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The best board games cafés in London

Young people today are reportedly drinking less and partying less than our Gen-X predecessors, but that doesn't mean we haven't found new ways to go out and have fun. Perhaps that's why, over the last decade, board games cafés have been popping up all over the capital. Whether you're more into a classic game of Monopoly or a hard-core game of Risk, here are five of the best board games bars and cafés in London.

Draughts, Hackney

Draughts, Hackney and Waterloo

London’s first board game café, Draughts, opened in Hackney in 2014. Set up beneath an old railway arch — and more bar and restaurant than café — its trendy, underground feel is worth experiencing even if you have to be dragged along by your games-mad friends.

But with over eight hundred board games, probably the most anywhere in London, there’s something for everyone from a light bit of Scrabble to Pandemic or Settlers of Catan.

Following Draughts' success, a second followed in 2018 in Waterloo. It has less of a busy and intense feel, but booking ahead is advisable for either as games can go on for hours. Food at the Hackney location consists of open-faced sandwiches and mezze boards, whilst at Waterloo you can have tacos and burgers.


£5 to play

Restrictions: unlimited or 3 hours at peak times

Read more ...
WHEN
Tuesday - Thursday 4:00PM - 11:00PM, Friday 12:00PM - 11:30PM, Saturday & Sunday 10:00 AM - 11:30PM
WHERE
337 Acton Mews, Hackney E8 4EA or Arch 16 Leake St, Lambeth, London SE1 7NN
The Loading Bar, Hackney and Others

The Loading Bar, Hackney, Stoke Newington & Peckham

Loading Bar has two different outlets in London: one in Stoke Newington, another in Peckham. The difference with The Loading Bar, as its name suggests, is that as well as board games you can play video games.


Reacquaint yourself with retro games on an Xbox or Playstation, or have a go on the Nintendo Switch. Those with a team in tow who fancy a round of something a bit more active can battle it out over a match of table football or Judge Dredd Pinball. With a cool, buzzy setting and prizes to be won, each Loading Bar is a vibrant hub of gaming activity.


Free entry

Restrictions: none

Read more ...
WHEN
Tuesday - Friday, 5:00PM - 11:30PM; Saturday 11:00AM - 11:30PM; Sunday 12:00PM - 11:39PM
WHERE
The Loading Bar, 97 Stoke Newington Rd, Stoke Newington, Hackney N16 8BX / 120 Peckham Hill St, London SE15 5JT
Escape Bars, Dalston, Leyton, Stratford and Shepherd's Bush

Escape Bars, Dalston, Leyton, Stratford and Shepherd's Bush

Formerly known as Secret Weapon and a sister site to Loading Bar, Escape Bars now boasts four neighbourhood outlets, each housed inside the shell of a classic boozer. Here, visitors can enjoy an unlimited session of boardgames and beers, plus the odd open mic night, comedy gig or pub quiz. Games wise, Escape Bars keeps its collections up-to-date, so expect to find the likes of Exploding Kittens, Obama llama and Codenames alongside the well-worn boards of dusty classics.


Free entry

Restrictions: none

Read more ...
WHEN
Monday - Thursday, 4:00 PM - 11:00PM; Friday 4:00PM - 1:00AM; Saturday 2:00PM - 1:00AM; Sunday 2:00PM - 11:00PM
WHERE
Locations in Dalston, Leyton, Stratford & Shepherd's Bush
The Library Pot, Richmond

The Library Pot, Richmond

The vibe inside Richmond’s The Library Pot is more student flat than chic café, but hear us out — there’s an adults-only ball pit. There are also more than five hundred games and a relaxed, homely atmosphere in which to play them. The menu is eclectic to say the least: the chicken burger appears side-by-side with kimchi noodles and Thai Green curry.


£2 per hour after the first 2 hours on weekdays, £5 to play on weekends

Restrictions: closed on Mondays

Read more ...
WHEN
Friday - Sunday 12:00PM - 5:00PM, 6:00PM - 10:00PM
WHERE
86 Kew Rd, Richmond TW9 2PQ
Bad Moon Cafe

Bad Moon Cafe

One for serious gamers – or 'tabletop gamers' as they're known here: Bad Moon Cafe in Borough is keen to foster a community of like-minded gamers. Its 'library' boasts a sizeable collection of over 150 titles in total, with oldies and newbies nestled side-by-side in alphabetical order. It hosts special events too, including tournaments, and doubles up as a shop selling Warhammer as well as traditional board games.


Gamers can boost their moves with coffee or calm their nerves with locally-brewed craft beers, and tuck into sandwiches, pastries or wood-fired Basilico pizza to sustain attention for longer.


£5pp / £15 per table to play

Restrictions: 4 hour time cap

Read more ...
WHEN
Monday - Friday, 2:00PM - 10:00PM; Saturday 10:00AM - 10:00PM; Sunday 10:00AM - 10:00PM
WHERE
159a Great Dover St, London SE1 4GZ
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