesday to Sunday, with a roast added on Sundays and a pie of the week on Fridays. What changes is the casino room. Each open evening has its own character, and I have listed them below in the order the week runs.
Wednesday is a quiet night and a good one for beginners. Glenn Russo likes to open the casino room early and let guests wander through without any pressure. Thursday brings the beginners' tournament, when poker is played slowly and every decision is explained aloud.
Friday is the busiest dinner of the week, so a booking is wise. Saturday is the long night, with the dining room full from five and every table in the casino room dealt until ten. Sunday is a family evening: a roast, a relaxed room and the older poker games for anyone who would like to learn them.
On Mondays and Tuesdays the lamp stays dark. I use the time to oil the tables, and Gareth Clarke visits his growers. If you have a question on those days, the telephone is answered by Renee Wells between ten and four.
The program rarely changes, but when it does, the new evening is chalked on the board by the green door and published here. Anything special, such as a private evening, is listed on its own page.
If you are planning a visit and are unsure which night suits you, think about the pace you prefer. Wednesday is unhurried and Saturday is lively, with Thursday and Sunday between the two. Guests who dislike crowds tend to choose Wednesday, while those who like to feel a room fill choose Saturday. Friday, as I say, is for pie.