Going to Europe- Where can I play cards?

[MarkL444]

Me and some friends are going to europe in a couple months and I need some help with a few things.

First off, where can I find a card game while Im there? Id be looking for holdem mainly, but really any game would work. Any advice on this? I really have no idea what the poker situation is like over there. I plan on spending only a few hours of the whole trip playing, but would like to at least once or twice.

This is when and where we will be.

May 10-16 Berlin
May 17-21 Paris
May 22-30 is going to be spread out in the UK, but we really dont know how yet. We are thinking Manchester, London, and somewhere in Scotland. Not sure which order yet.

Im also looking for suggestions on cool things to do while were there. Maybe certain kickass bars or restaurants or something. Maybe even a museum or two. Also, are there any sporting events that might be fun to go to? It looks like soccer season ends right before we get there, but I really have no idea so maybe Im wrong.

Also any advice on hotels in Paris or London, general safety/advice, or anything else would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Mark

[thatpfunk]

try very hard to get to spain, italy, and amsterdam. fly, don't take trains- they're a huge waste of time and not much cheaper.

also, don't waste your time playing poker.

edited because im an idiot and didnt realize how set in stone your plants already are... i have nothing useful to add to this thread.

[MarkL444]

[ QUOTE ]
try very hard to get to spain, italy, and amsterdam.

[/ QUOTE ]

all of those were in our original plans, but we just dont have enough time.

[ QUOTE ]
fly, don't take trains- they're a huge waste of time and not much cheaper

[/ QUOTE ]

thanks, we were planning on flying everywhere. seems really cheap.

[ QUOTE ]
also, don't waste your time playing poker.

[/ QUOTE ]

like i said this is just something id want to do for a couple hours once or twice, its not that important to me, but i still want to do it.

[nicky g]

London and Paris both have decentish poker scenes based around one or two large casinos. I don;t think Berlin has much poker to speak of. Hold'em in London but all PL/NL. Not much hold'em in Paris, mainly PLO and wacky variations. If you want to play limit Hold'em, take a detour to Vienna, which has several large cardbarns.
Place to play in London: Victoria Casino on Edgware Road, Gutshot club (for smaller games) on Clerkenwell Road.
Paris: Aviation Club on Champs Elysee, Cercle Wagram (not sure of name of street).

[MarkL444]

thanks!
do i have to be a member to play at these places?

[nicky g]

The Vic, yes; you can join by getting them to fax you an application form and faxing it back, bring your passport when you arrive. The others, no (Gutshot in theory does, but you can join on the night). No membership charges at any. All except Gutshot have dress codes consisting more or less of no sneakers or jeans (this may have been relaxed a bit); a jacket and collar are good ideas if you have them with you.
Have fun. I posted a guide to ethnic restaurants in London a while back on OOT which you might want to look at, it can be hard to eat well and cheaply in London if you don;t know what's what.

[nicky g]

The restaurant post is here: Ethinc Restaurants in London
I see it's just a guide to areas; if you want specific restaurant recommendations I can give you a few.