UK Casino Restaurants: Where Do They Stand on the Global Stage?
For many, the casino industry is one that offers only one thing. That’s casino gaming like slots and table games, including roulette, poker, and blackjack. However, what many don’t consider is the culinary side of the venues that house these games. Throughout history, casinos have been a home to much more than just the main attraction.
In venues around the world, you will find a number of entertainment and leisure pursuits. This includes everything from events and conference rooms to spas and hotel experiences. Anyone who has ever been to somewhere like Las Vegas will tell you that they’re also home to some great gastronomical experiences, too.
In the UK, our cities’ casinos are perhaps less multi-modal than those in more casino-focused destinations. But that isn’t to say that there are no good casino restaurants right here on our island.
So what is the current state of the industry in the UK, and how do our in-venue restaurants hold up against some of the best in the world?
An Increasingly Digital Industry in the UK and Across Europe
In recent years, the physical casino has increasingly looked like something of the past. Perhaps this is why a lot of people unfamiliar with the industry are inclined to say that there are no good venues offering more than gaming in the UK, too. Instead, it shows a thriving gaming economy in the country, and it’s one that is quite unique in the modern age.
In the UK, the online casino is now its own destination of sorts. The table games and slot machines that have been popular for centuries are now something that many engage in via computer or mobile device. Look at any site and you can see there are now many slots in the UK for casino players. Food has even had its influence there, with food-themed titles like Chili Chomp proving popular with the masses.
That and the introduction of the live casino, where players can choose games that are managed by real-life dealers and croupiers, has led to a renaissance of casino gaming. It’s now a multi-billion pound industry separate from the brick-and-mortar style of gaming that was a staple of UK life up and down the country prior to the internet.
Classy Casino Venues Still Home to Great British Restaurants
While the casinos that were once dotted all around our towns and cities are not as common as they once were, there are still some great venues with stunning food offerings. London, in particular, is home to a great number of quality restaurants within casinos. It makes sense, too. Where high-rollers will be spending money, high-quality food is another status symbol that belongs.
In the Hippodrome Casino in London, you will find the Heliot Steak House. It’s a revered steak restaurant that has been described by DesignMyNight as offering “delicious food” and “great” service to London foodies. It has improved in recent years, too. In 2012, Jay Rainer famously gave the venue a poor review, but its recent visitors have given it glowing reviews.
There’s also the Colony Club in London, and even in cities like Manchester and Leeds, you have strong offerings. The Yorkshire city hosts Napoleon’s Casino and restaurant, which has also opened satellite venues across the county and even in Manchester. It’s famed for offering some of the best food in the north of the country. It’s safe to say that there is a choice for casino enthusiasts in the UK.
Las Vegas and the Middle East: The Envy of UK Casino Venues
While there is certainly plenty of good food within the UK’s venues, it certainly isn’t at the same level as some of the more esteemed casinos in Las Vegas or the Middle East. In the US, Nevada is home to a Gordon Ramsay Hell’s Kitchen restaurant, displaying the prestige of the venues there. In the Middle East, a big investment means a big food culture.
The soon-to-be-opened Wynn Resorts Al Marjan Island in Dubai will have 15 fine-dining restaurants. To that end, the UK can’t really hold a light to these other destinations. However, it must be noted that many of these other casinos are in cities or resorts that don’t have their own extensive food culture. The UK’s casinos are in the middle of cities, meaning there’s no end of restaurants available.
The UK’s food culture is one of the best in the world. With influences from all over the globe and some of the best chefs in the industry, you can find great plates wherever you are. For that reason, our casinos tend not to be the primary destination for great food. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t some great gems to unearth in our gaming establishments.