London’s first board game café welcomed throngs of gaming fans at its opening last Saturday.
Draughts Café, which is located in a converted railway arch on Acton Mews in Haggerston, is the brainchild of board game lovers Toby Hamand and Nick Curci. It was partly funded by a highly successful crowdfunding campaign on website Kickstarter last August which raised more than double its target of £10,000.
(Photograph: Rebecca Sentance)
True to its name, Draughts has cider, lager and beer on tap along with cakes and snacks, providing a different outlook on a traditionally insular hobby.
“We’re slightly taken aback by how busy it is,” Mr Hamand said, before rushing away to help customers.
The café’s online campaign and widespread media coverage attracted gamers from across London and beyond. Maria Thomas, 37, trekked down from Sheffield to investigate the café with West Londoner Guy Selway, 35, after reading about it on Facebook.
“It’s awesome,” Ms Thomas said. The two were unconcerned that there were no tables free for them to sit down and play, content instead to browse Draughts’ impressive library of more than 500 different tabletop games. “It’s great just to have a drink and look at the games,” said Mr Selway.
Another customer, Nick Mullinar, was celebrating a reunion with some friends over a few pints and Cards Against Humanity, described on its website as “a party game for horrible people”.
“It’s got a really good vibe,” the 26-year-old said.
Draughts is the third board game café to open in the UK, joining Thirsty Meeples in Oxford and Edinburgh’s Games Hub. So far it seems to have successfully tapped into London’s vibrant geek culture and social scene.
“People seem to be enjoying playing the games, and that’s the main thing,” said co-founder Mr Curci.
(Photograph: Rebecca Sentance)
