Where to find Chess and bridge in Stoke, Staffordshire and Shropshire: chess and bridge clubs, plus Go, mahjong and backgammon groups.
We list 24 venues where you can play or buy chess, bridge and other classic games across Stoke, Staffordshire and Shropshire, in 13 towns and neighbourhoods. Between them they run 42 regular sessions, most often on Tuesdays and Thursdays. 20 of those are marked as beginner friendly. All of them have tables to play on site.
Stafford Bridge Club plays duplicate bridge at the Beaconside Conference Centre on Weston Road, with sessions on Monday afternoons, Tuesday and Friday evenings and some Thursday mornings. A free 12 week beginners course and regular improver lessons make it a good fit for new players as well as experienced club players.
Newcastle-under-Lyme & District Bridge Club, founded in 1950, plays in its own single storey clubhouse on King Street with duplicate on Tuesday and Friday afternoons and Wednesday and Thursday evenings. The relaxed afternoon sessions are ideal for players new to duplicate, and learn to play classes run on Tuesday evenings.
Oswestry Bridge Club plays face to face duplicate bridge every Monday and Thursday evening at the Memorial Hall in Oswestry, with play starting promptly at 7pm. From October to spring it also holds afternoon bridge at the cricket club on the first Saturday of each month.
Darwinian Knights meets every Tuesday at the Salop Unison Club on Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury, with a quiet chess session from 6pm and the main club night from 7pm to 11pm. It welcomes juniors, adults, complete beginners and league players, and fields several teams in the Shropshire league.
Eccleshall Bridge Club plays duplicate pairs on Tuesday evenings at Offley Hay Village Hall and on Wednesday evenings in the Church Room at Holy Trinity Church, Eccleshall, with play from 7pm. Anyone is welcome to drop in on a Wednesday to see how duplicate bridge is played.
Newport Chess Club meets every Tuesday from 7.30pm at the Royal British Legion on Avenue Road, Newport, and welcomes everyone from total beginners to seasoned players. A junior club for ages 10 to 18 runs beforehand from 6.30pm with weekly coaching.
Pepper Mill Chess Club, formerly Gables Chess Club, holds club and match nights on Mondays at the Pepper Mill in Longton and plays in the North Staffs league. The Potteries Juniors also meet at the same venue on Saturdays.
Stafford Library runs a children's chess club every Saturday for ages 6 to 12, led by coach Alan Ruffle, with sessions at 9.45am and 11am for beginners and stronger players. Each session costs £2 and booking is essential.
Alrewas Bridge Club meets at the Alrewas Royal British Legion on Tuesday afternoons, with play starting at 2pm. Games are with regular or pre-arranged partners, and players without a partner can turn up and the club will try to find them a game.
Border Bridge Club plays duplicate bridge every Friday evening at Bicton Village Hall near Shrewsbury, with play starting at 7pm. A warm welcome is extended to all, and a partner finding service helps visitors get a game.
Bridge at Ashley runs a gentle duplicate bridge evening every Thursday at The Beacon Community Centre on Prospect Road, Market Drayton, from 6.45pm to 10pm. The club plays for fun, kindly sorts out unintentional errors and welcomes visitors and new members.
Church Stretton Chess Club meets on Monday evenings in the Kings Arms Hayloft on the High Street and plays in the Shropshire league first division.
Lichfield Chess Club meets on Thursday evenings in the Guild Room at the Guildhall on Bore Street, with matches starting at 19:15. It plays in the Birmingham league, with tea and coffee provided and wheelchair access.
Maddocks Chess Club meets on Thursday evenings at the Maddocks Sports and Social Club in Oakengates, Telford, and fields adult and junior teams in the Shropshire league.
Market Drayton Library hosts a free chess club on Monday afternoons from 4pm to 5.45pm, open to all chess enthusiasts.
Oswestry Chess Club meets on Wednesday evenings at Morda Village Hall, just outside Oswestry, and runs two teams in the Shropshire league.
Oswestry Library runs a free chess club every Wednesday from 4pm to 6pm, open to novices and masters alike with no need to book.
Shrewsbury Chess Club meets every Wednesday from 7.30pm at Cromwell's Tap House on Dogpole, with social games alongside Shropshire league matches. Everyone is welcome, from beginners and juniors to experienced players, and newcomers can simply drop in.
The Shropshire Chess Association's junior club offers chess training and fun for children aged 6 to 13 on Saturday mornings from 10am to 12pm at Meole Brace Peace Memorial in Shrewsbury.
A women's and girls' chess club meeting fortnightly on Tuesday evenings from 7pm at the Salop Unison Club in Shrewsbury, listed by the Shropshire Chess Association.
Stafford Chess Club meets on Friday evenings from 7.30pm to 10.30pm at Walton Village Hall, and players of any standard can just turn up for a friendly game. Teams compete in the Cannock, Wolverhampton and North Staffs leagues, with internal blitz, rapid and classical tournaments through the year.
Tamworth & District Chess Club meets on Thursday evenings from 19:30 at Tamworth Rugby Union Football Club, Wigginton Lodge, Wigginton Park. It plays in both the Birmingham and Derby leagues.
Telford Chess Club meets on Wednesday evenings at the Royal British Legion on Station Road, Dawley, and runs three teams in the Shropshire league.
Wrekin Bridge Club is a friendly club playing duplicate bridge every Wednesday evening at the Community Centre on Oakfield Road, Shawbirch, Telford, from 6.45pm. New players are always welcome, partners are found, and beginners' lessons start in February 2027.
The weekly line-up. Times and formats can change, so check with the venue before you travel.
Stafford Bridge Club, Stafford. Lessons for beginners: free 12 week course
Market Drayton Library Chess Club, Market Drayton. Chess club for all ages and abilities
Oswestry Bridge Club, Oswestry. Duplicate pairs
Stafford Bridge Club, Stafford. Duplicate pairs
Church Stretton Chess Club, Church Stretton. Club night: Shropshire league and social chess
Pepper Mill Chess Club, Stoke-on-Trent. Club night: social chess and North Staffs league matches
Newcastle-under-Lyme & District Bridge Club, Newcastle-under-Lyme. Relaxed duplicate pairs, about 21 boards
Alrewas Bridge Club, Alrewas. Duplicate pairs with regular or pre-arranged partners
Darwinian Knights Chess Club, Shrewsbury. Quiet chess: calm, distraction free session for improving and relaxed play
Newport Chess Club, Newport. Junior club, ages 10 to 18: weekly coaching and tournaments
Darwinian Knights Chess Club, Shrewsbury. Club night: social chess and Shropshire league matches, juniors welcome
Shropshire Women's Chess Club, Shrewsbury. Women's and girls' chess club
Eccleshall Bridge Club, Eccleshall. Duplicate pairs
Newcastle-under-Lyme & District Bridge Club, Newcastle-under-Lyme. Learn to play bridge classes
Newport Chess Club, Newport. Club night: social chess and Shropshire league matches
Stafford Bridge Club, Stafford. Duplicate pairs
Oswestry Library Chess Club, Oswestry. Drop in chess club for all levels
Wrekin Bridge Club, Telford. Duplicate pairs
Eccleshall Bridge Club, Eccleshall. Duplicate pairs; drop in to see how duplicate is played
Newcastle-under-Lyme & District Bridge Club, Newcastle-under-Lyme. Duplicate pairs
Shrewsbury Chess Club, Shrewsbury. Club night: social chess and Shropshire league matches
Telford Chess Club, Telford. Club night: Shropshire league and social chess
Oswestry Chess Club, Oswestry. Club night: Shropshire league and social chess
Stafford Bridge Club, Stafford. Intermediate lessons
Bridge at Ashley, Market Drayton. Gentle duplicate pairs
Newcastle-under-Lyme & District Bridge Club, Newcastle-under-Lyme. Duplicate pairs
Oswestry Bridge Club, Oswestry. Duplicate pairs
Lichfield Chess Club, Lichfield. Club night: league matches and club chess
Tamworth & District Chess Club, Tamworth. Club night: league matches and club chess
Stafford Bridge Club, Stafford. Duplicate pairs
Maddocks Chess Club, Telford. Club night: Shropshire league and social chess
Stafford Bridge Club, Stafford. Improver lessons
Newcastle-under-Lyme & District Bridge Club, Newcastle-under-Lyme. Handicapped duplicate pairs for experienced players and improvers, about 20 to 22 boards
Border Bridge Club, Shrewsbury. Duplicate pairs
Newcastle-under-Lyme & District Bridge Club, Newcastle-under-Lyme. Handicapped teams of four
Stafford Chess Club (Stafford Phoenix Chess Group), Stafford. Club night: friendly games, league matches and club tournaments
Stafford Bridge Club, Stafford. Duplicate pairs
Stafford Library Children's Chess Club, Stafford. Junior club, ages 6 to 12, beginners and stronger players
Shropshire Junior Chess Club, Shrewsbury. Junior club, ages 6 to 13: training and games
Stafford Library Children's Chess Club, Stafford. Junior club, ages 6 to 12, beginners and stronger players
Oswestry Bridge Club, Oswestry. Bridge at the cricket club
Pepper Mill Chess Club, Stoke-on-Trent. Potteries Juniors junior chess club
The venues with the most regular nights are Stafford Bridge Club in Stafford (7 nights), Newcastle-under-Lyme & District Bridge Club in Newcastle-under-Lyme (6 nights) and Oswestry Bridge Club in Oswestry (3 nights). We list 24 venues in all across Stoke, Staffordshire and Shropshire.
Tuesdays and Thursdays have the most regular sessions. 37 sessions run every week. The Stoke calendar shows what's on from today.
Yes. 20 regular nights are marked as welcoming new players, including sessions at Stafford Bridge Club, Shrewsbury Chess Club and Darwinian Knights Chess Club. Staff at most venues are happy to teach, so mention it when you arrive.
Three regular nights are free to join. Where there's an entry fee it is usually between £2 and £4. Fees change, so check with the venue before you go.
A free weekly email of what's on in your area: tournaments, pre-releases, launch events and new regular nights. Plus a monthly round-up of new shops, clubs and game releases.
