Where to find Chess and bridge in Belfast and Northern Ireland: chess and bridge clubs, plus Go, mahjong and backgammon groups.
We list 16 venues where you can play or buy chess, bridge and other classic games across Belfast and Northern Ireland, in 13 towns and neighbourhoods. Between them they run 19 regular sessions, most often on Tuesdays and Mondays. Twelve of those are marked as beginner friendly. All of them have tables to play on site. Three of the 16 are in Belfast itself, and we list them first below.
Go club playing on Sunday afternoons from 14:00 to 17:00 at 2 Royal Avenue in Belfast city centre, alongside the Sunday chess, with Thursday evening games at the Crescent Arts Centre on University Road. Players from complete beginners upwards are welcome.
West Belfast chess club meeting on Monday nights from 20:00 at Falls Bowling Club on Andersonstown Road. Fields teams in the Belfast & District League.
Informal chess gathering every Sunday afternoon at 2 Royal Avenue in Belfast city centre, open to anyone for casual games. Children under 16 must be supervised.
Northern Ireland's first dedicated chess rooms, on Longstone Street in Lisburn, with 17 permanent boards and a teaching room. Offers a Thursday league night, a Tuesday evening beginners class and a Saturday club day, and welcomes juniors and newcomers.
Derry chess club meeting at the Verbal Arts Centre on Bishop Street every Thursday evening for tournaments and casual play. Also runs Tuesday learning nights for primary school pupils.
Friendly club meeting on Wednesday evenings at Denvir's Hotel on English Street and on Saturday afternoons at Downpatrick Library. Games are casual and all interested players are welcome.
Inclusive club meeting on Monday evenings from 18:30 to 21:00 at Aghagallon Community Centre. Welcomes all ages and levels, from beginners learning the basics to experienced players.
Bridge club meeting every Tuesday evening at County Armagh Golf Club, with play starting promptly at 19:00.
Large, friendly club meeting at Groomsport Parish Hall near Bangor during the September to March season, with Tuesday sessions from 19:00 to 22:00 that suit newcomers and children. Runs regular FIDE rated blitz, rapid and classical events and plays in the Belfast & District League.
Bridge club playing every Tuesday night at the Community Hub on Hamilton Road, Bangor, with play starting at 19:15. Non-members are very welcome except on club competition nights.
Newly established, beginner friendly chess club meeting most Tuesday afternoons in winter at Cookstown Library, from 15:30 to 17:30.
Go club meeting at Lisburn Chess Club on Longstone Street on Monday evenings from 18:30. Beginners are welcome; message the club first to confirm the session is on.
Welcoming bridge club meeting every Wednesday at 19:00 in Agherton Church Hall, just off the Diamond in Portstewart. Visitors are welcome and partners can be arranged.
County Tyrone chess club playing every Wednesday evening from 19:30 at the Washingbay Centre near Coalisland. Also hosts FIDE rated rapid and blitz evenings and the County Tyrone Junior Championships.
Chess club in Moira that runs FIDE rated evening events at Moira Baptist Church on Henry Court.
Bridge club running face to face afternoon club bridge at Portadown Golf Club, 13:30 to 16:30. New and existing members are very welcome.
The weekly line-up. Times and formats can change, so check with the venue before you travel.
Lisburn Go Club, Lisburn. Club night: casual Go games and teaching
Aghagallon Chess Club, Aghagallon. Club night: casual games, learning and competition, all levels
Fruithill Chess Club, Belfast. Club night: league matches and casual games
Cookstown Chess Club, Cookstown. Casual games, newcomers welcome
Bangor Chess Club, Groomsport. Club night: FIDE rated tournaments, casual games and coaching; newcomers welcome
City of Derry Chess Club, Derry/Londonderry. Learning night for primary school pupils
Armagh Bridge Club, Armagh. Duplicate pairs
Bangor Contract Bridge Club, Bangor. Duplicate pairs
Lisburn Chess Club, Lisburn. Beginners class and tournament, many juniors attend
Portstewart Bridge Club, Portstewart. Duplicate pairs; partners can be arranged
Washingbay Chess Club, Coalisland. Club night: casual and competitive games
Downpatrick Chess Club, Downpatrick. Casual games at Denvir's Hotel
Lisburn Chess Club, Lisburn. Club league: rated games against other club members
City of Derry Chess Club, Derry/Londonderry. Club night: tournaments and casual games
Belfast Go Club, Belfast. Casual games at Crescent Arts Centre, 2-4 University Road; times via WhatsApp group
Downpatrick Chess Club, Downpatrick. Casual games at Downpatrick Library
Lisburn Chess Club, Lisburn. Club day: casual and rated games
Belfast Go Club, Belfast. Casual games and teaching, all levels
Sunday Chess at 2 Royal Avenue, Belfast. Drop-in casual games, all ages (under 16s supervised)
The venues with the most regular nights are Lisburn Chess Club in Lisburn (3 nights), Belfast Go Club in Belfast (2 nights) and City of Derry Chess Club in Derry/Londonderry (2 nights). We list 16 venues in all across Belfast and Northern Ireland.
Tuesdays and Mondays have the most regular sessions. 19 sessions run every week. The Belfast calendar shows what's on from today.
Yes. Twelve regular nights are marked as welcoming new players, including sessions at Bangor Chess Club, Lisburn Chess Club and Lisburn Go Club. Staff at most venues are happy to teach, so mention it when you arrive.
A free weekly email of what's on in your area: tournaments, pre-releases, launch events and new regular nights. Plus a monthly round-up of new shops, clubs and game releases.
