It’s no secret that the UK has an enviable gambling scene as a whole but finding the best locations, and indeed the best venues, is no easy feat, especially with the amount of choice out there.

For me, a casino set against a seaside background can’t be topped and so when I decided to check out the gambling scene in Brighton, I couldn’t wait to see what was in store.

Known for its vibrant culture and welcoming community, central Brighton is home to three casinos: the Genting Casino, the Rendezvous Casino and, finally, the Grosvenor Casino – the star of this review. Over the course of a weekend, I checked out all three with the intention of comparing what each of them had to offer and seeing which one I preferred.

So, without further ado, lets jump straight into my review of the Grosvenor Casino Brighton.

Also known as the Grosvenor Casinos Pier Nine, this casino is situated in the Pier Nine entertainment complex directly opposite Brighton’s famous Palace Pier.

The venue underwent a significant £1 million refurbishment back in 2019 with the intention of transforming it into somewhere that offers an array of different activities all under the same roof. And boy did it deliver. 

Ultimately, this place is much more than just a casino and I think that’s what sets it apart from the rest of the competition in and around Brighton. Pool, darts, karaoke and a substantial sports bar await customers inside so it’s definitely at the top of the list for group outings.

The building itself looks like something from the 1920’s, which is fitting considering the casino is housed in a former art deco cinema. While it undoubtedly has the curb appeal, I’m not so sure that the exterior matches the new décor style that you’ll find inside, which is super contemporary, but that’s not such a big deal.

Location

Situated on the famous Grand Junction Road directly on the seafront, it’s fair to say that this place has an enviable location. 

Points of interest within a ten-minute walk include the Old Steine Gardens, Brighton Palace Pier, and Brighton i360, so it’s more than possible to do a little sightseeing alongside a visit to the casino.

Due to its central location, reaching the casino is easy.

By Car: If you’re brave enough to tackle central Brighton by car, entering BN1 1PP will take you directly to the casino. Unfortunately, there is no free parking on offer but that’s hardly surprising considering it’s right on the seafront.

There are plenty of pay and display carparks within walking distance, though, including The Lanes Car Park on Black Lion Street, NCP Brighton Centre on Russel Road and NCP Brighton Theatre on Church Street.

By Train: If you’d prefer to arrive by public transport, I’d absolutely recommend arriving by train. The casino is located just under a 20-minute walk, or 5-minute cab ride, from Brighton Central Station which has direct links to London.

By Bus: There are bus stops situated up and down the seafront but the services mainly cater towards local travel around Brighton and neighbouring towns.

Games wise, this Grosvenor casino has just about everything you’d expect to see. The casino floor is split into different sections which I always think adds depth and keeps things divided. 

In one of the sections, you’ll find an array of live tables offering American roulette, blackjack and three card poker. All of the tables were manned during my visit despite it being way aways from full capacity – I got the impression they were expecting a bigger crowd, but I think the sports game going on upstairs had taken an impact in this case.

However, this worked out great for me as it gave me the chance to explore at my own pace. The roulette table was the busiest, so this is where I spent the majority of my time.

Jumping into the slots offerings, there are over 20 different machines to choose from, including Super V+ Gaminators, all which house the most popular titles. Plus, punters can roll the dice on IGT Fort Knox progressive machines which offer the chance to win up to £20,000.

Poker fans will be glad to know that there is a dedicated poker room here. Daily cash games are available and tournaments are played regularly. You can contact the casino directly to enquire about the poker schedule.

While it was spacious enough, the décor in the poker room was a bit of a let down, especially when compared to the rest of the venue. However, the atmosphere in here was great and I ended up sitting in for a few hands.

As is the case with the majority of casinos within the UK, there is no on-site hotel here so if you’re planning on visiting and then staying over, you will need to find your own accommodation. Luckily, though, due to the casino being situated so centrally, there are plenty of options within walking distance.

My first pick would be the A Room With A View hotel. Located on Marine Parade just a few minutes' walk from the Grosvenor Casino, this Grade II listed Georgian building provides guests with individually decorated rooms which offer uninterrupted sea views. 

If you feel like treating yourself to a more luxurious stay, I’d recommend checking out the Square Townhouse on New Steine Street. Located just a ten-minute walk away from the casino, this hotel has been ranked within the top 10% of hotels worldwide and offers upmarket rooms, a stylish bar and even a pamper room which offers treatments such as facials and massages. It is a little pricey, mind, but booking direct will earn you 25% off your bill.

The casino is open daily, from 12pm – 4am Monday to Thursday, 12pm – 5am Friday to Saturday, and from 11am – 4am on Sundays. 

I think the best way to describe the Pier Nine complex is an ‘adults playground’. The entirety of what is on offer is situated over three floors which gives you enough space to spread out.

The ground floor is a little redundant considering its main offering is a private cinema. I didn’t look too much into this but I believe it’s available to hire for private parties. There are some slot machines here too but the fact they were located away from the main casino floor resulted in the atmosphere being a little flat.

The first floor is where the action is. This is where you’ll find all the live tables and electronic machines and where you want to head if you’re up for a night on the tables.

The third floor is home to a vibrant sports bar and it’s here that you’ll find all the extras such as pool tables, darts boards and the like. I’ll cover this in more detail below.

Food

It came as no surprise that there are a few different options when it comes to eating here. After all, this place is big on appealing to all different types of customers.

With this in mind, should you fancy more of a casual dining experience, the Club House offers things like burgers and pizzas in a laid back, diner style setting. I felt this suited the place the most and for that reason this is where I chose to eat during my visit, opting for a no-frills burger and fries. No complaints from me here.

Those more inclined to a proper sit-down meal can take a seat in The View restaurant which offers a more classical menu in an elegant setting with views over the sea.

If you’re having too much fun on the casino floor, there is also the option to order food on the app and have it delivered to wherever you are. I saw quite a lot of people opting for this during my visit so this has obviously gone down well with punters.

Drink

On the second floor of the building, you’ll find the sports bar which is where I believe the old casino used to be located before the revamp. 

The space is super modern but not pretentiously so. It steers more towards the casual-modern look that has taken over so many establishments these days. I’ll be honest, it’s not exactly my cup of tea but I can certainly appreciate that it looks good and is a comfortable space to relax in.

It’s a pretty substantial space, with the main floor being able to seat well over 50 people. The focus point of the room is a large screen on the back wall which shows all of the biggest sporting events. There are other smaller screens dotted around the place showing other sports too.

I must say, I really liked the atmosphere at this bar. There was a quite significant match on during my Sunday afternoon visit so I got to experience it in full swing – I was lucky to even find a table actually. 

Nowadays, land based operators should be making the most of every possible edge they can find over the best online casinos, and it's great to see Grosvenor Brighton understanding that food and drink is a great way to do that. 

Entertainment 

I was unable to find out much about any live entertainment offerings at this place during my pre-visit investigation so I quizzed a staff member who told me that things like live music events are held occasionally from time to time. 

Alongside this, karaoke rooms are available to rent out which makes for a fun evening I’m sure.

Dress Code: There’s no formal dress code employed here but the venue does request customers to avoid things like ripped jeans, tracksuit bottoms and the like.

Smoking: Neither smoking nor vaping is permitted anywhere inside the building but there is a smoking terrace for customers to use.

Every part of this venue is fully accessible to wheelchair users, including the toilet facilities, bar and restaurants. 

It will come as no surprise that the majority of Grosvenor’s promotions tend to be reserved for their online customers. Unfortunately, this seems to be the case more and more these days and that’s thanks to the impact of the web on the high street. But that’s another conversation entirely.

Now, membership is not required to enter this Grosvenor casino but there is an active welcome offer reserved for new members. The promotion in question offers new Grosvenor members up to £40 to play with after spending between £5 and £20 on slots during their first visit.

To take advantage of this offer, all you need to do is visit the cash desk upon arrival and opt in. Remember, though, that this offer is subject to change.

If you think you’re more than likely to visit another Grosvenor casino in the future I’d recommend becoming a member anyway, as it comes with perks such as being fast tracked into the casino and allowing you to create an online wallet which makes it easy to switch between online and in-person gambling.

There are new promotions being added all of the time so I’d recommend checking the Grosvenor website before a planned visit to ensure you don’t miss out.

Having a done a little bit of research into what this place offered before my visit, I was really excited to spend the day here. And that’s exactly what you can do. Thanks to everything else that’s on offer, from pool, darts, karaoke, sports, and, of course, all of the casino games, it’s fair to say that the hours pass pretty quickly here.

As I visited on the weekend, it was pretty busy, though the crowds were predominantly based in the sports bar, which I enjoyed myself after my time in the casino.

I had a good time on the casino floor and every member of staff I came into contact with was friendly, knowledgeable and more than happy to answer any questions I threw their way.

With it being around four years since the revamp, the place is holding up well, even looking brand new in places which I was impressed with.

All in all, I had a good time here and would most definitely return. Having visited on my own, I couldn’t help but think it’s the kind of place more suited to groups, so that’s something to keep in mind.

The main thing I wanted to get across in this review is that Pier Nine is more than a casino. If you’re looking for a casino experience with a little bit of something else on the side, a game or pool or darts for example, then I would absolutely recommend this casino over any other in Brighton. 

In fact, I think the refurbishment of this place is a fantastic addition to the Brighton community and I can absolutely see why it’s such a popular destination.

However, one thing to consider is that because it’s located within an entertainment complex, the atmosphere even inside the casino is a lot more casual than other casinos I’ve frequented in the past. That’s not to say you won’t experience professionalism, though. 

Ultimately, it will come down to personal preference. I think this is the ideal place for groups or people looking to spend a full day and night in one place but for the seasoned gamblers amongst us that want a more dedicated experience, I’d perhaps suggest one of Brighton’s other casinos.