Where to find Chess and bridge in Sheffield and South Yorkshire: chess and bridge clubs, plus Go, mahjong and backgammon groups.
We list 20 venues where you can play or buy chess, bridge and other classic games across Sheffield and South Yorkshire, in 5 towns and neighbourhoods. Between them they run 43 regular sessions, most often on Mondays and Tuesdays. 20 of those are marked as beginner friendly. All of them have tables to play on site. Ten of the 20 are in Sheffield itself, and we list them first below.
Sheffield Bridge Club has its own premises with a bar in Nether Edge and runs duplicate bridge on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday afternoons plus Wednesday evenings, with monthly teams nights. A standby player is usually available, and lessons, play and learn sessions and a mentoring scheme help beginners and improvers.
Sheffield Chess Centre on Coleford Road is a dedicated chess venue with junior coaching on Monday and Tuesday evenings and an adult session on Thursdays. All abilities are welcome, from children learning the pieces to county players, with league teams and rated tournaments.
Beauchief Bridge Club plays face to face duplicate pairs on Monday evenings at Norton House Country Club near the Meadowhead roundabout, with free parking and disabled access. Tuesday evenings bring a beginners class and a supervised gentle duplicate for newer players.
Darnall and Handsworth Chess Club meets on Monday evenings from 7.30pm at Stradbroke Community Centre, welcoming everyone from beginners to grandmasters. Members are happy to teach newcomers, and the club fields teams in the Sheffield league and runs an annual FIDE rapidplay.
Ecclesall Chess Club meets on Wednesdays from 7.30pm in the upstairs room at The Abbey on Chesterfield Road. Players of any ability are welcome, from beginners to national level, with three league teams and summer training sessions.
Hillsborough Chess Club plays at the New Barrack Tavern on Penistone Road, with Monday match nights and three teams in the Sheffield league.
S10 Bridge Club is a friendly, informal club playing duplicate bridge on Thursday evenings at Hallam Grange Lawn Tennis Club between Lodge Moor and Fulwood. Visitors and new members are welcome and a partner is provided if you do not have one.
Sheffield Deaf Chess Club plays at Farm Road Sports and Social Club with Wednesday match nights and a team in the Sheffield league.
Sheffield Nomads Chess Club meets on Tuesday evenings from 7pm at the Sheffield Trades and Labour Club on Duke Street, with three teams in the Sheffield league and a summer league side. The venue has step-free access.
Woodseats Chess Club meets every Monday from 7.30pm at The Abbey on Chesterfield Road, with social chess and four league teams. Players of all levels are welcome, and players aged 13 to 17 come along with a parent or guardian.
Doncaster Bridge Club owns its own clubhouse with a bar and lift, and runs face to face bridge on Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons and Thursday and Friday evenings, plus a social Monday session. A spare player is available on Monday and Wednesday afternoons, and improvers seminars run on Tuesdays.
Ringwood Bridge Club meets at Grassmoor Community Centre near Chesterfield for duplicate on Monday afternoons and an improvers duplicate on Tuesday evenings. Monday morning courses follow the EBU syllabus for beginners and returners, and visitors can be found a partner if they call ahead.
Barnsley Bridge Club meets at Gilroyd Social Club for relaxed duplicate on Monday afternoons and duplicate on Wednesday evenings, and all levels of player are welcome. No partner is needed on Mondays and the secretary helps players find partners.
Barnsley Chess Club meets most Tuesdays from 7.30pm at Gilroyd Social Club in Dodworth, with Wednesday match nights too. Beginners and stronger players are both welcome, with social chess, summer club events and teams in three leagues; under 16s come with an adult.
Barnby Dun Bishops meet most Mondays from 7.30pm at Barnby Dun Social Club, playing in a quiet side room. New players are welcome and get regular places in the team, and the venue has parking and wheelchair friendly access.
Doncaster Junior Chess Club meets on Friday evenings at Warmsworth Community Hub, with a social start followed by lessons and games. It is volunteer run and welcoming, with a pathway into Doncaster adult teams and tournaments.
Dons Chess Club holds home matches and club nights on most Wednesdays at Bentley West End Club, about a mile from Doncaster centre. New members of any experience or ability are welcome.
Ravenfield Bishops Chess Club meets on Monday evenings at The Master's House on Braithwell High Street, next to the Butchers Arms. It welcomes players from beginners to competition players, with all equipment provided.
Rotherham Chess Club meets on Wednesdays from 7pm in the first floor dining area of The Bluecoat on The Crofts. It is a small, friendly club where players of every strength are welcome, with casual games and league teams; under 18s come with a parent and leave by 9pm.
Three Horse Shoes Chess Club is a large club meeting centrally at The Three Horse Shoes on North Bridge, Doncaster, on most Wednesday nights.
The weekly line-up. Times and formats can change, so check with the venue before you travel.
Ringwood Bridge Club, Chesterfield. Courses for beginners, returners and improvers (EBU syllabus)
Sheffield Bridge Club, Sheffield. Supervised play and learn session, any standard
Ringwood Bridge Club, Chesterfield. Duplicate pairs
Barnsley Bridge Club, Barnsley. Relaxed duplicate, about 24 boards, no partner needed
Doncaster Bridge Club, Doncaster. Duplicate pairs, spare player available
Doncaster Bridge Club, Doncaster. Social bridge (downstairs)
Beauchief Bridge Club, Sheffield. Duplicate pairs, about 24 boards
Sheffield Chess Centre (SASCA), Sheffield. Junior club, advanced juniors (ages not stated)
Sheffield Bridge Club, Sheffield. Teams of four, all standards welcome
Barnby Dun Bishops Chess Club, Doncaster. Club night and league matches
Darnall and Handsworth Chess Club, Sheffield. Club night, casual games and league matches
Woodseats Chess Club, Sheffield. Club night, casual games and league matches
Hillsborough Chess Club, Sheffield. Club night and league matches
Ravenfield Bishops Chess Club, Rotherham. Club night and league matches
Doncaster Bridge Club, Doncaster. Improvers seminar with a Grand Master
Sheffield Bridge Club, Sheffield. Duplicate pairs, ideal for less experienced players
Doncaster Bridge Club, Doncaster. Improvers seminar with a Grand Master
Sheffield Bridge Club, Sheffield. Lessons for complete beginners
Sheffield Chess Centre (SASCA), Sheffield. Junior club, beginners (ages not stated)
Beauchief Bridge Club, Sheffield. Beginners and rusty returners, supervised duplicate
Sheffield Nomads Chess Club, Sheffield. Club night and league matches
Ringwood Bridge Club, Chesterfield. Improvers duplicate, relaxed pace
Sheffield Bridge Club, Sheffield. Lessons, year 2 class
Barnsley Chess Club, Barnsley. Club night, social chess, club events and league matches
Doncaster Bridge Club, Doncaster. Duplicate pairs, spare player available
Sheffield Bridge Club, Sheffield. Duplicate pairs
Barnsley Bridge Club, Barnsley. Duplicate pairs, about 28 boards
Rotherham Chess Club, Rotherham. Club night, casual games and league matches
Sheffield Bridge Club, Sheffield. Duplicate pairs
Ecclesall Chess Club, Sheffield. Club night, casual games, training and league matches
Sheffield Deaf Chess Club, Sheffield. League matches and club night
Dons Chess Club, Doncaster. Club night and league matches
Three Horse Shoes Chess Club, Doncaster. Club night and league matches
Sheffield Bridge Club, Sheffield. Duplicate pairs
Doncaster Bridge Club, Doncaster. Duplicate pairs
S10 Bridge Club, Sheffield. Social duplicate pairs, partner provided
Sheffield Chess Centre (SASCA), Sheffield. Adult club session
Sheffield Bridge Club, Sheffield. Supervised play and learn session, any standard
Doncaster Bridge Club, Doncaster. Duplicate pairs
Doncaster Junior Chess Club, Doncaster. Junior club, lessons and games (ages not stated)
Doncaster Bridge Club, Doncaster. Duplicate pairs
Sheffield Bridge Club, Sheffield. Duplicate pairs with tea and cake, host available
The venues with the most regular nights are Sheffield Bridge Club in Sheffield (10 nights), Doncaster Bridge Club in Doncaster (8 nights) and Ringwood Bridge Club in Chesterfield (3 nights). We list 20 venues in all across Sheffield and South Yorkshire.
Mondays and Tuesdays have the most regular sessions. 41 sessions run every week. The Sheffield calendar shows what's on from today.
Yes. 20 regular nights are marked as welcoming new players, including sessions at Barnby Dun Bishops Chess Club, Barnsley Chess Club and Beauchief Bridge 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.
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