Where to find Chess and bridge in Edinburgh, Lothians and Fife: chess and bridge clubs, plus Go, mahjong and backgammon groups.
We list 28 venues where you can play or buy chess, bridge and other classic games across Edinburgh, Lothians and Fife, in 18 towns and neighbourhoods. Between them they run 45 regular sessions, most often on Tuesdays and Mondays. 21 of those are marked as beginner friendly. All of them have tables to play on site. Eleven of the 28 are in Edinburgh itself, and we list them first below.
Purpose-built bridge centre in Warriston with face-to-face duplicate sessions six days a week, including a Tuesday afternoon novice game and a Wednesday afternoon bronze game you can join with or without a partner. Classes for beginners and improvers run during term, and all levels of player are welcome.
One of the largest bridge clubs in the UK, near Edinburgh Zoo, with face-to-face duplicate on Monday and Wednesday afternoons and Tuesday, Thursday and Friday evenings, open to members and visitors. Tuesday evenings suit bronze players and improvers, and the club's academy runs lessons for beginners upwards.
One of the oldest chess clubs in the world, with its own first-floor club rooms at 1 Alva Street in the West End, open to all levels from beginner to master. The main club night is Tuesday evening for casual games and special events, with junior training, adult classes and a large chess library.
An established club meeting on Wednesday evenings in Saughtonhall, with a thriving junior club led by a Grandmaster from 6pm and the full club from 7.30pm. Drop-in visitors are welcome, from juniors taking their first steps to titled players; while the usual hall is renovated some sessions run at Saughtonhall Church, 87 Saughtonhall Drive.
A friendly west Edinburgh club meeting on Monday evenings in the Belgrave Room at St Anne's Church, Corstorphine, from September to May. Players of all ages and abilities are welcome, from returning players to beginners who know the basics, and you can try it without obligation to join.
Founded by civil servants in 1909 but open to everyone, this club meets on Monday evenings in the spacious function suite at Slateford Bowling Club. New members of all ages and strengths are welcome for social chess, club championships, lightning events and league matches.
Weekly in-person Go sessions on Wednesday evenings from 19:15 at the Cameo Bar on Lochrin Place, Tollcross. New and experienced players are welcome, and the club also runs the Edinburgh Christmas tournament.
Gorgie Dalry Chess Club meets on Monday evenings at Slateford Bowling Club on Lanark Road and has a team in the Edinburgh League. It suits players looking for regular club and league chess in south-west Edinburgh.
Sandy Bells Chess Club meets on Tuesday evenings at West End Bowling Club on Hailes Street and runs two teams in the Edinburgh League. It suits players looking for regular club and league chess in central Edinburgh.
Relaxed and friendly Thursday evening pairs game of 24 boards, held in room 1 at the Carlton Bridge Club in Warriston. A good fit for newer players and those moving on from lessons, and the organiser can help find a partner.
A long-standing Edinburgh club founded in 1980 that meets at Pilrig Bowling Club on Tuesday evenings and runs three teams in the Edinburgh League. It suits league players and improvers looking for regular competitive chess.
Friendly bridge club playing duplicate on Wednesday and Thursday evenings and Friday afternoons all year at the Abbey Row Centre in Kelso. It caters for all levels, runs beginners classes and welcomes visitors who contact the secretary in advance.
Face-to-face duplicate bridge on Tuesday evenings at the Burgh Halls in Linlithgow, with visitors of all abilities welcome. Free beginners lessons run on Monday evenings at the same venue.
Badgers Brook Chess Club meets on Monday evenings at Strathbrock Community Centre in Broxburn and fields two teams in the Edinburgh League. It suits West Lothian players looking for regular club and league chess.
Dunbar Chess Club meets on Tuesday evenings at The Pine Marten on Spott Road, Dunbar. It offers East Lothian players a local place for regular club chess.
Dunfermline Chess Club meets on Tuesday evenings from 6.45pm, September to May, at the Dell Farquharson Community Centre. It offers friendly social games, internal competitions and league chess, with tuition for beginners and players of all ages welcome.
Bridge club meeting on Tuesday evenings at Southfield Community Centre in Duns, with a prompt 18:45 start. New members are particularly welcome.
Friendly face-to-face bridge club meeting every Tuesday evening at the KUSI Club in Kirkcaldy, from September to June. Visitors with partners are welcome, and the club also runs classes for beginners and intermediate players.
Wednesday afternoon duplicate bridge at Bankton Mains Bowling Club in Livingston, from 14:00 to about 16:30 during the September to April season. Visitors are always welcome.
Duplicate pairs bridge on Monday evenings at Orwell Bowling Club in Milnathort, with computer-dealt hands and scoring.
A friendly club meeting every Tuesday evening, all year round, at the Store Club on North High Street in Musselburgh, drawing players from East Lothian and east Edinburgh. Newcomers can try a few visits free and simply turn up for friendly games.
Relaxed and friendly bridge club meeting on Monday evenings from September to April at Gala Rugby Club, Netherdale, in a ground-floor club room with free parking nearby. Newcomers to club bridge are supported, and the club will try to find a partner if needed.
Friendly duplicate bridge club playing face to face every Thursday evening at the Drill Hall in Peebles. Visitors are welcome by contacting the secretary in advance.
Friendly duplicate bridge club meeting on Thursday evenings at St Margaret's Court in Juniper Green. Competitive but relaxed, with less experienced players welcome to come along and improve, and visitors welcome by prior arrangement.
Pentland Hills Chess Club meets every Tuesday evening from early September to the end of May at the Royal British Legion in Roslin. It caters for players of all standards, from beginners to strong club players, and new members are welcome to come along.
Bridge club meeting every Tuesday evening from September to early May at the New Golf Club on Gibson Place, St Andrews. Visitors and prospective members are always welcome, from improvers to experienced league and congress players.
Long-established friendly bridge club meeting on Tuesdays at the West Kirk Hall in West Calder. Many competitions are handicapped, which suits players of all abilities, and membership is open to anyone.
Selkirk Chess Club is based at the County Hotel in Selkirk, runs two teams in the Borders Chess League and hosts its own club championship and the Selkirk Allegro. The league's newcomers section welcomes new players and offers basic tuition articles.
The weekly line-up. Times and formats can change, so check with the venue before you travel.
The New Melville Bridge Club, Edinburgh. Duplicate pairs
Carlton Bridge Club, Edinburgh. Duplicate pairs
Milnathort Bridge Club, Milnathort. Duplicate pairs
Ormiston Bridge Club, Galashiels. Duplicate pairs with refreshment break
Edinburgh Civil Service Chess Club, Edinburgh. Club night: league matches, club championship and social chess
Corstorphine Chess Club, Edinburgh. Club night: league matches and casual games
Badgers Brook Chess Club, Broxburn. Club night: league matches and casual games
Gorgie Dalry Chess Club, Edinburgh. Club night: league matches and casual games
Linlithgow Bridge Club, Linlithgow. Bridge lessons, primarily for beginners
Carlton Bridge Club, Edinburgh. Novice duplicate pairs, turn up with or without a partner
Edinburgh Chess Club, Edinburgh. Adult coaching: alternating beginners and intermediate classes before club night
Kirkcaldy Bridge Club, Kirkcaldy. Duplicate pairs and club competitions
Dunfermline Chess Club, Dunfermline. Club night: social games, club tournaments and league matches
Duns Bridge Club, Duns. Duplicate and handicap pairs
St Andrews Bridge Club, St Andrews. Duplicate pairs and club championships
Pentland Hills Chess Club, Roslin. Club night: league matches, club competitions and casual games
Carlton Bridge Club, Edinburgh. Duplicate pairs
The New Melville Bridge Club, Edinburgh. Improvers pairs, aimed at bronze players and newer club players
Linlithgow Bridge Club, Linlithgow. Duplicate pairs, arrive by 18:45
Musselburgh Chess Club, Musselburgh. Club night: friendly games, club championship and league matches
Edinburgh Chess Club, Edinburgh. Club night: casual games and organised events
Wandering Dragons Chess Club, Edinburgh. Club night: league matches and casual games
Sandy Bells Chess Club, Edinburgh. Club night: league matches and casual games
West Calder Bridge Club, West Calder. Duplicate pairs, many handicapped competitions
The New Melville Bridge Club, Edinburgh. Duplicate pairs
Carlton Bridge Club, Edinburgh. Bronze (intermediate) duplicate pairs, turn up with or without a partner
Livingston Bridge Club, Livingston. Duplicate pairs, match point or aggregate scoring
Edinburgh West Chess Club, Edinburgh. Junior club, school-age players, drop-in friendly games and group instruction
Edinburgh Chess Club, Edinburgh. Junior coaching session
Kelso Bridge Club, Kelso. Duplicate pairs
Edinburgh Go Club, Edinburgh. Casual games, all levels
Edinburgh West Chess Club, Edinburgh. Club night: league matches, casual games and group instruction
Carlton Bridge Club, Edinburgh. Duplicate pairs
Carlton Bridge Club, Edinburgh. Relaxed guided play with board commentary
The Edinburgh No Fears Bridge Club, Edinburgh. Relaxed duplicate pairs, 24 boards
Peebles Bridge Club, Peebles. Duplicate pairs and club trophies
The New Melville Bridge Club, Edinburgh. Duplicate pairs
Pentland Bridge Club, Juniper Green. Duplicate pairs, alternating match points and cross IMPs
Kelso Bridge Club, Kelso. Duplicate pairs
Kelso Bridge Club, Kelso. Beginners course, 30 lessons, SBU approved
Kelso Bridge Club, Kelso. Duplicate pairs
Carlton Bridge Club, Edinburgh. Duplicate pairs
The New Melville Bridge Club, Edinburgh. Duplicate pairs
Carlton Bridge Club, Edinburgh. Duplicate pairs
The venues with the most regular nights are Carlton Bridge Club in Edinburgh (8 nights), The New Melville Bridge Club in Edinburgh (5 nights) and Kelso Bridge Club in Kelso (4 nights). We list 28 venues in all across Edinburgh, Lothians and Fife.
Tuesdays and Mondays have the most regular sessions. 44 sessions run every week. The Edinburgh calendar shows what's on from today.
Yes. 21 regular nights are marked as welcoming new players, including sessions at Edinburgh Chess Club, Edinburgh Civil Service Chess Club and Corstorphine Chess Club. Staff at most venues are happy to teach, so mention it when you arrive.
Where there's an entry fee it is usually between £3 and £3.50. 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.
