Where to find Chess and bridge in Swindon and Wiltshire: chess and bridge clubs, plus Go, mahjong and backgammon groups.
We list 17 venues where you can play or buy chess, bridge and other classic games across Swindon and Wiltshire, in 10 towns and neighbourhoods. Between them they run 22 regular sessions, most often on Mondays and Tuesdays. Six of those are marked as beginner friendly. All of them have tables to play on site. Four of the 17 are in Swindon itself, and we list them first below.
Lawn4Bridge runs a relaxed weekly duplicate session on Tuesday afternoons upstairs at Lawn Community Centre, open to all. The Lawn Bridge Club also plays there on Wednesday afternoons.
Swindon Bridge Club plays face to face duplicate pairs on Thursday evenings at Lawn Community Centre, with visitors always welcome. It also runs a Wednesday supported play session and beginner and improver classes.
Thamesdown Bridge Club plays duplicate bridge every Tuesday evening at the Conservative Club on Bath Road, Old Town. New members and visitors are welcome.
One of the largest chess clubs in Wiltshire, meeting at Haydon Wick Bowls Club in Swindon for friendly and rated games. Newcomers are welcome, with a casual Chess and Chat group for beginners and teams in the Wiltshire leagues.
Devizes Bridge Club plays duplicate bridge at the Nursteed Centre on Thursday mornings and Friday evenings, with a partnering system for members and visitors. Visitors are welcome after calling the club first.
Sarum Bridge Club meets at the Cricket Club on Wilton Road, Salisbury, with competitive duplicate on Wednesday evenings and a social session on Thursday afternoons. Visitors can play three times before joining, and a partner is always found on Thursdays.
Friendly chess club at the Wesley Road Club in Trowbridge, meeting on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Tuesdays suit beginners and returning players, while Thursdays cover league and rated club games.
Warminster Bridge Club plays at Bishopstrow Village Hall, with gentle duplicate on Monday afternoons and club pairs on Tuesday afternoons. New members and visitors are welcome, and the secretary helps find partners.
A small, friendly duplicate bridge club in Bradford on Avon, playing face to face on Monday evenings at Avonpark. The club also fields teams in the Wiltshire League.
Chippenham Bridge Club plays face to face duplicate pairs on Monday afternoons at Chippenham Sports Club in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. Sessions are paid in advance through the club account system.
Chippenham Chess Club meets on Tuesday evenings at Langley Burrell Village Hall from September to May. It welcomes adults and juniors aged 12 and over, from relative beginners to county standard players.
Crown Centre Bridge Club offers a friendly, relaxed Monday evening of bridge at the Nursteed Centre in Devizes for members and visitors. The organiser will try to find a partner for anyone who needs one.
MAD plays afternoon duplicate bridge every Friday in Marlborough, mostly at the Scout Hut with some sessions at Silverless Street. Most sessions are hosted, so members can turn up without a partner.
A cheerful, social bridge club meeting on Friday evenings at the Baptist Church in Brown Street, Salisbury. Visitors are warmly welcomed and a steward system means newcomers are assured of a game.
Trowbridge Bridge Club plays face to face duplicate pairs on Monday evenings at Trowbridge Rugby Club and welcomes visitors. A partner finding service is available.
Trowbridge Bridge Club holds a social pairs morning every Friday at Westwood Social Club, near Bradford on Avon. Players can just turn up and a partner will be found, with a short improvers lesson beforehand.
A friendly duplicate bridge club meeting on Wednesday evenings at the Woodshaw Inn in Royal Wootton Bassett. New players are welcome and the club may be able to arrange a partner.
The weekly line-up. Times and formats can change, so check with the venue before you travel.
Chippenham Bridge Club, Chippenham. Duplicate pairs
Warminster Bridge Club, Warminster. Gentle duplicate pairs
Crown Centre Bridge Club, Devizes. Duplicate pairs
Trowbridge Bridge Club, Trowbridge. Duplicate pairs, 24 boards
Bradford-on-Avon Bridge Club, Bradford on Avon. Duplicate pairs
Warminster Bridge Club, Warminster. Duplicate club pairs
Lawn4Bridge, Swindon. Duplicate pairs, 18 to 21 boards
Thamesdown Bridge Club, Swindon. Duplicate bridge
Trowbridge Chess Club, Trowbridge. Informal social chess for beginners and returning players
Chippenham Chess Club, Chippenham. Club night with internal graded competition and Wiltshire league matches, juniors aged 12 and over welcome
Swindon Bridge Club, Swindon. Supported play for improvers, selected hands with discussion of bidding and play
Lawn4Bridge, Swindon. Duplicate pairs, 18 to 21 boards
Wootton Bassett Bridge Club, Royal Wootton Bassett. Duplicate pairs
Sarum Bridge Club, Salisbury. Competitive duplicate pairs
Devizes Bridge Club, Devizes. Duplicate pairs
Sarum Bridge Club, Salisbury. Social pairs, partner found for anyone who attends
Swindon Bridge Club, Swindon. Duplicate pairs, 24 boards
Trowbridge Chess Club, Trowbridge. League chess and rated club games, including the Club Championship
Trowbridge Bridge Club (Westwood), Westwood. Social pairs, preceded by a 15 minute lesson for improvers from 09:30
MAD Marlborough Afternoon Duplicate Bridge, Marlborough. Duplicate pairs, hosted for members on most weeks
Devizes Bridge Club, Devizes. Duplicate pairs
The 59 Bridge Club, Salisbury. Duplicate pairs with handicap competition
The venues with the most regular nights are Devizes Bridge Club in Devizes (2 nights), Lawn4Bridge in Swindon (2 nights) and Sarum Bridge Club in Salisbury (2 nights). We list 17 venues in all across Swindon and Wiltshire.
Mondays and Tuesdays have the most regular sessions. 22 sessions run every week. The Swindon calendar shows what's on from today.
Yes. Six regular nights are marked as welcoming new players, including sessions at Trowbridge Chess Club, Chippenham Chess Club and Swindon Bridge Club. Staff at most venues are happy to teach, so mention it when you arrive.
Where there's an entry fee it is usually between £3 and £4. Fees change, so check with the venue before you go.
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