CATEGORY · RAINY DAY APPROVED
Board Game & Play Cafés in Newcastle
Newcastle's board game scene leans more grown-up night out than family afternoon. Café Mercy, right in the centre, is a board game bar with cocktails, small plates and shelves of games to work through. The WonderBar, also just a kilometre out, is 18+ and worth knowing about, it opens from 10am for interactive darts, live sport and cocktails all day, so it's one for a child-free evening rather than a family trip. If you've got kids in tow, InflateSpace out towards the edge of town, about 4km from the centre, is the one to pick, a space-themed inflatable arena for ages 1 to 18 with slides, battle beams and a slam-dunk course, tickets from £12.50, plus parking, lockers and a café on site. For proper board games with a drink in hand, head into the centre for Café Mercy. Just remember The WonderBar is adults only, so save that one for a night without the children.
12 places 1 upcoming event From £1.50
What's on: board game & play cafés
Places for board game & play cafés

Bay Games
Whitley Bay
A café where you settle in with board games, trading cards or a Dungeons and Dragons session most days of the week.
Booking requiredCaféIndoor seatingFood on site

Café Mercy
Newcastle upon Tyne
A board game bar in Newcastle serving cocktails and small plates alongside shelves of games to play.
from £1.50CUB Play Cafe
Blyth · ages 0-6
Montessori-style loose parts play for babies and toddlers, indoors and out, with two-hour sessions in Blyth.
Accessible toiletBirthday partiesBooking requiredIndoor play+3 more
from £6.95Dream Big Nursery
Chester-le-Street · ages 0-8
Six role play sets, a chicken coop and a mud kitchen give small kids a proper morning of pretend and outdoor mess.
Allergy awareBirthday partiesBooking requiredBreastfeeding friendly+7 more
from £9Flight Club Newcastle
Newcastle upon Tyne · ages 12+
A darts bar with tech-scored games, adults-only most of the week but open to families in daytime sessions.
Birthday partiesBooking requiredGroup bookingsIndoor seating+2 more

GOODS
Newcastle upon Tyne
An all-day café in Newcastle with a proper kitchen, speciality coffee and a grocer counter, open 8am to 8pm every day.
CaféIndoor seatingFood on site
from £12.50InflateSpace Newcastle
Newcastle upon Tyne · ages 1-18
A space-themed inflatable arena with slides, battle beams and a slam-dunk course for climbing, launching and bouncing through.
Birthday partiesCaféLockersParking+1 more
from £5Northern Alliance Games
Newcastle upon Tyne
A tabletop games café where you can hire a gaming table, dip into the board game library or join a tournament night.
CaféIndoor seatingFood on site

Pineapple and Bears Birtley
Chester-le-Street · ages 0-7
A supervised playhub, sensory room and outdoor area for babies through to age seven, with coffee and cake built into the session.
Booking requiredCaféGift shopIndoor play+2 more
from £6.50Retro Bay Cafe
Whitley Bay · ages 0+
Retro consoles and arcade classics by the hour, from Sega Saturn to Super Nintendo, with a café table for whoever isn't playing.
Allergy awareBirthday partiesCafé

The Play Café Sunderland
Sunderland
A Saturday morning play café near Seaburn metro with a play area, free parking and a kitchen that cooks fresh food daily.
Allergy awareBirthday partiesFree parkingFood on site+1 more

The WonderBar
Newcastle upon Tyne
Adults-only bar for interactive darts, live sport and gigs, open from 10am with cocktails on the go all day.
Indoor seatingRestaurant
Good to know: board game & play cafés in Newcastle
What does a paid visit cost?
Paid entry starts from £1.50 at CUB Play Cafe. Prices, ages and facilities are listed on every place page, taken from each venue's own published price list.
Whereabouts are they?
You'll find board game & play cafés in Whitley Bay, Newcastle upon Tyne, Blyth, Chester-le-Street and Sunderland. Every place we list is in or around Newcastle, and each listing has the full address and directions.
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