Now while this all may sound very arrogant and smug, I make no apologies for it. London is not only a great place for choice when it comes to playing live poker but it's just a great place to play full stop - and that's that. In no particular order, here are the Top 4 venues when it comes to playing small stakes (£1/£1 and £1/£2) live poker (and I'd say that the majority of regular London players would certainly put at least two of these in their top lists as well). All, with the exception of The Empire, require ID to play but if you cash out big at The Empire they may ask for photo ID for the transaction to go ahead..
1. The Vic - Edgware Road (Near Marble Arch Tube)
While strictly speaking, a casino, this is one of the oldest well-known poker establishments in London. The poker room is definitely the most comfortable, roomiest and plushest of the four with a sparkling and tasteful decor. It is very well run and being open 24-7 you'll almost always find a game but be prepared for a wait sometimes at the busy times of day. It does contain a lot of old regulars but it has plenty of character and should definitely be on your schedule if you're coming to London for a poker trip.
+ Comfortable and classy.
+ Many limits catered for.
+ Drinks are very reasonably priced.
+ Very well run.
- You sometimes have to wait a long time.
- The low buy-in MTTs are the worst donkfests in town.
- Low buy-in MTTs are still self-dealt!?
2. International Poker Club - East Road (Nr Old Street Tube)
This is the new home of The Gutshot Poker Club. If you want glitz and glamour then look elsewhere but if you want MTTs with a decent structure then this is worth a try. If you're coming to London for a poker trip then it's worth a one-off visit but the venue itself is really nothing special and its quite dingy. It's location is a bit out of the way of central London and the place itself is effectively a converted basement. Yes, it's all dealer dealt but, as might be expected from an out-of-the-way venue, it can seem very old-school and very "regular-friendly" with the regular players tending to dominate the atmosphere and the proceedings. Cash games are a bit hit and miss and can be hard to come by but only really get going later in the day.
+ Well-structured MTTs.
+ The £1/£1 cash game is known for being quite soft.
+ It has computers for those who want to play online.
- Dominated by many regular players - not newbie friendly.
- Out of the way location and not very glamorous.
- Hidden charge for MTTs - Pay dealer for extra chips when seated but cash does not go towards prize pool.
- Expensive bottled beer - no draft beer.
3. Empire Casino - Leicester Square (Nr Piccadilly and Leicester Square Tube)
This is THE place to come for £1/£2 cash games. £1/£2 is practically all that is played here (with the odd donkament getting in the way) and you get every type of player under the sun and all sorts of interesting characters, particularly on its very busy Friday and Saturday nights. Its location is slap bang in the middle of the tourist area and it's just a great place to play, particularly most evenings and definitely at the weekend. The poker room itself has been separated from the casino but is open 24-7. It's a little bit on the small side although it has become slightly more spacious with the removal of one or two tables. The lighting is just right, it is well run and there is ALWAYS a game on. You just might want to avoid it in the afternoon when there seem to be a high percentage of sharks at the tables. It is just 5-10 minutes walk from The Fox Club. You don't even need ID to play but may be asked for it if you cash out a large sum so come prepared.
+ Lively tables during evenings and weekends.
+ Nearly always a table available (may have to wait 20-30 mins max).
+ No ID required, just walk in and play.
+ Central location and only 5 minutes from The Fox if you need to slow down a bit.
- Drinks are expensive and waitress service is notoriously poor.
- You get some very tough tables in the afternoon.
- MTTs just get in the way and means less cash tables can operate.
- May be asked for ID if you cash out large sums.
4. Fox Poker Club (Nr Piccadilly and Leicester Square Tube)
This is a new club that has just opened up along Shaftesbury Avenue. It is much more MTT orientated and caters more for the small buy-in tournament player. It posts its full schedule for the month on its site and holds two MTTs per day plus three on Sunday - and each one for a flat fee of £5 regardless of the buy-in. Its Saturday £30 freeze-out is always a sell-out! Like The International, its cash games seem to be slow to get started and don't really pick up until later in the day. These tend to be the £1/£1 games with the odd occasion when a £1/£2 game is running. The amount of cash game tables running seems to be on the low side and the £1/£1 table has a 10% rake policy which is not ideal. In saying that, its tourney structures tend to be good for the buy-ins and it's definitely a good place to come to spend a low-risk poker session or just a place to slow down if you're on a downswing but still need to feed your poker fix. Incidentally, it seems its maximum buy-ins at the cash tables have recently been increased - which is nice.
+ Good value low buy-in MTTs with good structures - throughout the year.
+ A great central location and only 5-10 minutes from The Empire (Golden Nugget is also literally across the street)
+ Fine for a "pop-in" low-risk cash game session (if a table is running).
+ Newly opened - very clean.
- Cash game tables are a but thin on the ground and 10% rake on the £1/£1 is not good.
- Can be a little cramped in some places.
- Bottled beer is expensive - no draft beer.
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There are, of course, plenty of other venues in London to play poker but if you come to the city for a poker trip and don't visit at least two of the above places then you will have missed out on part of the full live poker experience that London has to offer.
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