09:45 to 12:30 Every Monday
Monday improvers bridge
MBH Bridge Club, Bramhall. Improvers duplicate with short lesson
Chess, bridge and classic games Beginner friendly
Home / Manchester / Beginner-friendly game nights
Game nights · Greater Manchester Beginner-friendly game nights in Manchester
Beginner-friendly game nights across Greater Manchester: learn-to-play sessions and nights that welcome new players.
48 regular nights
The weekly line-up. Times and formats can change, so check with the venue before you travel.
Monday
10:30 to 12:30 Monthly; dates on club website
Monday newcomers seminar
Bramhall & Cheadle Hulme Bridge Centre, Bramhall. Seminar with play for newcomers and non-experts
Chess, bridge and classic games Entry: £5 Beginner friendly
From 13:00 Every Monday
Monday supervised improvers
The Manchester Bridge Club, Manchester. Supervised play for improvers
Chess, bridge and classic games Entry: £6 members, £8 visitors Beginner friendly
From 13:00 Every Monday
Monday assisted play
Bolton Bridge Club, Bolton. Assisted play for less experienced players
Chess, bridge and classic games Beginner friendly
16:30 to 22:00 Every Monday
Monday Night Magic: Casual Commander
Jester Games Store, Stockport. Casual Commander and casual play
Magic: The Gathering Entry: £7.50 (includes a booster) Beginner friendly
From 17:00 Every Monday
Tabletop Manchester: Monday Night Games
The Wharf, Manchester. Open board game night, bring or join games
Board games Entry: Free Beginner friendly
18:30 to 21:00 Every Monday
Members' Night and Board Games
Hack Oldham, Oldham. Open board games, bring your own or use theirs
Board games Entry: Free for members Beginner friendly
18:30 to 19:30 Every Monday
Monday junior session
Bolton Chess Club, Bolton. Junior chess session
Chess, bridge and classic games Beginner friendly
18:30 to 19:30 Every Monday
Monday junior slot
Heywood Chess Club, Heywood. Junior chess for under-18s
Chess, bridge and classic games Beginner friendly
From 19:00 Every Monday
Monday club night
Northenden Chess Club, Manchester. Club night: social and league chess, all ages and abilities
Chess, bridge and classic games Entry: £2 Social Club entry for non-members Beginner friendly
From 19:15 Every Monday
Monday evening supervised beginners
The Manchester Bridge Club, Manchester. Supervised play for beginners
Chess, bridge and classic games Entry: £6 members, £8 visitors Beginner friendly
19:30 to 22:00 Every Monday
Monday club night
Bolton Chess Club, Bolton. Club night: social chess and lower-team league matches
Chess, bridge and classic games Beginner friendly
From 19:30 All year round; contact a few days ahead before a first visit
Monday club night
Atherton Chess Club, Atherton. Club night: social and league chess
Chess, bridge and classic games Book ahead Beginner friendly
From 19:30 Closes 9pm in summer (about May to September)
Monday club night
Heywood Chess Club, Heywood. Club night: adult chess, team matches and club championship
Chess, bridge and classic games Beginner friendly
Tuesday
From 10:00 Every Tuesday
Tuesday morning supervised
Trafford Bridge Club, Sale. Supervised duplicate
Chess, bridge and classic games Entry: Visitors £5 Beginner friendly
From 10:00 Every Tuesday
Tuesday improvers session
Ashton & District Bridge Club, Ashton-under-Lyne. Improvers session
Chess, bridge and classic games Entry: £3 members, £4 guests Beginner friendly
From 13:30 Every Tuesday
Tuesday relaxed duplicate
Bramhall & Cheadle Hulme Bridge Centre, Bramhall. Relaxed duplicate pairs
Chess, bridge and classic games Beginner friendly
From 18:45 1st and 4th Tuesday of the month
Blood on the Clocktower (Meeple People MCR)
The Old Monkey, Manchester. Social deduction, rules walkthrough for new players
Board games Entry: Free Beginner friendly
From 19:00 Every Tuesday
Tuesday evening supervised session
The Manchester Bridge Club, Manchester. Supervised play, all levels
Chess, bridge and classic games Entry: £6 members, £8 visitors Beginner friendly
19:00 to 23:00 Every week except the last Tuesday of the year
Tuesday club night
Manchester Backgammon Club, Stockport. Club night: knockout backgammon tournaments, all levels
Chess, bridge and classic games Entry: Free Beginner friendly
19:30 to 23:00 Every Tuesday
Tuesday games night
Variable Magers, Stockport. Medium to heavy euro games
Board games Entry: £2.50 Beginner friendly
From 19:30 Closed over Christmas week
Tuesday club night
Stockport Chess Club, Stockport. Club night: friendly games and league matches
Chess, bridge and classic games Entry: Free to try; membership £35 a year (£20 juniors) Beginner friendly
19:30 to 22:30 Every Tuesday
Tuesday Bridge for All
Heald Green Bridge Club, Stockport. Social bridge, all levels including beginners
Chess, bridge and classic games Beginner friendly
Wednesday
From 10:00 Every Wednesday
Wednesday morning supervised
Trafford Bridge Club, Sale. Supervised duplicate
Chess, bridge and classic games Entry: Visitors £5 Beginner friendly
From 10:30 Every Wednesday
Wednesday morning supervised improvers
The Manchester Bridge Club, Manchester. Supervised play for improvers
Chess, bridge and classic games Entry: £6 members, £8 visitors Beginner friendly
From 13:30 Every Wednesday
Wednesday afternoon supervised beginners
The Manchester Bridge Club, Manchester. Supervised play for beginners
Chess, bridge and classic games Entry: £6 members, £8 visitors Beginner friendly
From 14:15 Every Wednesday
Wednesday improvers coaching
Altrincham Bridge Club, Altrincham. Coaching session for improvers, no partner needed
Chess, bridge and classic games Beginner friendly
18:00 to 23:00 Every Wednesday
Tabletop Manchester: Wednesday Social Deduction
The Wharf, Manchester. Blood on the Clocktower and Werewolves in the back room
Board games Beginner friendly
18:30 to 22:00 Every other Wednesday
Midweek Mixer
Goodtime Games, Manchester. Social mixer to meet new players
Board games Book ahead Beginner friendly
18:30 to 21:00 Includes school holidays
Wednesday club night
Ashton Community Chess Club, Ashton-under-Lyne. Club night: coaching and friendly games, all ages and levels
Chess, bridge and classic games Entry: £2 Beginner friendly
19:30 to 22:30 September to May
Wednesday club night
East Cheshire Chess Club, Cheadle. Club night: club competitions and Stockport League matches
Chess, bridge and classic games Beginner friendly
Thursday
From 13:30 Every Thursday
Thursday supervised play
Bramhall & Cheadle Hulme Bridge Centre, Bramhall. Supervised play
Chess, bridge and classic games Beginner friendly
18:00 to 23:00 Every Thursday
Thursday Board Games (Manchester Board and Card Game Enthusiasts)
a&o Manchester City Centre, Manchester. Board and card game night, light to heavy games, rules taught
Board games Entry: Free Beginner friendly
From 18:30 Every Thursday
Pokémon League Store Tournament
Jester Games Store, Stockport. Sanctioned league, Swiss
Pokémon TCG Entry: £5 Beginner friendly
19:00 to 21:00 Every Thursday
Thursday club night
3Cs Chess Club, Oldham. Junior-focused club night with coaching groups and games; players need to know how the pieces move
Chess, bridge and classic games Beginner friendly
19:30 to 23:00 Every Thursday
Thursday club night
Marple & District Chess Club, Stockport. Club night: social games, club tournaments and league matches
Chess, bridge and classic games Entry: Membership £20 a year; first season free Beginner friendly
From 19:30 Every Thursday
Thursday club night
Urmston Chess Club, Manchester. Club night: social and league chess
Chess, bridge and classic games Beginner friendly
19:30 to 21:30 Term-time course
Thursday continuing bridge lessons
Trafford Bridge Club, Sale. Bridge lessons for improving players
Chess, bridge and classic games Entry: £75 per 12-lesson term Book ahead Beginner friendly
Friday
From 09:45 Every Friday
Friday morning pairs
P & J Bridge, Bramhall. Duplicate pairs, host available
Chess, bridge and classic games Beginner friendly
From 10:00 Every Friday
Friday beginners lesson
Ashton & District Bridge Club, Ashton-under-Lyne. Bridge lessons for beginners
Chess, bridge and classic games Book ahead Beginner friendly
From 13:15 Every Friday
Friday Brush Up Your Bridge
Stretford Bridge Club, Manchester. Supervised play for newer and returning players
Chess, bridge and classic games Beginner friendly
14:30 to 16:00 Every Friday
Builds and Board Games
Failsworth Library, Failsworth. Adult social board game and building club
Board games Entry: Free Beginner friendly
From 19:00 Every Friday
Friday club night
Wigan Tabletop Games Club, Wigan. Board games, wargames and RPGs
Mixed games Entry: £3 (first visit free) Beginner friendly
Saturday
10:00 to 16:00 Every other Saturday
Wargaming at Hack Oldham
Hack Oldham, Oldham. Drop-in Age of Sigmar, 40k and Flames of War; models available to borrow
Mixed games Entry: Free for members, £3 non-members Beginner friendly
13:00 to 15:00 First Saturday of the month
Pokémon TCG Learn and Play (under 15s)
Jester Games Store, Stockport. Learn to play, demo decks provided
Pokémon TCG Entry: £5 Book ahead Beginner friendly
From 17:00 Every other Saturday
D&D One-Shot Adventures
Jester Games Store, Stockport. Standalone one-shots
D&D Entry: £6 Book ahead Beginner friendly
18:30 to 21:30 Roughly every other Saturday
Board Games Social
The Giving Tree Cafe, Manchester. Hosted board games social
Board games Entry: Free Book ahead Beginner friendly
Sunday
From 19:00 Every Sunday
Sunday club night
Wigan Tabletop Games Club, Wigan. Board games, wargames and RPGs
Mixed games Entry: £3 (first visit free) Beginner friendly
32 venues
In Manchester (10)
The Manchester Bridge Club
A busy bridge club in Fallowfield with duplicate pairs on Monday and Tuesday afternoons and Wednesday evenings, plus supervised sessions for beginners and improvers through the week. Partners can be found for supervised sessions and newcomers are welcome.
Tables to play on site
8 regular nights · Mons, Tues, Weds
The Wharf
Castlefield pub that's home to Tabletop Manchester, a turn-up-and-play board and card game group running weekly since 2014, with around 50 players a week. Wednesdays bring social deduction in the back room.
Tables to play on site
2 regular nights · Mons, Weds
a&o Manchester City Centre
Hostel bar and breakfast area that hosts the Manchester Board and Card Game Enthusiasts every Thursday. Attendees get 10% off food and drink, and the space is fully accessible.
Tables to play on site
1 regular night · Thus
Fan Boy Three
Northern Quarter game store and board game café with a downstairs tournament arena seating 128. Runs events for almost every major card game, every night of the week.
Tables to play on site
20 regular nights · 7 days a week
Goodtime Games
Board game café and shop in West Didsbury with a library of around 650 games and a vegetarian and vegan menu. Walk-ins are welcome when there's space, though booking is recommended.
Tables to play on site
4 regular nights · 4 days a week
Northenden Chess Club
Friendly chess club meeting on Monday evenings at Northenden Social Club on Palatine Road, with social, blitz, rapid and league chess. Players of all ages and abilities are welcome.
Tables to play on site
1 regular night · Mons
Stretford Bridge Club
A friendly club on Derbyshire Lane with duplicate bridge on Sunday and Tuesday afternoons and a Friday afternoon session for newer and returning players. Partners can often be found with notice.
Tables to play on site
3 regular nights · Tues, Fris, Suns
The Giving Tree Cafe
Community café for South Manchester's international community, running a Board Games Social on some Saturday evenings. RSVP on Meetup, as spaces are limited.
Tables to play on site
1 regular night · Sats
The Old Monkey
Pub with an upstairs room used by Manchester Board Game Legends every other Monday and by Meeple People MCR for Blood on the Clocktower. Rules taught, all levels welcome.
Tables to play on site
2 regular nights · Mons, Tues
Urmston Chess Club
Local club playing social and league chess on Thursday evenings at Urmston Sports Club on Moorside Road. Open to people of all ages and abilities, from those just starting out to keen match players.
Tables to play on site
1 regular night · Thus
Elsewhere in Greater Manchester (22)
Jester Games Store
Independent card and board game store with a busy events calendar covering every major card game, plus Digimon, Gundam, Riftbound and more.
Tables to play on site
12 regular nights · 6 days a week
Bramhall & Cheadle Hulme Bridge Centre
A large club at Bramhall Village Club with face-to-face duplicate on Monday afternoons and Tuesday and Friday evenings, a relaxed duplicate on Tuesday afternoons and supervised play on Thursday afternoons. Newcomers are well catered for with classes, seminars and a newcomers league.
Tables to play on site
6 regular nights · 4 days a week
Trafford Bridge Club
Trafford and Sale Bridge Clubs share Cadman House in Sale, with evening duplicate pairs on Mondays and Wednesdays, supervised play on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings and a monthly Saturday social evening. Visitors are welcome and beginners lessons run in terms.
Tables to play on site
6 regular nights · 5 days a week
Ashton & District Bridge Club
Ashton Bridge Club welcomes players of all standards to face-to-face duplicate on Monday and Wednesday afternoons and Thursday mornings, with an improvers session on Tuesdays and beginners lessons on Friday mornings.
Tables to play on site
5 regular nights · 5 days a week
Bolton Chess Club
One of the largest clubs in the region, meeting at Victoria Hall in central Bolton on Monday evenings, with a junior session before the adult club night and senior team matches on Thursdays. Open to players of any age or ability.
Tables to play on site
3 regular nights · Mons, Thus
Hack Oldham
Community makerspace hosting a Monday board game night, a Tuesday RPG group, a Magic group and fortnightly Saturday wargaming where you can borrow models. Under-18s must be accompanied.
Tables to play on site
4 regular nights · Mons, Tues, Sats
Heywood Chess Club
Club meeting at Hopwood Sports Club on Manchester Road, Heywood, close to junction 19 of the M62, with an early evening slot for under-18s before adult chess and team matches. Members range from novice to experienced.
Tables to play on site
3 regular nights · Mons, Weds
Manchester Backgammon Club
A sociable weekly backgammon club at the Moor Club in Heaton Moor every Tuesday evening, welcoming everyone from beginners to champions. The first Tuesday of the month features a shorter cubeless format suited to newer players.
Tables to play on site
2 regular nights · Tues
Wigan Tabletop Games Club
Friendly club for board games, miniature wargames (Legions Imperialis, Necromunda, Frostgrave and more), RPGs and painting.
Tables to play on site
3 regular nights · Fris, Suns
3Cs Chess Club
The Children's Chess Club of Oldham meets on Thursday evenings at St Edward's Parish Hall in Lees, with coaching groups by level and games for young players who already know the moves. Players of any age are accepted, and its teams lead the Manchester League.
Tables to play on site
1 regular night · Thus
Altrincham Bridge Club
Duplicate bridge on Tuesday and Thursday evenings at St Peter's in Hale, with coaching sessions for improvers on Wednesday afternoons. Guests are welcome with a partner and there is onsite parking and level access.
Tables to play on site
3 regular nights · Tues, Weds, Thus
Ashton Community Chess Club
Community chess club meeting every Wednesday, including school holidays, at Broadoak & Smallshaw Community Centre, with coaching and friendly competitive games for all ages and abilities. Its adult and junior teams play in the Manchester and Stockport leagues.
Tables to play on site
1 regular night · Weds
Atherton Chess Club
Club meeting every Monday from 7.30pm, all year round, at the Atherton Arms on Tyldesley Road, serving players from Atherton, Leigh, Tyldesley and Westhoughton. Players of all standards, including juniors, are welcome, and teams play in four leagues.
Tables to play on site
1 regular night · Mons
Bolton Bridge Club
Bolton Bridge Club has its own premises on Chorley Old Road with face-to-face duplicate on Monday and Wednesday evenings and Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, plus assisted play on Monday afternoons. Players of all standards are welcome and there are lessons for beginners.
Tables to play on site
5 regular nights · 4 days a week
East Cheshire Chess Club
Friendly club meeting on Wednesday evenings from September to May at the Cheadle Hulme Institute, with teams in all three divisions of the Stockport League. Players of all abilities, young and old, are welcome.
Tables to play on site
1 regular night · Weds
Failsworth Library
Public library running Builds and Board Games, a free Friday afternoon social club for adults. Use the library's games or bring your own.
Tables to play on site
1 regular night · Fris
Heald Green Bridge Club
A friendly evening of bridge at Heald Green Village Hall on Tuesdays, open to experienced players and complete beginners alike. The club also plays on Thursday evenings.
Tables to play on site
2 regular nights · Tues, Thus
Marple & District Chess Club
Small, friendly club meeting every Thursday evening at the Navigation Inn in Marple, with a member on hand to greet newcomers and free basic tuition for new or rusty players. Teams play in the Stockport, Manchester and summer leagues.
Tables to play on site
1 regular night · Thus
MBH Bridge Club
A friendly Monday morning improvers session at Bramhall Village Club, often with a short lesson before duplicate play. New members and visitors are welcome and a partner can always be found.
Tables to play on site
1 regular night · Mons
P & J Bridge
Friendly competitive duplicate pairs on Friday mornings in Bramhall, with a host available so players can come without a partner. New players are welcome.
Tables to play on site
1 regular night · Fris
Stockport Chess Club
Long-established club meeting every Tuesday from 7.30pm upstairs at the Ladybrook Hotel in Bramhall, with friendly games every week and teams in three local leagues. New players can drop in and try it free; juniors attend with a parent or guardian on site.
Tables to play on site
1 regular night · Tues
Variable Magers
Board and card game club with a taste for medium to heavy euro games, meeting on Tuesday evenings in Heaton Mersey.
Tables to play on site
1 regular night · Tues
More game nights in Manchester
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