As a dedicated cinephile, it’s always a thrill to delve into the world of James Bond, particularly when it involves the storied locale of Casino Royale. This infamous fictional casino first graced the pages of Ian Fleming’s 1953 novel, “Casino Royale,” later coming to life on the silver screen in John Huston’s 1967 film adaptation.
The illustrious casino structure, reminiscent of a castle, had a former life as a hotel before being purchased by Tesco Bank, who repurposed it as their principal branch located at 4 Station Road, St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex, England.
Bond aficionados will fondly recall the 2006 remake of “Casino Royale,” in which 007 checks into a luxurious oceanfront hotel, dramatically parks his car, and later rendezvous with a mysterious woman in red, who had been enjoying a horseback ride on the picturesque beach. The hotel’s reception desk also makes an appearance as Bond and his enigmatic companion, Vesper Lynd, check-in.
The filmmakers took full advantage of the opulent location, capturing many exterior shots, including Bond’s saunter from the Grandhotel Pupp to the Casino Royale. Just a short stroll away, the upscale Grandhotel Pupp stands as the accommodation of choice for Bond and his love interest, Vesper Lynd.
In reality, the “Hotel Splendide” is actually the Grandhotel Pupp, and the casino is an old spa, the Kaiserbad, conveniently located across the road. The area belongs to the Bahamian Royal Air Force, and one of its buildings was used as Bond’s hotel in “Thunderball” — an incomplete hotel structure that now serves as a backdrop for thrilling parkour scenes. Bond and Vesper are seen arriving at the Mill Colonnade in Karlsbad, used as the railway station in the film. The charming Karlsbad doubles as the casino town, featuring the “Hotel Splendide” and the Casino.
For those wishing to experience the thrill of Casino Royale from their own homes, classic casino games are available to play online from providers such as online casinos Australia. Fans might also appreciate a cinematic drive-in scene shot between the two primary film locations.
The sequence where Bond and Vesper disembark from a sleek, black Daimler taxi at the hotel was filmed at the Mill Colonnade in Karlovy Vary (also known as Carlsbad), which doubles as the Montenegran railway station in the film. The quaint village where Bond encounters Mathis is in actuality Loket, situated in Bohemia, with Casino City being represented by Karlovy Vary.
Though Prague has had its moments in “From Russia With Love” and “Moonraker,” Bond’s arrival at Casino Royale aboard a 54-foot yacht on the Grand Canal is a sight to behold, filmed with a sweeping wide-angle shot.
The compact, standalone hotel lobby is cleverly converted into the Casino Royale interior for the high-stakes poker game between Bond and the terrorist financier, Le Chiffre. Interestingly, Bond’s initial visit to the casino was in “Never Say Never Again,” a remake of “Thunderball,” which was produced outside of EON, but nevertheless starred Sean Connery in the iconic role of James Bond.