The Poker Room
The poker room at Grosvenor Casino Reading South runs around the clock, every day of the week. It is a permanent card room on Rose Kiln Lane, not a temporary area or seasonal set-up. Cash tables are available day and night, with capacity for several games at once and extra space when larger events are scheduled.
You will find the venue at Rose Kiln Lane, Reading, Berkshire, RG2 0SN. It is operated by Grosvenor Casinos Limited under The Rank Group plc. All live poker here runs under a valid UK Gambling Commission licence, so standard UK player protections are in place across the venue. Entry to the casino, including the poker room, is restricted to players aged 18 or over.
Before heading out, it usually helps to phone ahead on +44 118 402 7800. The team can tell you what tables are open, how busy the room looks, or which games are likely to start later that day.
Joining a Cash Game
Once you know the basic flow, getting a seat in a cash game is simple enough. There is free parking on the property, so most regulars tend to drive and park right outside. When you walk in, you sign in at reception. If this is your first visit, the team will set up a quick membership profile for you - a standard step in UK casinos that usually only takes a few minutes. You will need to show valid photo ID.
The casino runs a smart casual dress code across the building. It is worth checking what you plan to wear before you leave, as door staff do enforce the rules quite firmly.
After you are checked in, head through to the poker room and speak with the floor staff. Ask what stakes are playing at that moment and whether there are any lists running. If all tables are full, they will put your name down on a waiting list. Buy-ins are taken in cash at the main casino cage, since there are no separate card terminals inside the poker room itself. When the floor calls your name, take your seat, let the dealer know how much you are buying in for, and your stack will be brought into play.
Most of the time the room spreads No Limit Hold’em by default, unless the floor announces a different format. Evenings and weekends tend to be the busiest, with more tables in action, but because the room is open 24 hours there is no single ideal time that suits everyone.
If you are new to live poker rooms, arriving just before the busiest period can be helpful. You are less likely to face a long wait, and the floor and dealers usually have more time to answer questions or quietly explain how things work at the table.
Tournament Schedule
Grosvenor Casino Reading South runs a regular programme of tournaments with guaranteed prize pools. The recurring schedule features a £750 guaranteed No Limit Hold’em event and a monthly £10,000 guaranteed tournament. Both events use fixed buy-ins, structured blind levels, and payout ladders that depend on how many players enter compared with the posted guarantee.
| Tournament Type | Guarantee | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Regular scheduled event | £750 GTD | No Limit Hold’em |
| Monthly feature event | £10,000 GTD | No Limit Hold’em |
| GUKPT leg events | Varies by stop | No Limit Hold’em |
The poker room also hosts stages of the Grosvenor UK Poker Tour, usually referred to as GUKPT. It is one of the more established live tours on the UK circuit. When a GUKPT stop comes to Reading South, the main poker room extends into the Show Bar to make room for a larger field. These festival-style legs bring in a noticeably different mix of players compared with the usual weekly schedule.
To secure a seat in a tournament, check the latest schedule by phoning the casino or visiting grosvenorcasinos.com/local-casinos/reading-south. Confirm the buy-in, event start time, and registration cut-off before you set off. Aim to arrive at least 30 minutes early, pay your entry in cash at the poker desk, then collect your seating card from the floor team.
Late registration is often available, but it depends on the exact structure, so it is worth double-checking when you sign up. Tournament prizes are paid out in cash at the cage after the final table has finished.