Where to find Chess and bridge in Glasgow and West Central Scotland: chess and bridge clubs, plus Go, mahjong and backgammon groups.
We list 36 venues where you can play or buy chess, bridge and other classic games across Glasgow and West Central Scotland, in 20 towns and neighbourhoods. Between them they run 71 regular sessions, most often on Mondays and Thursdays. 37 of those are marked as beginner friendly. All of them have tables to play on site. 14 of the 36 are in Glasgow itself, and we list them first below.
Glasgow's largest bridge centre, in purpose-built premises at Hillington Park with free parking, running duplicate sessions six days a week plus a Bridge Academy for beginners and improvers. Visitors are welcome up to six times a year and a standby system means you always have a partner.
Bridge club meeting at GHA Rugby Club in Giffnock every Tuesday and Thursday evening throughout the year. New members and visitors are always welcome, and non-members can play as often as they like.
Friendly bridge club in modern, fully accessible premises at the Glasgow University Kelvin Campus Sports Complex, with plenty of free parking and refreshments. Face to face pairs run on Tuesday and Friday afternoons, and visitors can play when space allows.
Backgammon club meeting most Monday evenings at the Crystal Palace pub on Jamaica Street in Glasgow city centre.
Go club meeting on Thursday evenings upstairs at the Curler's Rest on Byres Road, next to Hillhead subway station. Members share session details through the club's WhatsApp group.
Bridge club at Maccabi House in Giffnock with a face to face improvers session on Monday evenings, open to anyone who has had lessons or is returning to the game. It also runs Thursday evening pairs online.
Founded in 1919, the club meets on Thursday evenings from 7.15pm, late September to late April, at Kelvin West Parish Church on Southpark Avenue in the West End. Caters for all levels from novices to masters, with league matches and a club championship; newcomers may visit up to three times before joining.
Free drop-in family and kids' chess club for ages 5 to 16 at Maryhill Library, held on Wednesdays from 15.30 to 16.30. All abilities are welcome, from complete beginners to keen young players.
Free drop-in family and kids' chess club for ages 5 to 16 at Partick Library, held on Thursdays from 15.30 to 16.30. All abilities are welcome, from complete beginners to keen young players.
Free drop-in family and kids' chess club for ages 5 to 16 at Pollokshaws Library, held on Thursdays from 18.00 to 19.30. All abilities are welcome, from complete beginners to keen young players.
Free drop-in family and kids' chess club for ages 5 to 16 at Pollokshields Library, held on Tuesdays from 16.30 to 17.30. All abilities are welcome, from complete beginners to keen young players.
Friendly club meeting on Monday evenings from 7pm to 9.45pm at Woodside Halls near Charing Cross and St George's Cross, September to April. Players of every level are welcome, with league teams, club tournaments and junior members.
Adult chess club meeting on Tuesday evenings from 6.30pm to 9.30pm upstairs at McNeill's bar on Torrisdale Street, Queens Park. Welcomes players of all levels for casual or competitive games, with free casual play for visitors; 18+ only as the venue is licensed.
Informal, friendly casual chess every Sunday from 6pm in a raised area at the rear of Corona Bar on Pollokshaws Road, Shawlands, with boards and clocks provided. Free and open to players of all abilities; children are welcome with an adult until 9pm.
Ayrshire's bridge centre in Prestwick, home to several clubs including Afton, Doon, Kyle, Prestwick, Riggs and Troon, with sessions most days of the week. Newcomers are well catered for, with a Thursday morning beginners' class, a Monday improvers' club with mentors and a hosted Thursday afternoon Gentle Pairs where no partner is needed.
Clubhouse on Colquhoun Street, Stirling, welcoming players of all levels, with afternoon and evening duplicate sessions through the week and a relaxed Friday afternoon with tuition for newcomers. Visitors are welcome and invited to join after three visits.
Lanarkshire bridge club with its own premises on Cadzow Street, Hamilton, running evening and morning duplicate sessions and a weekly Play and Learn morning for newer players. New members are welcome.
Friendly club of around 60 members playing face to face at Biggar Rugby Club on Monday and Tuesday afternoons and Wednesday evenings. Beginners' classes run on Thursdays, with the first five lessons free.
Long-established club meeting on Monday evenings from 7.15pm at Park Church, Ravenscliffe Drive, Giffnock, welcoming players of all strengths including beginners. Runs Glasgow Chess League teams, internal competitions and a junior club for primary and secondary pupils on Monday evenings.
Long established, friendly and low cost club for all skill levels, playing face to face at the Clark Memorial Church annex on Wednesday afternoons and Friday mornings. Visitors are always welcome.
Club meeting on Tuesdays at Cairns Church Hall, Buchanan Street, Milngavie, from mid-September to late April, with a senior section from 7.30pm and a junior section for children aged 9 and over from 6.30pm. Members range from novices to experts and newcomers can come along for a few weeks before joining.
Club meeting on Wednesday evenings at Hamilton Bowling Club, Strathmore Road, with a junior section early in the evening and an adult section from 7pm. Members range from beginners to internationals, and the club plays in national, Glasgow and Lanarkshire competitions.
Bridge club playing at the Kilmarnock Bridge Centre at Caprington Golf Club on Monday evenings and Thursday afternoons.
Bridge club meeting face to face at St Columba's Cathedral Hall on the Esplanade, Oban, on Wednesday evenings and on Friday afternoons, when play is more relaxed and social for players of varying standards. Visitors are always welcome.
Bridge club meeting on Monday evenings at Kate's Kitchen on Annan High Street, with electronic scoring. Newcomers are welcome.
Bridge club serving Inverclyde, from Greenock and Gourock to Kilmacolm and Wemyss Bay, with face to face bridge on Wednesday evenings. All are welcome.
Bridge club playing face to face at the Victoria Halls on Sinclair Street, Helensburgh, on Tuesday evenings. Visitors are always welcome and the club will find you a partner if needed.
Small, friendly club of four or five tables meeting on Tuesday evenings from September to May in the Garden Room at Killearn Village Hall. New members are always welcome, with or without a partner.
Bridge club meeting on Thursday evenings from September to April at Nethermains Community Centre in Kilwinning.
Bridge club playing duplicate every Friday afternoon at the Studio in Langholm. Everybody is welcome.
Largs Bridge Club's winter Monday evening bridge at Largs Bowling Club, from October to March. Players of all levels and visitors are welcome.
Small, friendly club meeting weekly on Tuesday evenings at Dumfries Free Church. Visitors are welcome and a partner can sometimes be arranged.
Bridge club meeting on Thursday evenings at St Paul's Church Hall in the Belmont area of Ayr.
Friendly, competitive club meeting most Thursday evenings from 7pm to 10pm, October to May, at Stepps Cultural Centre. Offers league chess at several levels plus internal graded and ungraded games; mainly for adults, though high school pupils may also find it suitable.
Stirling Chess Club meets at Park Church on Park Terrace, Stirling, on Monday evenings from 7pm. Players of all ages and abilities are welcome, and the club runs several teams in the Central League alongside internal club competitions.
Duplicate bridge club founded in 1958, playing face to face at Falkirk Indoor Bowling Club every Wednesday afternoon. Players come from across Falkirk district and should attend with a partner.
The weekly line-up. Times and formats can change, so check with the venue before you travel.
Ayrshire Bridge Centre, Prestwick. Supervised play with mentors for improvers
Stirling and Union Bridge Club, Stirling. Duplicate pairs
Largs Bridge Club, Largs. Duplicate pairs
Biggar Bridge Club, Biggar. Duplicate pairs
Cathcart Chess Club, Giffnock. Junior club, primary school pupils
Annan Bridge Club, Annan. Duplicate pairs
Phones Chess Club, Glasgow. Club night: league matches, club tournaments and casual games
Stirling Chess Club, Stirling. Club night: league matches, club competitions and casual games
Clyde Bridge Centre, Glasgow. Duplicate pairs
Hamilton Bridge Club, Hamilton. Duplicate pairs
Largs Bridge Club at Largs Bowling Club, Largs. Duplicate pairs
Glasgow Backgammon, Glasgow. Club night: casual and match play
Glasgow Maccabi Bridge Club, Glasgow. Improvers bridge, a step up from social bridge, open to all
Kilmarnock Bridge Club, Kilmarnock. Duplicate pairs
Cathcart Chess Club, Giffnock. Club night: league matches, internal competitions and casual games
Cathcart Chess Club, Giffnock. Junior club, secondary school pupils
Hamilton Bridge Club, Hamilton. Play and learn session for improvers
Clyde Bridge Centre, Glasgow. Duplicate pairs
Kelvin Bridge Club, Glasgow. Duplicate pairs
Ayrshire Bridge Centre, Prestwick. Duplicate pairs
Biggar Bridge Club, Biggar. Duplicate pairs
Kids Chess Club at Pollokshields Library, Glasgow. Family and kids' drop-in chess club, ages 5 to 16
Queens Park Chess Club, Glasgow. Club night: league matches, club championship and casual games
Bearsden Chess Club, Milngavie. Junior club, ages 9 and over
Braidholm Bridge Club, Glasgow. Duplicate pairs
Solway Bridge Club, Dumfries. Duplicate
Helensburgh Bridge Club, Helensburgh. Duplicate pairs (match points or cross imps)
Killearn Bridge Club, Killearn. Duplicate pairs
Stirling and Union Bridge Club, Stirling. Duplicate pairs
Ayrshire Bridge Centre, Prestwick. Duplicate pairs
Bearsden Chess Club, Milngavie. Club night: league matches and casual games
Hamilton Bridge Club, Hamilton. Duplicate pairs
Clyde Bridge Centre, Glasgow. Duplicate pairs
Stirling and Union Bridge Club, Stirling. Duplicate pairs
Tryst Bridge Club, Falkirk. Duplicate pairs
Ayrshire Bridge Centre, Prestwick. Duplicate pairs
Largs Bridge Club, Largs. Duplicate pairs
Kids Chess Club at Maryhill Library, Glasgow. Family and kids' drop-in chess club, ages 5 to 16
Hamilton Chess Club, Hamilton. Junior section for less experienced players
Hamilton Chess Club, Hamilton. Club night: league matches and casual games
Clyde Bridge Centre, Glasgow. Duplicate pairs (Butler scoring)
Fort Matilda Bridge Club, Greenock. Duplicate pairs
Stirling and Union Bridge Club, Stirling. Duplicate pairs or teams
Oban Bridge Club, Oban. Duplicate pairs
Ayrshire Bridge Centre, Prestwick. Duplicate pairs
Biggar Bridge Club, Biggar. Duplicate pairs
Ayrshire Bridge Centre, Prestwick. Beginners' class
Ayrshire Bridge Centre, Prestwick. Hosted relaxed pairs, no partner needed, about 16 boards
Kilmarnock Bridge Club, Kilmarnock. Duplicate pairs
Kids Chess Club at Partick Library, Glasgow. Family and kids' drop-in chess club, ages 5 to 16
Kids Chess Club at Pollokshaws Library, Glasgow. Family and kids' drop-in chess club, ages 5 to 16
Braidholm Bridge Club, Glasgow. Duplicate pairs
St Leonards Bridge Club, Ayr. Duplicate pairs
Stepps Chess Club, Stepps. Club night: league matches and internal games
Clyde Bridge Centre, Glasgow. Duplicate pairs
Clyde Bridge Centre, Glasgow. Supervised play for improvers (Bridge Academy)
Hamilton Bridge Club, Hamilton. Duplicate pairs
Stirling and Union Bridge Club, Stirling. Duplicate pairs
Ayrshire Bridge Centre, Prestwick. Duplicate pairs
Glasgow Go Club, Glasgow. Club night: casual and teaching games
Glasgow Polytechnic Chess Club, Glasgow. Club night: league matches, club championship and casual games
Kilwinning Bridge Club, Kilwinning. Duplicate pairs
Largs Bridge Club, Largs. Duplicate pairs
Clyde Bridge Centre, Glasgow. Duplicate pairs, relaxed morning session
Kelvin Bridge Club, Glasgow. Duplicate pairs
Stirling and Union Bridge Club, Stirling. Relaxed informal bridge with tuition
Langholm Bridge Club, Langholm. Duplicate pairs
Oban Bridge Club, Oban. Relaxed duplicate for mixed standards
Ayrshire Bridge Centre, Prestwick. Duplicate pairs
Clyde Bridge Centre, Glasgow. Duplicate pairs, relaxed
Sunday Chess Group, Glasgow. Casual social chess, all abilities
The venues with the most regular nights are Ayrshire Bridge Centre in Prestwick (9 nights), Clyde Bridge Centre in Glasgow (8 nights) and Stirling and Union Bridge Club in Stirling (6 nights). We list 36 venues in all across Glasgow and West Central Scotland.
Mondays and Thursdays have the most regular sessions. 71 sessions run every week. The Glasgow calendar shows what's on from today.
Yes. 37 regular nights are marked as welcoming new players, including sessions at Queens Park Chess Club, Sunday Chess Group and Cathcart Chess Club. Staff at most venues are happy to teach, so mention it when you arrive.
Six regular nights are free to join. Where there's an entry fee it is usually between £2 and £4. Fees change, so check with the venue before you go.
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