From 13:30 Every Monday
Gentle duplicate
Ringwood Greyfriars Bridge Club, Ringwood. Gentle duplicate with host system
Chess, bridge and classic games Book ahead Beginner friendly
Home / Southampton / Beginner-friendly game nights
Game nights · Southampton, Portsmouth and Hampshire Beginner-friendly game nights in Southampton
Beginner-friendly game nights across Southampton, Portsmouth and Hampshire: learn-to-play sessions and nights that welcome new players.
31 regular nights
The weekly line-up. Times and formats can change, so check with the venue before you travel.
Monday
17:30 to 20:30 Every Monday
Monday Magic Commander Night
Blodband, Salisbury. Commander
Magic: The Gathering Entry: Free Book ahead Beginner friendly
18:30 to 20:30 Every Monday
Monday club night
Freshwater Chess Club, Freshwater. Casual social chess for all ages
Chess, bridge and classic games Entry: £2 adults, £1 juniors, free for members Beginner friendly
From 19:00 Every Monday
Gentle duplicate
Basingstoke Bridge Club, Basingstoke. Gentle duplicate
Chess, bridge and classic games Entry: £2.50 members, £4.50 non-members Book ahead Beginner friendly
From 19:00 Every Monday
Gentle duplicate
Petersfield Bridge Club, Petersfield. Gentle duplicate
Chess, bridge and classic games Book ahead Beginner friendly
From 19:00 Every Monday
Monday club night
Ringwood Chess Club, Ringwood. Casual games and league matches
Chess, bridge and classic games Beginner friendly
Ask the venue for times Every Monday
Monday club night
Fleet & Farnborough Chess Club, Farnborough. Club night and league matches
Chess, bridge and classic games Beginner friendly
Tuesday
14:00 to 17:00 Every Tuesday
Tuesday afternoon chess
Cowes Library Chess Club, Cowes. Casual chess for adults, beginners welcome
Chess, bridge and classic games Beginner friendly
18:00 to 22:00 Every Tuesday
18:00 to 21:00 Every Tuesday
Warhammer Night
Blodband, Salisbury. Warhammer 40,000, Age of Sigmar and Kill Team open play
Mixed games Book ahead Beginner friendly
19:00 to 22:00 Every Tuesday
Tuesday club night
Andover Chess Club, Andover. Club night and Southampton League matches
Chess, bridge and classic games Beginner friendly
19:00 to 22:00 Every Tuesday
Tuesday evening social chess
New Milton Chess Club, New Milton. Social chess and league matches
Chess, bridge and classic games Entry: £2 guest fee Beginner friendly
19:00 to 22:30 September to May
Tuesday club night
Southampton Chess Club, Southampton. Club championship and league matches, ECF rated
Chess, bridge and classic games Beginner friendly
From 19:30 Meets year round
Tuesday club night
Chandlers Ford Chess Club, Eastleigh. Friendly games, club tournaments and Southampton League matches
Chess, bridge and classic games Beginner friendly
Wednesday
16:00 to 18:00 Every Wednesday
Pokémon TCG After School Club
The Games Shop, Aldershot. After school club
Pokémon TCG Beginner friendly
17:30 to 19:00 Mid September to end of May
Wednesday junior section
Basingstoke Chess Club, Basingstoke. Junior club with tuition, ages 5 to 15
Chess, bridge and classic games Beginner friendly
18:00 to 22:00 Every Wednesday
Tableside Social Gaming Evening
Dice Board Game Lounge, Portsmouth. Casual play
Board games Beginner friendly
18:30 to 19:30 Term time only
Chandler's Ford Junior Chess Club
Chandlers Ford Chess Club, Eastleigh. Junior club
Chess, bridge and classic games Beginner friendly
From 18:45 Every Wednesday
Wednesday evening duplicate
Milford-on-Sea Bridge Club, Milford on Sea. Duplicate pairs
Chess, bridge and classic games Entry: £3 Beginner friendly
18:45 to 22:00 Every Wednesday
Gentle duplicate
Winchester Bridge Club, Winchester. Gentle duplicate for less experienced players, about 15 boards
Chess, bridge and classic games Entry: Free to full and intermediate members, £3.50 visitors Book ahead Beginner friendly
19:15 to 22:15 Selected Wednesdays, September to April (2025/26 schedule roughly fortnightly with extra dates); check the club website for dates
Wednesday club night
Winchester Chess Club, Winchester. Casual games, club tournaments and Southampton League matches
Chess, bridge and classic games Entry: First 3 visits free Beginner friendly
19:30 to 22:00 Every Wednesday
Wednesday club night
Basingstoke Chess Club, Basingstoke. Casual and competitive games, Southampton League matches
Chess, bridge and classic games Beginner friendly
Thursday
From 09:45 Every Thursday
Supervised play
Lymington Bridge Club, Lymington. Supported session for less confident players
Chess, bridge and classic games Beginner friendly
10:00 to 13:00 Every Thursday
Thursday morning chess
Brading Community Centre Chess, Brading. Casual chess, all ages and abilities
Chess, bridge and classic games Beginner friendly
14:00 to 16:30 Every Thursday
Thursday afternoon social chess
New Milton Chess Club, New Milton. Social chess, all welcome
Chess, bridge and classic games Entry: £2 guest fee Beginner friendly
Friday
17:00 to 21:00 Every Friday
How to Play Blood Bowl
Blodband, Salisbury. Learn to play Blood Bowl
Wargames Book ahead Beginner friendly
Saturday
10:00 to 12:30 Every Saturday
Basingstoke Junior Chess Club
Basingstoke Chess Club, Basingstoke. Junior club on Saturday mornings
Chess, bridge and classic games Beginner friendly
10:00 to 12:00 Every Saturday
Fareham Junior Chess Club
Fareham Chess Club, Fareham. Junior club
Chess, bridge and classic games Beginner friendly
11:00 to 14:00 Every Saturday
Saturday chess by the sea
Chess at Café de Ryde, Ryde. Casual chess, all welcome
Chess, bridge and classic games Beginner friendly
11:00 to 12:30 Usually the first Saturday of the month, at the Mitre pub, Portswood
Saturday informal meet up
Southampton Chess Club, Southampton. Friendly casual chess at the Mitre pub, Portswood Road
Chess, bridge and classic games Beginner friendly
Sunday
From 11:00 Every Sunday
Junior club
Winchester Junior Chess Club, Winchester. Junior club with coaching, for children learning and improving
Chess, bridge and classic games Beginner friendly
23 venues
In Southampton (1)
Southampton Chess Club
Meets on Tuesday evenings from September to May at St Denys Community Centre for ECF rated club championship games and Southampton League matches, with informal monthly Saturday meet ups at the Mitre pub in Portswood. Newcomers of all abilities are welcome; under 16s must come with an adult.
Tables to play on site
2 regular nights · Tues, Sats
Elsewhere in Southampton, Portsmouth and Hampshire (22)
Basingstoke Chess Club
Meets on Wednesday evenings at the Basingstoke Bridge and Chess Club on Sherborne Road, with casual and competitive games for players of all abilities. A junior section for ages 5 to 15 meets before the main club during the season, and a Saturday morning junior club runs at the same venue.
Tables to play on site
3 regular nights · Weds, Sats
Blodband
Tabletop gaming shop in Salisbury with a focus on community and mental health. It runs weekly Commander, Warhammer and Dungeons & Dragons nights, plus painting sessions, an after-school club and bookable play sessions.
Tables to play on site
6 regular nights · 4 days a week
Chandlers Ford Chess Club
A friendly club meeting every Tuesday evening, all year round, in the lounge bar of Chandlers Ford Central Club, with teams in the Southampton Chess League and several internal tournaments. A junior club meets on Wednesday evenings in term time.
Tables to play on site
2 regular nights · Tues, Weds
Dice Board Game Lounge
Board game cafe and bar on Albert Road in Southsea with hundreds of games to play, table service food and drink, and purpose built tables for wargames and RPGs. Weekly nights include Dungeons at Dice (Tuesday), social gaming and KeyForge (Wednesday) and Mini Fight Club wargaming (Thursday); tables can be booked by phone or email.
Tables to play on site
4 regular nights · Tues, Weds, Thus
New Milton Chess Club
Meets for social chess on Tuesday evenings and Thursday afternoons at New Milton Conservative Club, and runs teams in the Bournemouth and District Chess League. Beginners, returners and league players are all welcome; the club has a smart casual dress code.
Tables to play on site
2 regular nights · Tues, Thus
Andover Chess Club
Meets on Tuesday evenings at Andover Central Club, with three teams in the Southampton Chess League. Beginners and experienced players are welcome and equipment is provided.
Tables to play on site
1 regular night · Tues
Basingstoke Bridge Club
Hampshire's largest bridge club, with its own clubhouse at Maydene on Sherborne Road and face to face duplicate on five days a week. Gentle duplicate on Monday evenings and beginner and improver courses make it a good choice for newer players.
Tables to play on site
5 regular nights · 5 days a week
Brading Community Centre Chess
A friendly Thursday morning chess session at Brading Community Centre, open to all ages and abilities with boards provided and refreshments on sale. Complete beginners are welcome and there is no need to book.
Tables to play on site
1 regular night · Thus
Chess at Café de Ryde
Chess by the sea every Saturday at Café de Ryde on the Esplanade, with indoor play if the weather turns. Everyone is welcome, and chess sets can be borrowed from the café at any time.
Tables to play on site
1 regular night · Sats
Cowes Library Chess Club
A relaxed Tuesday afternoon chess club at Cowes Library, supported by Chess in Schools and Communities. Beginners are welcome to learn from other players, and there is no need to book.
Tables to play on site
1 regular night · Tues
Fareham Chess Club
Meets on Tuesday evenings at the Duke of Connaught's Own Club in Fareham, with internal tournaments at a range of time controls and teams in both the Portsmouth and Southampton leagues. Potential new members are very welcome, and a junior club meets on Saturday mornings.
Tables to play on site
2 regular nights · Tues, Sats
Fleet & Farnborough Chess Club
Meets on Monday evenings in the clubhouse at Cody Sports & Social Club in Farnborough. Players of all ages and abilities are welcome, from beginners to seasoned league players.
Tables to play on site
1 regular night · Mons
Freshwater Chess Club
Meets every Monday evening at Freshwater Conservative Club for relaxed, social chess. Players of all ages and abilities from across West Wight are welcome, from complete beginners to experienced players.
Tables to play on site
1 regular night · Mons
Lymington Bridge Club
Afternoon duplicate pairs on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at the club rooms in St Thomas Street, with a host available. A supported Thursday morning session suits less confident players.
Tables to play on site
4 regular nights · 4 days a week
Milford-on-Sea Bridge Club
A relaxed, social game of duplicate pairs on Wednesday evenings in Milford on Sea. Experienced and new players are welcome, and those who know the basics can be introduced to duplicate.
Tables to play on site
1 regular night · Weds
Petersfield Bridge Club
A friendly club founded in 1969, playing at Petersfield Community Centre with gentle duplicate on Monday, duplicate on Tuesday and teams once a month. Welcomes all players from complete beginners to experts, with teaching sessions for beginners and improvers.
Tables to play on site
3 regular nights · Mons, Tues, Thus
Ringwood Chess Club
Meets on Monday evenings at Greyfriars Community Centre in Ringwood, playing in the Southampton, Dorset and Bournemouth leagues and offering casual games. Beginners and experienced league players are both welcome; contact the secretary before a first visit.
Tables to play on site
1 regular night · Mons
Ringwood Greyfriars Bridge Club
Duplicate bridge at Greyfriars Community Centre in the heart of Ringwood, with a gentle duplicate and host system on Monday afternoons and duplicate pairs on Friday evenings. New members and visitors are welcome, with lessons for beginners and improvers.
Tables to play on site
2 regular nights · Mons, Fris
The Games Shop
Large games shop with four gaming rooms and over 2,200 sq ft of play space, including a dedicated War Room for wargaming. Runs events every day of the week across Magic, Pokémon TCG, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Lorcana, One Piece, Star Wars Unlimited, Blood Bowl, wargames and D&D.
Tables to play on site
14 regular nights · 6 days a week
Winchester Bridge Club
Duplicate bridge at Winchester Racquets and Fitness on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and Wednesday afternoons, plus a gentle duplicate on Wednesday evenings for newer players. Welcomes everyone from complete beginners to experts.
Tables to play on site
4 regular nights · Tues, Weds, Thus
Winchester Chess Club
Meets on selected Wednesday evenings from September to April at Badger Farm Community Centre, with casual games, mini tournaments and Southampton League matches. New members of all levels are welcome and the first three visits are free.
Tables to play on site
1 regular night · Weds
Winchester Junior Chess Club
A junior chess club meeting on Sunday mornings at Badger Farm Community Centre, led by a FIDE Chess Instructor. It suits children who want to learn the game, improve their play or start entering tournaments.
Tables to play on site
1 regular night · Suns
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