Always

A wonderland of aroundthe-clock entertainment, with all the thrills and excitement of a Las Vegasscale casino, Grandwest has an on-site hotel so you don’t have to miss a moment of the fun

large gentleman with an easy smile. The envious glances from other guests who arrived there by the main entrance are delicious.

From there, your options are many. There is the casino floor, of course, with its hundreds of slot machines, as well as blackjack and roulette tables, and the mysterious game of craps – which has been explained to me but I find incredibly complicated – so I stay away.

There is much etiquette to be observed in a casino – the staff might be forgiving but experienced players can be a tad impatient when you fumble around or hold out cash to the croupier (you are supposed to place it on the table and request “colour”, which means chips to that value).

There are several restaurants from which to choose, offering a variety of cuisines. On this occasion, we dined at Hussar Grill, which is an alwaysreliable place for excellent steaks and a few glasses of smooth red wine. I love that they will also serve you a side bowl filled with grilled fat, and the after-dinner chocolate vodka martini is a must. Sit-down restaurants are complemented by a fast food court, and, for live music and cocktails, Jackson Hall is a must.

If gambling is not your thing, you can play laser-tag, go 10-pin bowling or ice skating (there’s a separate small rink for small humans), or watch a movie.

Then of course, there are the events and international shows. Coming up are Comicex Cape Town, a Cannabis Expo (for real), and the Local Is Lekka Music & Craft Beer Fest, among many others. Live performances on the cards include Francois Van Coke En Vriende and, of course, Sam Smith next month, for which one lucky reader can win two tickets.

Why not make a night of it, and stay over at the Grand Hotel? It’s quite the thrill, I promise.