Where to find Chess and bridge in Derby and Derbyshire: chess and bridge clubs, plus Go, mahjong and backgammon groups.
We list 12 venues where you can play or buy chess, bridge and other classic games across Derby and Derbyshire, in 7 towns and neighbourhoods. Between them they run 17 regular sessions, most often on Mondays and Tuesdays. Six of those are marked as beginner friendly. All of them have tables to play on site.
Allestree Bridge Club plays face to face bridge at the Memorial Hall in Allestree, with duplicate on Thursday and Friday afternoons. It suits newer players too, with Wednesday morning supervised play where no partner is needed and Thursday morning lessons for beginners and improvers.
Derby Bridge Club, the oldest established bridge club in Derbyshire, plays duplicate pairs on Monday and Wednesday afternoons at the East Midlands Bridge Academy in Spondon. Visitors and prospective members are welcome, and a WhatsApp group helps players find a partner.
Wirksworth Feathers Chess Club has its club night on Sundays at the Feather Star pub, part of The Red Lion Hotel on Market Place, Wirksworth. Home league matches are on Tuesday evenings in the Derbyshire league.
Ashbourne Bridge Club is a friendly and informal club playing face to face duplicate bridge on Monday evenings at Elim Church, Waterside, in Ashbourne. It welcomes players of a range of abilities.
Belper Chess Club meets every Wednesday evening in an upstairs room at the Old Kings Head pub in Belper, with casual and competitive chess for all levels from beginners upwards. Visitors can try a few nights free, under 18s join free, and children must come with an adult.
Breadsall Chess Club meets on Monday evenings at The Village Club on Chapel Street in Spondon and plays in the top division of the Derbyshire league. It suits players looking for competitive league chess.
Chesterfield Chess Club meets every Thursday evening in the first floor function room of The Red Lion at Brimington, welcoming beginners and strong players alike. Members can enjoy friendly games or play for the club's teams in the Sheffield and Derbyshire leagues.
Clay Cross Chess Club meets on Tuesday evenings at the Community of Christ Church on Thanet Street, with a car park behind the church. The club runs two teams in the Derbyshire league.
Derby Chess Club meets on Tuesday evenings from September to May at Mickleover Methodist Church Centre, with separate rooms for quiet competitive play and relaxed social games. Newcomers get two free nights, and the club fields several teams in the Derbyshire league plus a mentoring scheme for newer players.
Derbyshire Dales Bridge Club offers friendly daytime duplicate bridge for players in and around Matlock every Monday afternoon. Players of all levels are welcome and can turn up without a partner.
Rolls-Royce Chess Club meets on Thursday evenings at the Derby Leisure and Events Venue on Moor Lane, Allenton, and is open to anyone, with no link to the company needed. It runs six teams across all four divisions of the Derbyshire league, so there are games for most playing strengths.
Spondon Chess Club meets on Tuesday evenings at the bridge club in the Old School House on Chapel Street, Spondon. It enters two teams in the Derbyshire league.
The weekly line-up. Times and formats can change, so check with the venue before you travel.
Derby Bridge Club, Derby. Duplicate pairs
Derbyshire Dales Bridge Club, Matlock. Duplicate pairs
Ashbourne Bridge Club, Ashbourne. Duplicate pairs
Breadsall Chess Club, Derby. Club night: league matches and club chess
Wirksworth Feathers Chess Club, Wirksworth. Derbyshire league home matches
Derby Chess Club, Derby. Club night: league matches, club championship and social chess, with a themed Friendly Shield tournament on the first Tuesday of the month
Clay Cross Chess Club, Clay Cross. Club night: league matches and club chess
Spondon Chess Club, Derby. Club night: league matches and club chess
Allestree Bridge Club, Derby. Supervised play, no partner needed, all welcome
Derby Bridge Club, Derby. Duplicate pairs
Belper Chess Club, Belper. Club night: social chess, league matches, club championship and analysis nights
Allestree Bridge Club, Derby. Bridge lessons for beginners and improvers
Allestree Bridge Club, Derby. Social duplicate pairs
Rolls-Royce Chess Club, Derby. Club night: league matches and club chess
Chesterfield Chess Club, Chesterfield. Club night: friendly games and league matches
Allestree Bridge Club, Derby. Duplicate pairs
Wirksworth Feathers Chess Club, Wirksworth. Club night: social and club chess
The venues with the most regular nights are Allestree Bridge Club in Derby (4 nights), Derby Bridge Club in Derby (2 nights) and Wirksworth Feathers Chess Club in Wirksworth (2 nights). We list 12 venues in all across Derby and Derbyshire.
Mondays and Tuesdays have the most regular sessions. 17 sessions run every week. The Derby calendar shows what's on from today.
Yes. Six regular nights are marked as welcoming new players, including sessions at Derby Chess Club, Belper Chess Club and Chesterfield Chess Club. Staff at most venues are happy to teach, so mention it when you arrive.
One regular night is free to join. Where there's an entry fee it is usually between £3 and £10. Fees change, so check with the venue before you go.
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.
