Hello peeps.

Whenever I find something I like, I become obsessed with it (some kind of genetic flaw I think!). Poker has had that effect on me.

Anyway, my main "job" is in property development. One of my clients has for sometime been talking about wanting to buy/build a bar or club and do something "a bit different"with it. I just been in with a meeting with him, and we got talking about poker as an aside (as I say. obsessed!) We got to thinking about opening a poker-themed bar - and we're both pretty excited about the concept. This guy is worth millions and is happy to "bankroll" a big slice of the project. I'm based in England btw. The poker boom is not as big as the US obviously but is certainly very popular.

So we're gonna start looking for a a suitable site and going through the process of gaming licenses etc etc. Could be a very lengthy process and the whole thing may not be feasible anyway. But I like a challenge, and we're going to give it a shot.

Got to start putting a plan together, as we're going to be looking for some external finance as well.

So here's what I wanted to throw out to the crowd who love and know poker the best. (that's you guys, btw). We want to be different from your average poker room, we're looking to create something really different and exciting. We've got a few ideas as to how we're going to achieve this, but I wanted some REAL feedback as well. So I wanted to ask you lot for some ideas about you what you would like to see at such a place, what you don't like about poker rooms you've played in and generally any fantastic ideas you may have.

Now I realise this is pretty cheeky, but I'm sure you guys have got some brilliant ideas. And I promise, if we ever manage to make this happen, drinks on the house to any P5'er who wants to visit!
(limited time offer, terms and conditions apply!)

I would be hugely, hugely grateful for any ideas you can chuck my way. You've already helped with my poker game, so let's see what you can do with this!

Thanks guys.

Sounds interesting, good luck with the project!

Thanks Lenny. If it comes off, maybe you'll have to come over to do a review!

Hi,

I live in the UK and have visited most of the poker clubs/casinos in the UK as i too am obsessed with Poker and i guess the biggest things i've noticed are:

1) Know your audience and get the tournament schedule right and the players will come - a mix of good freezeouts (not so good that they end at 4a.m) and non crapshoot re-buys (my local cardroom used to have re-buys with 1000 chips blinds 50-100 for an hour - now they've changed them thanks to player power, you want people to gamble and all but come on. On the other hand i've played a re-buy with 5000 chips and blinds at 100-200 flat for an hour and it played like a freezeout which was fully gay) i think The Western has a good mix in the UK. Also love the idea of semi-freezeouts (e.g one re-buy or top up.

2) Definietly prefer poker clubs than casinos that spread poker, you're definitely treated 2nd class in most local casinos in the UK in comparison to roulette players, was even told on the phone once, when i complained that the structure was awful for the buy-in, that the cardroom needed the poker finished in 3hrs to make way for the gamblers!

3) How to be different? - Take a leaf out of online poker - offer more than one tournament in an evening, offer shootouts - very few places run regular shootouts in the UK.

That's it off the top of my head, please keep me posted with any developments, feel free to PM me i work in the poker business in the UK so may have some contacts you can tap into to.

Dino - I'll certainly keep you informed. When things get further down the line I'll get in touch and see I can raid your contacts! Definitely thinking along the same lines with regards variety and tourney structure. 100% agree with the casino/poker point as well. Definitely want this to be a place where poker players feel special.

Cheers,

Ed

Im not sure if the tables w/ electronic card dealing built in was an original idea of yours or if you were referring to the tables already in existence, but heres a link in case you were unaware-

http://www.pokertek.com/

Thanks for that, we figured there would be something like this out there

Do you know if these are in operation many places?

Anybody ever been anywhere and used them?

Any opinions?

Thanks.

Thanks for the input. I'll be sure to let you guys know how things go.

Three words.......Bad BEat Jackpot! They have them here in La and people used to fly in from New York City to play in them.

dont just have NL limit stud razz omaha........have as many different games possible

Those electronic tables would be a great idea. If you had tournaments and could have a real-time leaderboard displayed it would be great. Also, you could get many more hands/hr in at those. Only problem is whether or not they are good quality and have enough versatility for you to use them. For instance, it has to be possible for them to shuffle/relocate players, and allow for rebuys and addons and such.

I think its a great idea and would definetly try to visit if I was ever in the UK.

Have a half and half type theme. Create a pub on one half with foods and drinks to serve and tables with sports and such and a bar that will reach on both sides. The other side of the place will be the casino (larger section). I would recommend some slutty outfits for the workers and preferably hire girls as they can make a good time.

I like the idea of a half and half theme...I would extend it though so that the pub side offered wireless internet and actual online poker.

You could set it up so that people wouldnt even have to have their own poker accounts; they could pay you cash and then get to use an account funded by an inter-account transfer from your main account. I'm sure one of the major sites would negotiate with you if you set up a hundred accounts or so. To prevent collusion, those accounts could share an IP of some sort so that they had to play at different tables.

As a bonus, you'd get the rakeback on all of those ready to go provided accounts. If people wanted to use their own account, you could have a few drink minimum or a nominal wireless access fee for a 24hr period like hotels do.

You could set up a few circular stations of computers like they do with slot machines around the place as a functional decor thing.

You should offer special "bad beat drink specials" too. Like if your pocket JJ's lose to an underpair, get a $1 Jack Daniels shooter, and so on.