Where to find Chess and bridge in Taunton, Yeovil and Somerset: chess and bridge clubs, plus Go, mahjong and backgammon groups.
We list 22 venues where you can play or buy chess, bridge and other classic games across Taunton, Yeovil and Somerset, in 17 towns and neighbourhoods. Between them they run 29 regular sessions, most often on Thursdays and Mondays. Twelve of those are marked as beginner friendly. All of them have tables to play on site.
Plays at Wesley Hall in Frome with competitive duplicate on Monday evenings, gentle competitive play on Thursday mornings and improvers lessons with assisted play. Beginners lessons start each October.
Plays duplicate bridge at Oake Village Hall near Taunton on Tuesday and Friday afternoons and Wednesday evenings, with ample parking. Experienced players are invited to join the Wednesday evening sessions.
Meets on Monday evenings during the season at St George's Parish Centre, Wembdon, with a junior club for ages 7 to 14 on the 2nd and 4th Mondays. All abilities are welcome, from complete beginners to Somerset League players.
Plays duplicate bridge on Monday afternoons at Barrington Village Hall near Ilminster, in a friendly atmosphere with usually 4 to 7 tables.
Plays club duplicate bridge on Thursday evenings at Wembdon Parish Centre in Bridgwater, with refreshments included in the table money.
A friendly club playing duplicate bridge on Tuesday evenings at the Community Centre on Berrow Road, Burnham-on-Sea.
Plays duplicate bridge on Thursday evenings at Caryford Hall, Ansford, welcoming players of all standards. A host scheme means you can turn up without a partner and be guaranteed a game.
Plays duplicate bridge on Wednesday afternoons at the Catholic Church Hall in Cheddar. Visiting pairs can attend without notice and rubber bridge players can ask for an introduction to duplicate.
Plays duplicate bridge on Monday evenings at Wedmore Masonic Hall. Visiting pairs can attend without notice and rubber bridge players can ask for an introduction to duplicate.
A free monthly hour of chess, Scrabble and word games at Chard Library on the 2nd Thursday afternoon. All ages and abilities are welcome, with nothing to book and no library card needed.
Plays duplicate bridge on Monday evenings at Merriott Village Hall near Crewkerne, with parking at the rear. Members range from improvers upwards and a host system means players without a partner always get a game.
Plays duplicate bridge on Thursday evenings at Fivehead Village Hall near Taunton, with a refreshment break midway.
Meets on Monday evenings at the Cheese & Grain in Frome. Players of any strength are welcome for casual games, the club championship or Somerset League matches, and the club runs the annual Frome Chess Congress.
Plays 24-board duplicate pairs on Tuesday evenings at Speke Hall, Dowlish Wake, near Ilminster. Members range from improvers upwards and a host system helps players without a partner.
A small friendly club playing duplicate bridge on Tuesday evenings at Minehead Methodist Church Hall. Visitors are very welcome and a spare partner is available except on competition nights.
Plays face to face duplicate bridge on Thursday afternoons at the Victoria Sports and Social Club in Street, with refreshments and ample parking. Less experienced players and returning players are welcome, and a spare partner is available.
Plays duplicate bridge on Friday evenings at Brittons Ash Community Hall in Bathpool, next to West Monkton Primary School. Visitors are always welcome.
Meets on Tuesday evenings from September to May at St Michael's Church Hall in Galmington, with free parking. Welcomes all ages and standards from beginners to county players, with league teams and an internal club tournament.
Supervised bridge play at Oake Village Hall on the first and third Friday mornings of the month. Suits players who have taken lessons and want to build experience and confidence before joining a club.
Meets on Wednesday evenings at The White Hart on Sadler Street, with players from beginners up to 2300 and coaching from a FIDE trainer. A junior section meets separately at the Portway Annexe, and the club is an ECF Junior Development Pathway Club.
Plays relaxed duplicate bridge on Thursday evenings at St Thomas's Church Hall in Wells. Membership is currently full, though visiting EBU members are welcome for a limited number of evenings.
Plays duplicate bridge on Thursday afternoons at the YESS Club in Yeovil. Single players and visitors are always welcome, with a partner guaranteed if you arrive by 13:00.
The weekly line-up. Times and formats can change, so check with the venue before you travel.
Barrington Duplicate Bridge Club, Barrington. Duplicate pairs
Sedgemoor Chess Club, Bridgwater. Junior club, ages 7 to 14
Frome Bridge Club, Frome. Duplicate pairs
Crewkerne Duplicate Bridge Club, Merriott. Duplicate pairs
Cheddar and Wedmore Bridge Club (Wedmore), Wedmore. Duplicate pairs
Sedgemoor Chess Club, Bridgwater. Adult club night, casual games and league matches
Frome Chess Club, Frome. Club night, casual games, club championship and league matches
Frome Bridge Club, Frome. Improvers lesson followed by assisted play
Frome Bridge Club, Frome. Beginners course with play practice
Burnham on Sea Bridge Club, Burnham-on-Sea. Duplicate pairs
Ilminster Bridge Club, Dowlish Wake. Duplicate pairs
Taunton Chess Club, Taunton. Club night, casual, internal tournament and league matches
Cheddar and Wedmore Bridge Club (Cheddar), Cheddar. Duplicate pairs
Wilton Bridge Club, Oake. Duplicate pairs
Wells Chess Club, Wells. Club night, casual and league chess
Frome Bridge Club, Frome. Gentle competitive duplicate
Frome Bridge Club, Frome. Improvers lesson followed by assisted play
Yeovil Phoenix Bridge Club, Yeovil. Duplicate pairs
Street Bridge Club, Street. Duplicate pairs, less experienced players welcome
Chess and Scrabble Club at Chard Library, Chard. Drop-in library games session, all ages
Fivehead Bridge Club, Fivehead. Duplicate pairs
Wells City Bridge Club, Wells. Duplicate pairs
Bridgwater and Cannington Bridge Club, Bridgwater. Duplicate pairs
Tony Morgan Bridge Supervised Play, Oake. Supervised play for newer players
Taunton Bridge Club, Taunton. Duplicate pairs
The venues with the most regular nights are Frome Bridge Club in Frome (5 nights), Wilton Bridge Club in Oake (3 nights) and Sedgemoor Chess Club in Bridgwater (2 nights). We list 22 venues in all across Taunton, Yeovil and Somerset.
Thursdays and Mondays have the most regular sessions. 26 sessions run every week. The Somerset calendar shows what's on from today.
Yes. Twelve regular nights are marked as welcoming new players, including sessions at Taunton Chess Club, Sedgemoor Chess Club and Wells Chess 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 £2 and £50. Fees change, so check with the venue before you go.
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