Roger Moore shot his famous movie James Bond in the Ritz Club. Johnny Depp sat behind the bar counter of the Ritz Club, and a local bartender made him love Irish whiskey. Prominent politicians gathered here to decide the world's fate during World War II. Bets on the tables in the VIP hall reached tens of thousands of pounds per deal.
To put it briefly, this is a cult club with a fantastic history, exclusive service, and incredible charm. The article on Casinoz describes its unique features.
Ritz Hotel and Casino Description
It is a five-star complex with a superb casino, excellent hotel, splendid restaurant, and other facilities. The building is decorated in the spectacular style of Louis XVI and can boast a fantastic facade and interior.
In its one-century history, the hotel has changed owners many times. Now, it is owned by London Clubs.
The Ritz Club is in London, at 150 Piccadilly, St. James's, near Park Lane and Mayfair.
It offers several tables for roulette, blackjack, poker, baccarat, and numerous pokie machines.
It is famous for its high betting limits, high-level service, and unique attitude toward high rollers.
History of Ritz Hotel
The founder of the Ritz Hotel and Casino in London was the Swiss Cesar Ritz, who also owned the Hotel Ritz Paris at the time. Initially, his affairs were far from brilliant, but over time, the club became increasingly popular among rich local politicians, actors, and writers.
It is well known that meetings of exceptional international importance were held between political and public figures.
Let's follow the main episodes of Ritz history:
- June 1904 - October 1905 - Waring White Building built the hotel.
- May 1905 - The Ritz Hotel opened its doors.
- 1911 - The complex began flourishing since the Prince of Wales started to dine regularly at the Ritz Restaurant.
- The World War I - German and Austrian Embassies employees always booked tables. However, it did not help the venue to avoid losses.
- 1917 - The future British Prime Minister David Lloyd George organized several secret meetings at the hotel.
- 1921 - The legendary Charlie Chaplin stayed at the Ritz Hotel, and his arrival caused an unprecedented stir among the public.
- In the 1920s and 1930s, Ritz was extremely popular among actors, musicians, writers, and social and political figures.
- World War II - Many nobles, representatives of elites, and leading politicians stayed at the Ritz Hotel.
- 1942 - The famous meeting of Winston Churchill, Dwight Eisenhower, and Charles de Gaulle took place in the Ritz.
- Post-war years - Ritz, still considered one of the best hotels in the world, offered accommodation for many reputable guests worldwide.
- In the 1960s, many celebrities, including The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, often stayed at the hotel, which aroused disapproval among the stiff-necked British aristocracy.
- The 1970s - The successful functioning of the hotel was undermined by the threats of terrorists from the Irish Republican Army to commit a terrorist attack.
- 1995 - The Ellerman Group purchased The Ritz.
- 1998 - London Clubs bought the facility.
- 2006 - The casino was divided into four sections: gambling halls, restaurants, bars, and a lounge zone.
Nowadays, the Ritz Casino Hotel remains a popular venue, and it is visited willingly by wealthy British and foreign citizens.
Gambling in the Ritz Casino
The casino occupies a hall in the Ritz Hotel, which used to be a hall for balls.
Customers are offered to play several kinds of games:
- Roulette is a traditional single-zero variation with standard rules;
- Blackjack is a European one-hand or multi-hand game;
- Baccarat is a variation with basic rules by which it is necessary to predict who wins: the player or the banker;
- Three-card poker is an exciting variation with several bets.
Roulette, poker, baccarat, and blackjack tables are available in the main hall and the VIP rooms: The Carmen, The Amber, and The Aida.
The lowest bet at the roulette tables is five pounds. In other games, the minimum limit is twenty-five pounds. The maximum bet size depends on the gambling room and the agreement with the administration.
The upper limit for high rollers can be extremely high. It has been known that the Australian gambler Kerry Packer once played blackjack, betting ten thousand per each of the seven hands.
The casino serves customers 24/7.
A strict dress code is not necessary. It is enough to have neat everyday clothes, usually described as 'smart casual.'
The Ritz Hotel
The hotel offers 136 rooms, including twenty-three suites. All of them are luxuriously decorated with antique furniture, gold leaf, expensive fabrics, and valuable wood species.
Guests who book suites are transferred from the airport by the Rolls-Royce Phantom and provided with a butler.
Detailed descriptions of all rooms can be found on the official website, www.theritzlondon.com.
Restaurants in the Ritz
The Ritz Restaurant offers dishes of European, Thai, Indian, Chinese, and Oriental cuisines.
Breakfast at the restaurant is served from 8.00 a.m. to 11 a.m. Lunches and dinners are available until 2 a.m. The bar is open from noon till 3 a.m.
The Ritz Restaurant's official website offers descriptions of dishes. You can also book a table online.
Contacts
- The Ritz Hotel Casino is headquartered on the 3rd floor, 22 Arlington Street, London SW1A 1RD.
- Phone number: +44 (0)20 7499 1818
- Official website: www.theritzclub.com.
Conclusion
Some Casinoz readers may already have visited The Ritz London Casino Hotel. We would be grateful for any feedback about this legendary venue.