Aspinalls Club

If this place wasn’t a whorehouse fifty years ago, consider me shocked. The discreet exterior blends into what looks like a residential street, and the interior feels lush and exclusive, with an air of rumpled tuxedoes and expensive cigars.
Upon entering, members and guests (that’s me!) check in at a registration desk. The process involves giving out some contact information, but it’s quick and painless. A lovely winding stairway surrounded by artwork takes you up to where the action is. There are multiple floors to this club, but the one we were interested in was the one with the gambling. To get to the tables, you have to step through the dining area, which is a little strange.
There aren’t a lot of tables and the lack of a poker room is unfortunate. Still, it’s a good time. My mother and I played £25 blackjack (minimums are not low) and the dealer was on fire, but we were able to leave without too much damage. The atmosphere is less anxious than at a casino, perhaps because the place feels like more than just a gambling establishment. I love the rush of immersion gambling, but Aspinalls was a more relaxing experience. Despite its doubtless brothel origins, this place feels classy in a way that doesn’t stoke the fires of vice.

It could be my Alabama upbringing, but I love places like this. It’s like hanging out in a cozy living room in a country mansion. And there’s gambling!