Badger Badger West Norwood
ENTRY
from £5
SETTING
Indoors
WHERE
London
What it’s like
Saturday Pokémon club for a fiver, plus a games library and staff who'll pick the right board game for you.
The West Norwood site is the kid-friendly one, and the reason to go is the Saturday afternoon Pokémon TCG Kids Club. A fiver gets your child themed activities, promo cards and a trading table with other kids, which for a card-mad seven-year-old is the whole day sorted. What makes it different to a soft play is that adults get something out of it too: there's a games library, and staff will sit with you and work out what to play, so a rainy afternoon doesn't have to mean another trampoline park.
Booking is required for events and they're ticketed, and the popular sessions do sell out, so sort it before you promise anyone anything. Card events sometimes want a Player ID and don't allow proxied cards, which is a faff if you're new to it, though the kids club is pitched as a beginners' thing. Away from the Pokémon table there's a beginner-friendly Dungeons & Dragons social with starter kits handed out, and board game socials where the staff pick for you.
Watch the clock if you're coming for the day. West Norwood opens at 4pm Monday to Thursday and Friday, midday on Sunday, and the weekend closes at midnight on Friday, 10pm on Sunday. Book a table online rather than turning up.
Food is cooked fresh on site daily and leans Japanese, with plenty of vegetarian options and takeaway if you'd rather eat later. Adults pay £8 for a board game social or a Commander night, or £5.60 if you take out membership, which pays for itself after a couple of visits.
Facilities
Need to know
- Booking
- Tables can be booked online, and events are ticketed
- Food
- Kitchen cooking Japanese-influenced food fresh on site, plus takeaway
- Worth knowing
- Members pay less per event ticket (£5.60 instead of £8.00)
- Events are ticketed and tables are booked online, so sort the booking before you promise the kids anything
- Some card events want a Player ID and don't allow proxied cards, worth checking if your child is new to tournaments
- Adults pay £8 a session, or £5.60 with membership
- West Norwood opens at 4pm on weekdays, so it's an after-school or weekend trip rather than a morning one
Plan your visit
What's the Saturday kids club, exactly?
A Pokémon TCG session at West Norwood on Saturday afternoons, £5 a child. Themed activities, promo cards and trading with the other kids.
Do we need to book?
Yes, events are ticketed and tables are booked online. Popular sessions sell out, so don't leave it to the day.
What does it cost for adults?
£8 for a board game social or a Commander night. Members pay £5.60, so membership pays for itself after a few visits.
What time does the West Norwood site open?
4pm Monday to Friday, midday on Sunday, with Friday running to midnight and Sunday to 10pm. Saturday at that site is given over to the kids club in the afternoon.
Is there anything for a child who doesn't know Pokémon?
The kids club is the beginners' entry point, with themed activities and trading rather than a straight tournament. Worth knowing that some of the card events want a Player ID and ban proxied cards.
What about older kids or adults who want a proper game?
There's a beginner-friendly Dungeons & Dragons social with starter kits supplied, board game socials with staff helping you choose, and the games library. Commander nights run at £8 standard entry.
Can we get food there?
Cooked fresh on site daily with Japanese and Western influences. Plenty of vegetarian options, and much of it can be taken away.
Can we book for a group or a birthday?
Birthday parties and group bookings are both on offer, and tables can be booked online. Give them notice for anything sizeable.
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