Manchester Masquerade

As spring begins, Manchester appears to be teeming with life. With things in bloom in the green city, there are loads of things to do like check out the latest gallery expos, take a stroll in the new Mayfield park, and of course, all sorts of concerts and performances like the Northern Ballet’s production of Casanova. However, the Greater Manchester area also has lots to offer as things warm up, especially for card players and costume fanatics.

In Chorley, the Shaw Hill Golf & Spa Hotel will host a Masquerade Ball with the theme of Casino Royale later this May. The swanky affair will offer live music from singer and hostess, Coco Renee as well as a DJ set. The event requires a masquerade dress code complete with unstoppable poker faces ready to hit the casino tables for a good game of poker among other titles. The Hotel also offers a scrumptious three-course meal, including a glass of fizz at the door. It’s safe to say that the event appears to be a promising evening indeed, especially for James Bond fans.

Back in 2006, English icon Daniel Craig became the new James Bond, succeeding Pierce Brosnan’s place. Casino Royale was the first of the Craig reboot, later paving the way for a number of successful sequels including the latest and somewhat controversial No Time to Die, which was released in 2021. What many don’t know about Casino Royale is that it was actually a book, published in 1953 by the British author, Fleming. A few years later, in 1967 to be exact, it was adapted into a comedy spy film starring Woody Allen and Orson Welles.

007: The Original High Roller

Of course, Casino Royale wasn’t Bond’s only appearance in an opulent recreational venue. The glamour of the casino is a perfect fit for Fleming’s character, and as such the titular spy has had a number of memorable nights in gaming parlours, both in film and print. Perhaps the best known cinematic example, outside of Craig’s first foray, is to be found in 1971’s Diamonds are Forever. As Sean Connery’s final film in the role of Bond, Eon productions intended to pull out all the stops. Cue an adventure that featured space lasers, diamonds and moon buggies against the backdrop of the Las Vegas strip in its heyday. Among the most memorable scenes across the film’s 120 minute runtime sees our protagonist, decked out in his iconic white tuxedo, win big by playing a 17 on the roulette table. This number is often considered to be the most popular played in the game, most likely due to the fact it’s the central number on most tables. Roulette is the most emblematic of casino games and has experienced sustained popularity for hundreds of years, from its early days in 18th century Paris, right through to the present day, where a new generation of tech savvy aficionados are enjoying its classic thrills through reputable platforms online. It’s only natural to assume that 007’s classy win did nothing to impede, and in fact only emboldened, this game’s sophisticated reputation.

Bring the Casino Royale to Manchester

While online gaming is its own fun, checking out local casinos is an interesting way to experience Manchester’s rich cultural history. There are several casinos in Manchester known for their glitz, glamour, and array of card and table games where people can try their hand at Texas Hold ‘Em, among other games.

All the casinos are luxurious in their own special ways. Napoleons Casino, Bar, and Restaurant, which opened its doors just a few years ago, offers fabulous private dining that overlooks the entire casino floor. Being more than just a casino, Napoleons offers a fun night out even for those who don’t know the first thing about casino games. Meanwhile, the Manchester 235 Casino is home to the critically reviewed James Martin restaurant, replete with fine dining and suburb ambience. Finally, it’s impossible to go wrong with the Grosvenor, especially Grosvenor Casino Didsbury which is esteemed for its variety of card games including poker and blackjack.

Wherever Manchunans choose to enjoy, it goes without saying that they’re in good hands. Hopefully, as good as James Bond’s at the end of that incredible play in Casino Royale!

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