3-4 Coventry Street,
Piccadilly,
London,
W1D 6BL
0871 971 5965
The ViewLondon Review
The venue formerly known as the Hard Rock Casino has been redone, refurbed and rebranded as G Casino Piccadilly.The VenueSpread over two floors, the casino has a myriad of staircases criss-crossing between different areas. Upstairs you’ll find a bar, where G Casino retains a bit of its Hard Rock-ness with its ‘50s style decor. A huge sculpture of giant pinballs is stacked in the middle of the bar and trails back out towards the stairs, and the whole venue seems to be decorated with pictures of round objects – pearls, beads and a cascade of cricket balls. Unusually for a casino, there’s even a bit of natural light coming in thanks to the balcony and the big windows in the upstairs bar area. There’s also a large screen along one wall that’s used to broadcast all sorts of visuals.
And of course, the gambling. The ground floor is taken up with the second bar and a spread of tables and slot machines, which start from 20p so you don’t have to worry about breaking the bank. A set of frosted glass stairs leads up to the mezzanine, where there’s a row of slot machines that take credit cards – for the high rollers – as well as more tables. You could easily see yourself parking at a machine or in a seat and not moving until you run out of cash – or credit.
The AtmosphereThere’s no shortage of casinos in Central London, and every one of them has its own niche market to fill. Although it’s just a stone’s throw from the uber-glam Casino at the Empire, there’s no worry that G Casino’s crowds will head there instead – this is a much more casual and relaxed crowd. Expect shirts, trousers and posh jeans as opposed to designer suits and cocktail dresses. That said, though, there are plenty of places in the casino for the laid back folk to spend some serious money.
The MusicThe Hard Rock Casino may have changed a bit, but it hasn’t changed that much. Expect plenty of rock – not too hard but not too soft, either – being piped through the speakers. G Casino also has regular live music acts, from DJs spinning house and dance to bands covering soul, rock and jazz classics.
The DrinkThere are two bars, a VIP one upstairs and a sprawling, lit-up bar along the back wall of the gaming floor. Although this isn’t the type of place you’d necessarily come for just a drink, the bartenders manage not to fall into the watered-down-alcohol trap. There’s a full stock so ask for anything you like – as long as it’s not too out there, the staff will be able mix it up for you. Try the gin and tonics, which are sharp, smooth and not too sweet or tart.
The Last WordIf there’s any such thing as a casual and laid back place to gamble your savings away, this is it. Try not to spend it all in one night, now!