Operator News
France – Ardent and Barrière both open Parisian gaming clubs
By Phil - 23 September 2019
Two more gaming clubs opened in Paris in mid-September taking the total number of gaming properties now participating in the experimentation phase to five.
Belgian group Ardent has opened The Circus Club Paris, on September 9 whilst Lucien Barrière unveiled Club Barrière Paris on September 13.
These have joined The Paris Elysees Club, opened by Tranchant in April 2018, the Imperial Club owned by Raineau, which opened in 24, 2019, and Club Montmartre, which was officially launched by Frédérique Ruggieri in August this year.
With a surface area of 1,800 m2, the Circus Club Paris will occupy the ground floor with an 80 cover restaurant and a bar, overlooking the Boulevard Murat. The club will offer 29 games tables allowed, 17 of which are dedicated to poker, with the rest comprising poker variants and punto banco. The entrance fee is 11 euros, unless you opt for an annual subscription of 100 euros.
The Club Barrière Paris opened at 104 avenue des Champs-Elysees with on 1,300 m2 of gaming floor located at ‘a historic Paris address’. It is housed in the former circle of the Aviation Club de France.
Barrière said of the venue: “Ideally located in front of the Hotel Barrière Le Fouquet’s and its famous brewery, the Barrière Club is located in the heart of the Parisian Golden Triangle, close to the Arc de Triomphe and its Place de l’Etoile.”
The game offer includes 27 tables including 6 Punto Banco Tables, 3 Poker Tables 21, 3 Ultimate Poker Tables, 1 Poker Table 3 cards and 14 Poker Tables available in cash games or tournaments. The entry fee will be 15 euros, the annual subscription is 150 euros.
Barrière added: “With deep red carpet, wood panelling and black and white photographs, Club Barrière Paris is reminiscent of the atmospheric English clubs but with a modern twist. Bruno Borrione has designed eight rooms in eight fantasy themes: an Eastern-inspired floor onto which dragons cascade, a ceiling embellished with constellation.”
Dominique Desseigne, Chairman and CEO of the Barrière Group, said: “This is a historic moment for the Group, which is setting up its first gaming club in Paris, just in front of one of its flagship addresses, Fouquet’s.”
Other openings with Club Berri, Club Marval and Club Joa Royale all looking to open. It is likely that the experimental phase will be extended by two years due to the delay in opening the first clubs, which will allow Partouche to also get in on the act.
