The Kelvin Room sits behind a door at the back of The Earnslaw Room, named after Kelvin Heights on the far shore. It holds one table, seven chairs, a small bar and a window that looks at the water rather than at the floor outside.
The table runs blackjack or baccarat, whichever the party asks for at the time of booking. Limits start at NZ$100 and are agreed with the duty manager in advance rather than posted on the wall. The dealer, the inspector and the drinks service are dedicated to the room while it is in use.
House rules are the same as on the main floor. Nothing about this room changes the odds, the limits on service, or the age restriction that applies to the rest of the gaming area.
| Party size | 4 to 7 | Four people is the minimum the room opens for. Seven is the number of chairs. |
|---|---|---|
| Notice | 24 hours | The room needs a dealer and an inspector rostered on, which is why it is not available on the night. |
| Age | 20+ | Photo identification for every member of the party at the door, without exception. |
| Hours | 6pm–2am | Sessions are booked in blocks of three hours. The room closes with the rest of the floor at 2.30am. |
| Room hire | none | There is no hire charge and no minimum spend. Drinks and food are billed to the table or to a room account. |
How a session runs
You tell the duty manager the date, the number of people, the game and the limit you want to play to. The duty manager confirms the roster, holds the room and writes the limit down. Nothing is agreed by telephone on the night.
On the evening itself the party is met at reception and taken through The Earnslaw Room to the room. Identification is checked at that door as it is for everyone else. The dealer and the inspector stay with the room for the session, and a member of the bar staff takes drinks orders on the hour rather than hovering.
Food comes from Cecil & Walter: a short menu of six plates served at the side table, or a full dinner in the restaurant before the session starts. Both are ordered when the room is booked.
Sessions end when the party ends them or at closing time, whichever is first. The float is counted in front of the party, the receipt is issued at the cage, and payouts above NZ$5,000 are settled by bank transfer on the next working day.
Groups from outside the hotel
The room is not reserved for hotel guests. A party from a conference elsewhere in town, or from a wedding held here, books it on the same terms. Where a party has been drinking through a dinner, the duty manager may decline to open the room, and that decision is not reversed on the night.
Things we will not do
- Advance credit, hold a marker, or lend against a hotel account.
- Change agreed limits upward during a session.
- Serve anyone who is intoxicated, or keep the room open past the closing time of the main floor.
- Take a booking from anyone who has arranged a self-exclusion with us or with another New Zealand venue.
Free and confidential support: NZ Gambling Helpline 0800 654 655 (24 hours) · Need to Talk? 1737 · Problem Gambling Foundation 0800 664 262 · Host Responsibility.