As a self-proclaimed poker connoisseur, I couldn’t wait to check out Nottingham’s Dusk Till Dawn – the UK’s biggest card room.

Known affectionately as the ‘home of British poker,’ Dusk Till Dawn opened its doors back in 2007 and quickly gained a reputation as being one of the most popular places to play poker in the entire country.

Indeed, I’d heard good things about this place, and I’ll be the first to admit that my expectations were high going in.

So, if you’re eager to check out Dusk Till Dawn but want to know a little more about it first then keep reading because in this review I’ll share my thoughts and feelings about the place and answer the question of all questions: is it worth a visit?

Located on the outskirts of Nottingham city centre in the Boulevard Retail Park, Dusk Till Dawn measures in at 15,000 quare feet and is home to 45 poker tables which can accommodate a whopping 450 players at any one time.

I was pretty impressed with the size of the place actually. It looked and felt bigger than casinos I’ve been to in the past which were double its size. 

Having said that, the poker tables were quite close together which I wasn’t a huge fan of, but I guess they have to make use of every inch of available space.

The entranceway to the building it quite grand, with big imposing pillars and contemporary lighting. It’s a shame that didn’t translate to the rest of the building though, which was just flat and uninspiring.

The décor was pleasant enough on the inside. The dark carpet and dark walls are complimented by atmospheric neon lighting and the bar area in particular was pretty sleek.

Of the 15,000 square foot gaming space, the 45 poker tables take up the majority of the space. 

The main focus at this casino is, of course, poker, and I’ll go in to in more detail in just a moment. 

Poker aside, it’s fairly slim pickings I’m afraid. There are a few electronic roulette machines as well as a few fruit machines, but that’s your lot. 

I was informed by a local that there used be more variety in what was offered but such things were eventually replaced with more poker tables to keep up with demand and to elevate the casino’s reputation as a dedicated card room.

With this in mind, I wouldn’t recommend Dusk Till Dawn to punters seeking a variety of different games or slots fans, but as I was there on strict poker business this didn’t affect me.

Dusk Till Dawn has room for 450 poker players at any one time so I imagine it can feel pretty crowded at full capacity, which I was told is common on weekends.

I’d say it was roughly around half full when I visited, which was on an evening during the week, and the atmosphere was great. There was a buzz about the place, but it was contained and relaxed.

I stayed at Dusk Till Dawn for around three hours and sat at a couple of different tables during this time – without much luck, might I add.

The dealers were all very professional and I think that’s what stuck out the most.

I did get the impression that the majority of punters knew what they were doing which is what I expected. Having said that, Dusk Till Dawn does cater to all experience levels so if you are a beginner, I’m confident you’d still have a great time.

In terms of condition, all of the tables and chairs looked to be in good nick so this was another positive. 

Now, I’m sure the majority of you are fully aware of the etiquette that should be adopted when playing poker at a casino. However, Dusk Till Dawn is fairly strict on such things – I guess they have to be to maintain a serious reputation as the best place to play poker in the country.

Some of the main things that are considered unsportsmanlike include acting out of turn, intentionally and/or repeatedly, showing the contents of any live or folded cards during a live hand, any form of ‘rabbit hunting’, and exposing cards with action pending, intentionally and/or repeatedly.

You can check out the full list of house rules on the Dusk Till Dawn site and I’d definitely recommend doing so before visiting.

As I say, all the dealers were pleasant enough and I have no doubt they’d let you off with a few honest mistakes, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.

There is no on-site accommodation and because the casino is located roughly ten minutes from the city centre by car, you won’t find many hotels close by, unfortunately.

The closest hotel is the Travelodge Nottingham Riverside Hotel, which is just over five minutes away by car, or a 30-minute walk.

A couple of other hotels within a 10-minute drive away include the Holiday Inn Nottingham and The Orchard Hotel and Restaurant.

Should you need a taxi, the staff on reception can arrange this for you.

Now, for a self-confessed control freak that worships organisation, this was not ideal for me. And, undoubtedly, I’m sure there will be other people that feel the same way.

However, the club schedule is posted weeks in advance on the Dusk Till Dawn website, so as long as you double check this it shouldn’t pose too much of a problem. Plus, the schedule contains other important information, such as the buy-in rate and reg fee for each tournament, so it’d be worthing checking out anyway.

The main drawback, of course, is that it would be difficult to plan a trip further in advance than a few weeks.

Note that the doors open 30 minutes prior to the start of a tournament, giving you a chance to get a drink and settle in.

There are also cashier desks dotted around the place too.

Bar

I thought the bar area at Dusk Till Dawn was stylish and it served a great selection of premium beers, wines, and spirits at decent prices.

It was quite busy when I visited so I found myself waiting a few moments to be served. The bar staff were really friendly though, so I didn’t mind. 

There are multiple screens in the bar area too which show live sports – great for a little break away from the tables.

I didn’t expect there to be an on-site restaurant and I was proved right. To be honest, it wouldn’t have really suited the place.

However, food is available thanks to the bar menu which offers a range of ‘picky’ bites to eat which can be served directly to you at the poker tables.

If you don’t fancy anything off the bar menu, there is a Five Guys and a Nando’s within a couple of minutes’ walk, which is what I ended up opting for before heading on into the casino.

Smoking

Smoking or vaping is not permitted anywhere within the building but there is a large, sheltered smoking area available to guests.

Dress Code

Dusk Till Dawn employs a smart/casual dress code and asks guests to avoid things like steel toecap boots, gym and sportswear, tracksuit bottoms, and football shirts.

The casino is fully accessible for wheelchair users. There is also free wifi available throughout the venue.

As you’d expect, all of the bonuses and promotions that come about at Dusk Till Dawn are poker related.

While there weren’t any specific promotions on during my visit, a quick google told me all I needed to know about the type of things to expect.

Past promotions have included things like Knockout Week, which offered bigger prize pools. 

Note that it is necessary to become a member in order to gain entry to the venue. Simply bring a form of photographic ID with you when you visit and you’ll be registered instantly.

Alternatively, you can also do this online ahead of your arrival. Just don’t forget your ID as this will need to be checked when you arrive.

Once you are a member, you can join the Dusk Till Dawn Poker Forum on Facebook. This is probably the best way to stay in the know about upcoming tournaments, promotions and even exclusive giveaways, so I think this would be well worth doing.

I had a great time at Dusk Till Dawn and I think anybody else that is partial to a game of poker will too.

I personally find it can sometimes be a little intimidating joining a table when you’re on your own and this was in the back of my mind when I learned just how big the venue was. 

However, I needn’t have worried. I felt at ease the whole time.

I absolutely loved the fact that it was so poker focused. It gave it this sense of unity – like everybody there was there for the same reason, and I felt this really lifted the atmosphere.

I wouldn’t choose to play poker in a dedicated card room every time I fancied my chances as I do also enjoy playing in the hustle and bustle of a proper varied casino, but should I find myself with a yearning for a dedicated poker session in the future, I would most definitely return. 

⭐ Standout Moment

For me, the professionalism of the dealers was what stood out the most.

I have had my fair share of run ins with dealers that seem like they just don’t care about what they’re doing, and it can definitely put a damper on the experience.

But both dealers I had the pleasure of interacting with during my time at Dusk Till Dawn were friendly and proficient.

If you’re an avid poker fan, there’s no way that I couldn’t recommend paying a visit to Dusk Till Dawn.

However, like I mentioned before, if poker’s not your thing and you’re planning to visit with the idea that there are other things to play, I would recommend going elsewhere. You certainly don't get anywhere near the kind of variety you do at the best online casinos here.

As the casino only opens for scheduled tournaments, you can usually expect a decent crowd. However, if you want to experience it at full capacity, I’d recommend visiting on a weekend.

Just remember to make sure you double check the poker schedule well in advance and plan your visit accordingly. 

🧭 How to get there

Those of you wishing to drive to the casino will be glad to know that there is free parking right outside – NG7 2UW is the post code you’ll want. It’s handily located just 10 minutes off the M1.

Public transport wise, one of the easiest ways to get to the casino is on the tram. The nearest tram stop is the QMC which is just a 10-minute walk away and this supports travel around Nottingham. 

The closest train station is Nottingham Station which is roughly around 15 minutes away from the casino by car. From there, there are direct trains to London, Liverpool, and Manchester.