1. Arrival & Canapés
You’re welcomed with sparkling drinks and small bites while the room fills. Our team checks any dietary notes, introduces you to your neighbours, and sets a relaxed tone for the night.
Supper Poker Evenings
Candlelit suppers with playful card-table charm
High Card Kitchen brings together slow evenings, shared plates, and gently hosted poker-inspired moments. Our Supper Poker Evenings are crafted for conversation, connection, and cuisine first – with symbolic chips and relaxed, story-rich play woven between courses.
Symbolic chips only
Entertainment-focused format
Chef-curated seasonal menus
Supper Poker Evenings are intimate, hosted experiences. We recommend booking early for Friday and Saturday sittings.
A Welcoming Table
Evenings that begin with a warm, candlelit welcome
From the moment you step into High Card Kitchen, the focus is on how the room feels: softly glowing candles, linen-dressed tables, and the quiet rustle of cards nestled between polished glassware and plates.
Our team greets you with sparkling mocktails and aperitifs before guiding you to your communal table. Cards appear not as the star, but as playful accents amongst flowers, cutlery, and delicate chargers — gentle prompts for shared stories and light-hearted banter.
As guests arrive, introductions are made, coats are whisked away, and the energy settles into that sweet spot between relaxed and expectant. It feels less like a venue, and more like a favourite friend’s dining room, set just for tonight.
What to expect on arrival
- Candlelit entrance and host greeting
- Seasonal mocktail or aperitif on arrival
- Communal or semi-private tables dressed in rich linens
- Cards styled as soft, decorative table details
- Seating guided by our team to encourage easy conversation
Hosted by Experts
Gentle table hosts who keep the night flowing
Every Supper Poker table is paired with a dedicated host who reads the room, sets a relaxed tone, and keeps both the conversation and card play effortless.
Before the first deal, your host will explain the simple, guest-friendly structure for the evening. The rules are intentionally light and inclusive, with symbolic chips used only as playful markers to guide the flow of each round. No prior experience is needed; your host will guide you at every step.
Think of them less as a dealer and more as a dinner party facilitator — someone who remembers names, notices when glasses need topping up, and knows exactly when to pause the cards so a course can be served without interruption.
Cards as Conversation Starters
Custom cards that spark stories, not stakes
At High Card Kitchen, our playing cards are an ice-breaker, not a scoreboard. They’re designed exclusively for our club, with subtle design details that nod to food, seasons, and shared rituals at the table.
Each round of cards is framed as an opportunity for connection: light-hearted decisions, moments of surprise, and the occasional burst of laughter as hands are revealed. Symbolic chips move gently around the felt, simply helping to structure the evening’s rhythm.
There is no monetary or reward value attached to any card or chip. The delight is in the interplay between people, the dishes arriving between hands, and the sense of being at the same table, in the same moment.
Relaxed Flow of the Night
An easy rhythm of courses, cards, and conversation
Every Supper Poker Evening follows a gentle structure, carefully curated so you never feel rushed, and never feel like you’re missing a moment at the table.
2. Host Introductions
Your table host introduces themselves, walks through the simple structure of the evening, and ensures everyone feels comfortable with the light, entertainment-only nature of the play.
3. Alternating Courses & Cards
Plates and cards alternate throughout the evening. Hands are kept short and social, designed to fit neatly around entrées, mains, and dessert, with time to linger over each dish.
4. A Gentle Finale
The night closes with a final shared round, dessert, and coffee or tea. Symbolic chip tallies are treated playfully, with no stakes or rewards attached — the memory of the evening is what lasts.
For a deeper look at timings and structure, visit our Event Format page.
Symbolic Chips, No Stakes
Purely playful chips with no monetary or reward value
At High Card Kitchen, chips act as gentle markers that help pace each Supper Poker Evening — they are never tied to money, rewards, or any form of outcome-based benefit.
Guests are encouraged to lean into the light-hearted spirit of the night: swap stories, celebrate quirky hands, and use the ebb and flow of chips as another excuse to toast across the table. There is no tally that matters once the candles are blown out.
This clear, entertainment-only approach is part of what makes our evenings so relaxed. Whether you are brand new to card games or know your way around a deck, you can settle in knowing the focus will remain firmly on the food, the company, and the moment you’re sharing.
High Card Kitchen Supper Poker Evenings are designed exclusively as social, hospitality-led experiences. Chips are symbolic only and carry no cash, prize, or redeemable value.
Private and Group Bookings
From intimate gatherings to tailored corporate suppers
Book Supper Poker Evenings as an individual, with a close-knit group of friends, or as a fully tailored private event for celebrations and corporate occasions.
We work closely with hosts to shape the tone of the night — from a softly spoken birthday supper with matching mocktail pairings to a more conversational, stand-out corporate evening with a focus on team connection.
Menus, pacing, and the balance between dining and cards can all be gently adjusted to suit your group. Our team will guide you through options and help you match the experience to your guest list.
Ready to join us at the table?
Whether you’re planning a date night, a milestone celebration, or a relaxed team gathering, our Supper Poker Evenings offer a warm, conversation-first way to share a meal. Tell us a little about your group and we’ll help you find the perfect night.