Where to find Chess and bridge in Middlesbrough, Darlington and Teesside: chess and bridge clubs, plus Go, mahjong and backgammon groups.
We list 18 venues where you can play or buy chess, bridge and other classic games across Middlesbrough, Darlington and Teesside, in 13 towns and neighbourhoods. Between them they run 28 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.
St Georges Bridge Centre on Whessoe Road is home to Darlington Bridge Club, with evening duplicate on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays, a Tuesday daytime game, a Wednesday improvers session and a Thursday lunchtime session. Beginners lessons start each September with free taster sessions.
Meets at the Cockerton Band and Musical Institute Club on Monday evenings for social and league chess, with Wednesday nights mainly for league matches. A supervised junior club runs on Mondays before the adult session.
A friendly club for all ages and abilities, meeting every Tuesday evening at the Veterans Hub and Bar in the Don War Memorial Museum, with a large junior section and many league teams. Members also help run free Chess for All sessions at Thornaby Central Library on Saturday mornings and Ingleby Barwick Library on Friday afternoons.
Middlesbrough Bridge Club plays duplicate bridge on Tuesday and Friday evenings from 7pm to 10pm in the church hall of the Holy Name of Mary in Linthorpe. Newcomers and visitors are always welcome, with partner finders for each night.
Northallerton Bridge Club holds a hosted club night on Mondays at 6.50pm in the Lower Hall of Northallerton Town Hall, and a facilitated gentle duplicate for less experienced players on Tuesdays at 1.20pm at the Scout and Guide HQ. No partner is needed for either.
Meets on Wednesday evenings at the Billingham Synthonia Club on Belasis Avenue, fielding teams in the Cleveland league.
Village chess club meeting on Wednesday evenings at Great Ayton Working Men's Club, playing in the Cleveland league.
Guisborough Bridge Club plays duplicate bridge on Tuesday evenings at Guisborough Cricket Club on Rectory Lane, arriving well before 6.45pm. New players and those needing a partner can call ahead.
Hartlepool Bridge Club plays duplicate bridge on Tuesdays from 6.30pm at Hornby Park in Seaton Carew, with summer and winter club competitions.
Meets on Monday evenings at the Athenaeum Club on Church Street, playing club and league chess in the Cleveland and Durham leagues.
Meets on Monday evenings at the Conservative Club on Orchard Road in Linthorpe, playing club and Cleveland league chess.
Meets on Monday evenings at the Bluebell Hotel on Acklam Road, playing club and Cleveland league chess.
Newton Aycliffe Bridge Club plays on Monday evenings at 7pm at the Oakleaf Sports Complex on School Aycliffe Lane.
Redcar Bridge Club plays friendly duplicate bridge on Monday evenings at Marske Sports and Recreation Club, arriving before 6.45pm. Players new to duplicate are helped to settle in and the club can help find a partner.
Meets on Thursday evenings at the Literary Institute on Lord Street, playing club and Cleveland league chess.
Meets on Monday evenings at Cafe Bar Loco on Prince Regent Street in Stockton town centre, playing club and Cleveland league chess.
Friday bridge runs from 7pm to 10pm in the old school hall at Thornton-le-Beans, about three miles from Northallerton, with well spaced tables and plenty of parking.
Chess and board game cafe in Seaton Carew serving coffee and cakes, a relaxed spot to play chess or tabletop games with friends.
The weekly line-up. Times and formats can change, so check with the venue before you travel.
Darlington Chess Club, Darlington. Junior club
Redcar Bridge Club, Marske-by-the-Sea. Duplicate pairs
Northallerton Bridge Club, Northallerton. Hosted competitive duplicate
Darlington Chess Club, Darlington. Club night, social and league chess
Hartlepool Chess Club, Hartlepool. Club night, casual and league matches
Linthorpe Village Chess Club, Middlesbrough. Club night, casual and league matches
Middlesbrough Chess Club, Middlesbrough. Club night, casual and league matches
Newton Aycliffe Bridge Club, Newton Aycliffe. Club bridge
St Georges Bridge Centre (Darlington Bridge Club), Darlington. Duplicate pairs
Stockton Loco Chess Club, Stockton-on-Tees. Club night, casual and league matches
St Georges Bridge Centre (Darlington Bridge Club), Darlington. Friendly duplicate, centre open from 11.30 for lunch
Northallerton Bridge Club, Northallerton. Facilitated gentle duplicate for less experienced players
Guisborough Bridge Club, Guisborough. Duplicate pairs
Middlesbrough Bridge Club, Middlesbrough. Duplicate pairs
Thornaby Chess Club, Thornaby. Club night, casual and league matches, juniors welcome
St Georges Bridge Centre (Darlington Bridge Club), Darlington. Improvers session
Billingham Synthonia Chess Club, Billingham. Club night, casual and league matches
Darlington Chess Club, Darlington. League matches
Great Ayton Chess Club, Great Ayton. Club night, casual and league matches
St Georges Bridge Centre (Darlington Bridge Club), Darlington. Duplicate pairs
Redcar Chess Club, Redcar. Club night, casual and league matches
St Georges Bridge Centre (Darlington Bridge Club), Darlington. Duplicate pairs; teams on the first Thursday of the month
Thornaby Chess Club, Thornaby. Drop-in chess session, all ages
Middlesbrough Bridge Club, Middlesbrough. Duplicate pairs
St Georges Bridge Centre (Darlington Bridge Club), Darlington. Duplicate pairs
Thornton-le-Beans Friday Bridge, Thornton-le-Beans. Contract bridge
Thornaby Chess Club, Thornaby. Free drop-in chess session, all ages
The venues with the most regular nights are St Georges Bridge Centre (Darlington Bridge Club) in Darlington (6 nights), Darlington Chess Club in Darlington (3 nights) and Thornaby Chess Club in Thornaby (3 nights). We list 18 venues in all across Middlesbrough, Darlington and Teesside.
Mondays and Tuesdays have the most regular sessions. 28 sessions run every week. The Teesside calendar shows what's on from today.
Yes. Six regular nights are marked as welcoming new players, including sessions at Darlington Chess Club, Northallerton Bridge Club and St Georges Bridge Centre (Darlington 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 £2.50 and £3. 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.
