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.
1 regular event
Home / Manchester / Board games
Game · Greater Manchester Board game shops, cafés and clubs in Manchester
Where to find Board games in Greater Manchester: pub meetups, café nights, clubs and shops for board gamers.
We list 34 venues where you can buy or play board games across Greater Manchester, in 16 towns and neighbourhoods. Between them they run 23 regular sessions, most often on Mondays and Tuesdays. Ten of those are marked as beginner friendly. 31 have tables to play on site.
Most active venues
- Goodtime Games, Manchester 4 regular nights: Mindful Monday (Mondays), Blood on the Clocktower (Tuesdays)
- Abel Heywood, Manchester 2 regular nights: Kiki Board Game Family meetup (Mondays), Dungeons & Flagons Pop-up Board Game Cafe (Mondays)
- Fan Boy Three, Manchester 2 regular nights
- The Old Monkey, Manchester 2 regular nights: Board Games at The Old Monkey (Mondays), Blood on the Clocktower (Tuesdays)
- The Wharf, Manchester 2 regular nights: Tabletop Manchester: Monday Night Games (Mondays), Tabletop Manchester: Wednesday Social Deduction (Wednesdays)
34 venues
Abel Heywood
Northern Quarter pub that hosts the Dungeons & Flagons pop-up board game café every Monday, alongside the Kiki Board Game Family LGBTQ+ meetup.
2 regular events
All Rolled Up
Stockport maker and retailer of gaming accessories such as game rolls and dice bags, also selling board games, roleplaying games and Warhammer. Based in a studio unit in Vernon Mill, so contact before visiting.
Benito Lounge
Chorlton café bar where Manchester Board Game Legends run a free board game night every other Tuesday, usually with 20 to 50 players. Food is served until 9pm.
1 regular event
Board Gamers Manchester
Board game club with Wednesday game nights at King's Church in Pendlebury, with free parking. Also runs family KidsCon events.
1 regular event
Bury Tabletop Gamers
Bury's longest-running tabletop gaming club, covering wargames, RPGs, board games and card games. Members get free table bookings.
1 regular event
Crazy Gamer
Video game and repair shop that also sells trading card singles, sealed product and board games.
Element Games & North West Gaming Centre
One of the North West's biggest gaming venues: a large store plus an upstairs gaming centre with tables and terrain for well over 100 players, a licensed bar and free parking. Hosts major Warhammer and Magic tournaments.
3 regular events
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.
1 regular event
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.
20 regular events
Geek Retreat Bury
Gaming café with free-to-play board games, comics and food, plus trading card events and D&D sessions, including junior games.
Gnome Board Game Club
Bolton's board game club, meeting on Thursday evenings in the upstairs room of the Doffcocker Inn.
1 regular event
Goblin Gaming
Large wargaming and card game retailer in Northwich with an online shop and an in-store events programme. Runs Magic: The Gathering nights including Friday Night Magic, plus Gundam card game tournaments.
1 regular event
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.
4 regular events
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.
4 regular events
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.
12 regular events
Lass O'Gowrie
Pub hosting Post Apocalyptic Game Night every other Tuesday, focused on quicker party and social deduction games like Codenames and The Resistance. New players welcome.
1 regular event
MnM Hobby Gaming Club
Gaming club on the first floor of Tintwistle Con Club with four 6x4 Warhammer tables with terrain and four shared card and board game tables. Tables can be booked online at no charge and visitors can also turn up without booking.
Pigeon Beer Wanderer
Taproom behind Piccadilly hosting a monthly Sunday Dungeons & Flagons pop-up board game café.
1 regular event
Rewind Collectables and Games
Retro games, collectables and trading card shop with a dedicated games room, running Pokémon events most Sundays plus Yu-Gi-Oh! and Warhammer 40,000.
2 regular events
Seven Bro7hers Beerhouse Ancoats
Craft beer bar hosting the Dungeons & Flagons pop-up board game café downstairs every Wednesday (18+, access by stairs).
1 regular event
Seven Bro7hers Social, MediaCity
Bar at MediaCity with free-to-use board games and cards.
The Bee and Thistle Board Game Cafe
Licensed board game café in Altrincham town centre, in the former Waltons Models unit.
The Brunswick
Pub on Piccadilly hosting the Dungeons & Flagons pop-up board game café every Tuesday.
1 regular event
The Dice Box Stockport
Board game café with a library of hundreds of games, opened in 2024. Runs social game nights and themed evenings through Eventbrite.
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.
1 regular event
The Hodgepodge Wizard
Hobby and games shop on a market stall in Macclesfield's Grosvenor Centre, selling Warhammer, trading card games, board games and roleplaying games. Runs games nights, with details on its website and Discord.
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.
2 regular events
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.
2 regular events
Travelling Man Manchester
Manchester institution for graphic novels, board games, RPGs and trading card games since 1991.
1 regular event
Urmston Books and Board Games
Independent bookshop with board games, a games room and teaching sessions, plus a monthly board games club.
1 regular event
Variable Magers
Board and card game club with a taste for medium to heavy euro games, meeting on Tuesday evenings in Heaton Mersey.
1 regular event
Waroffice Game Supplies (The War Room)
Store and two-floor gaming centre with nine wargaming tables, terrain and mats provided, a private room for D&D and a painting area. Walk-ins welcome, near Milnrow Metrolink stop.
5 regular events
Wigan Tabletop Games Club
Friendly club for board games, miniature wargames (Legions Imperialis, Necromunda, Frostgrave and more), RPGs and painting.
3 regular events
Regular nights
The weekly line-up. Times and formats can change, so check with the venue before you travel.
Monday
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
From 18:00 Every other Monday
Board Games at The Old Monkey (Manchester Board Game Legends)
The Old Monkey, Manchester. Open board game night upstairs, arrive before 19:30
Board games Entry: Free
From 18:15 Every Monday
Kiki Board Game Family meetup
Abel Heywood, Manchester. LGBTQ+ social board game night
Board games Entry: £2.50
18:30 to 22:30 Every Monday
Dungeons & Flagons Pop-up Board Game Cafe
Abel Heywood, Manchester. Pop-up board game café with a games library
Board games Entry: £2.50
18:30 to 22:30 Every Monday
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
Tuesday
From 18:00 Every other Tuesday
Board Games at Benito Lounge (Manchester Board Game Legends)
Benito Lounge, Manchester. Open board game night
Board games Entry: Free
18:30 to 22:30 Every Tuesday
Blood on the Clocktower
Goodtime Games, Manchester. Social deduction (advanced session)
Board games Book ahead
18:30 to 22:30 Every Tuesday
Dungeons & Flagons Pop-up Board Game Cafe
The Brunswick, Manchester. Pop-up board game café with a games library
Board games Entry: £2.50
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
19:00 to 22:00 Every other Tuesday
Post Apocalyptic Game Night
Lass O'Gowrie, Manchester. Party and social deduction games
Board games Entry: Voluntary 50p
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
Wednesday
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
19:00 to 23:00 Every Wednesday
Dungeons & Flagons Pop-up Board Game Cafe
Seven Bro7hers Beerhouse Ancoats, Manchester. Pop-up board game café with a games library (18+)
Board games Entry: £2.50
Ask the venue for times Every Wednesday
Thursday
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
18:00 to 23:00 Every Thursday
Board Game Club
Jester Games Store, Stockport. Open board gaming, store library or bring your own
Board games Entry: £3
19:00 to 23:00 Every Thursday
Friday
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
Saturday
From 18:30 Roughly every other Saturday
Board Games Social
The Giving Tree Cafe, Manchester. Hosted board games social
Board games Book ahead Beginner friendly
Sunday
13:00 to 17:00 Monthly, on a Sunday
Dungeons & Flagons Pop-up Board Game Cafe
Pigeon Beer Wanderer, Manchester. Pop-up board game café with a games library
Board games Entry: £2.50
From 18:00 Every Sunday
Common questions
Where can I play board games in Manchester?
The venues with the most regular nights are Goodtime Games in Manchester (4 nights), Abel Heywood in Manchester (2 nights) and Fan Boy Three in Manchester (2 nights). We list 34 venues in all across Greater Manchester.
Which night of the week is busiest for board games in Manchester?
Mondays and Tuesdays have the most regular sessions. 16 sessions run every week. The Manchester calendar shows what's on from today.
Are there beginner-friendly nights for board games in Manchester?
Yes. Ten regular nights are marked as welcoming new players, including sessions at a&o Manchester City Centre, Failsworth Library and Fan Boy Three. Staff at most venues are happy to teach, so mention it when you arrive.
How much does it cost to play board games in Manchester?
Seven regular nights are free to join. Where there's an entry fee it is usually between £2.50 and £3. Fees change, so check with the venue before you go.