If you’re looking for places to play classic board games in London and quench your thirst then look no further than these London board game bars, pubs and cafes.
Old school board games are so on trend right now. Those glorious 80’s throwbacks from an era predating social media when Dream Phone was your only phone and ‘LOL’ was short for a lolly pop. Maybe.
London has fallen in love with the board game bar concept and has seen an increase in drinking haunts stocking board games for customers to play whilst enjoying a casual drink. But where to go?
Grab your girl and get your first-ever argument over with whilst enjoying a round of Monopoly…
See below for our list of places to play board games in London:
The Library Pot, Richmond
86 Kew Rd, Richmond TW9 2PQ
This games café in Richmond boasts hundreds of games, with new titles being added regularly, alongside a bar offering everything from beers to absinthe. Each session costs £6.50 per person, with a minimum spend of £15, but you’ll quickly reach that threshold with the vast selection of games to immerse yourself in.
The Loading Bar
The Loading Bar, 97 Stoke Newington Rd, Stoke Newington, Hackney N16 8BX / 120 Peckham Hill St, London SE15 5JT
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Loading Bar has two locations in London: one in Stoke Newington and the other in Peckham. True to its name, Loading Bar offers not only board games but also a variety of video games.
Rediscover classic titles on an Xbox or PlayStation, or try your skills on the Nintendo Switch. If you’re with friends and looking for something more energetic, challenge each other to table football or Judge Dredd Pinball. With a lively atmosphere and prizes up for grabs, each Loading Bar serves as a vibrant center for gaming fun.
Bad Moon Cafe
159a Great Dover St, London SE1 4GZ
For avid tabletop gamers, Bad Moon Cafe in Borough is a haven for those seeking a vibrant atmosphere. The cafe features an impressive library of over 150 games, from classic favourites to the latest releases, all neatly organised in alphabetical order. It also hosts various events, including tournaments, and serves as a shop, offering Warhammer and other traditional board games.
The Three Compasses
99 Dalston Lane, London E8 1NH
Situated in Dalston, The Three Compasses has a great relaxed and traditional pub vibe.
The Three Compasses is home to a juicy selection of board games and an even juicier selection of burgers. Both of which will have you foaming at the mouth. Perhaps not attractive if you’re on a date. No one likes a Pavlovs’ Dog. We digress…Great news if you book for more than ten people you get a free bottle of fizz… you’ll be winning at life as well as board games!
Draughts
337 Acton Mews, Hackney, London E8 4EA
Situated in Hackney under the arches of the railway Draughts was opened in November 2014 infamously taking London’s board game bar virginity. Feast your beady eyes on over 600 board games and stay as long as you like for just £5 per person. Plus on the weekends you can reserve a table for groups of 8 or more to avoid disappointment… These guys have thought of everything.
Players can fuel their gaming sessions with coffee or unwind with locally brewed craft beers. To keep their energy up, they can enjoy a selection of sandwiches, pastries, or wood-fired pizzas from Basilico.
Escape Bar, Stratford
Locations in Dalston, Leyton, Stratford & Shepherd’s Bush
Originally known as Secret Weapon and a sister venue to Loading Bar, Escape Bars has expanded to four neighborhood locations, each set in a classic pub-style setting. Visitors can enjoy unlimited board games and beers, along with occasional events like open mic nights, comedy shows, and pub quizzes. The game selection is constantly updated, so you’ll find popular titles like Exploding Kittens, Obama Llama, and Codenames alongside well-loved classics.
Escape Bars offers all the traditional board games you’d expect, along with plenty of unique choices. Come for favorites like Catan, Articulate, and Operation, and stay for quirky picks like Bucket of Doom and Rhino Hero.
Tina, We Salute You
2 Olympic Park Ave, London E20
Tina, we really do salute you. Your half-naked paintings of the infamous Tina herself combined with a flat white to die for is enough to make even straight girls weak at the knees. A mix of squishy sofas and retro furniture awaits, along with an excellent selection of foods and board games. Pub quiz every Sunday… Get thinking of a team name good enough to rival the venue name!
Loser buys the next round?
Fancy something else?
If the thought of playing board games just does not roll your dice, check out our post on top spots for London coffee. No games in sight… Yet.
Happy Gaming.
Nonchalant x
Jem is a lover of all things coffee, snow and music. Jem has been content writing since 2017. Articles mainly include questionable puns and a focus on pretty material items. Why not read about such items in the Nonchalant ‘Shop’ category?
