The rules, on one page
Pinned by the dock door, said out loud at the benches when they need to be, and applied by the crew without argument.
Getting in
The building is over-18s from the dock door inwards, dining side included.
Photo ID may be asked for at the door and again at a bench.
The crew can refuse entry and are not obliged to explain why.
Assistance animals are welcome. Other animals wait outside with someone who loves them.
Money, tokens and what neither does
Brass tokens belong to the shed, keep score for one evening and hold no monetary value at any time.
There is no pot, no rake, no entry fee, no prize fund and no wagering on the outcome of anything.
Money handed between players ends the hand, and if it happens twice it ends the night.
House decks only; personal cards stay off the felt.
Score pads are wiped at close and nothing at all carries into another night.
Living with fifty other people
Calls are taken on the loading dock — the sawtooth roof throws sound everywhere.
Ask before photographing a bench you are not sitting at.
The cool store stair is steep and unlit past nine; use the handrail.
We will ring a cab at any point in the evening and would rather ring one too early.
Asked at the door
- What if I disagree with a call the crew make?
- Say so quietly and away from the bench. If it is about service or safety, the call stands for the night and we will talk it through another day.
- Is any of this gambling?
- No. Nothing is staked, nothing is won and no money changes hands over a hand of cards. The tokens count points and the points are gone by 11pm.