Bristol Independent Gaming
SETTING
Indoors
WHERE
Bristol
What it’s like
Board games, Warhammer 40K nights and card games over a proper menu, with tables you book ahead rather than just turn up to.
This is a sit-down gaming venue rather than a soft play or a farm, so the appeal depends entirely on whether your kids are into board games, Warhammer 40K, role-playing games or trading card games. If they are, there's a real draw here: proper events, a stack of tabletop options, and staff who clearly take the hobby seriously. If they're not, there's not much else to do.
You book a table ahead through the website, and that's not just a formality, it's how they run the place. Pick-up games organised by existing groups don't need booking, but if you and your opponent are turning up as a pair, you book first. There are two back rooms too, which could suit a birthday gathering or a group wanting a bit of privacy, arranged by adding a note to your table booking.
Food's available but on their terms. No outside food or drink is allowed in, and the kitchen serves breakfast, lunch and dinner at set times that can shift depending on who's working, with snacks, coffee and soft drinks available at the counter all day. Worth knowing if you've got a fussy eater who might turn their nose up at whatever's on offer that day. They say they can accommodate dietary requirements if you email ahead, though they're upfront that the kitchen can't guarantee anything is fully allergen-free.
Opening hours are properly varied across the week, evenings only on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 5.30pm, but open from midday Tuesday and Thursday, and from 10am at weekends. That makes it more workable as a weekend outing with kids than a school-night one. There's a stair lift for access, and if that's not usable they'll set tables up downstairs instead, but you'd want to email first to arrange it.
Facilities
Need to know
- Booking
- Table bookings required. Pick-up games available without booking
- Food
- Kitchen open selected hours offering breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Picnics
- Outside food and drink not allowed on premises
- Wheelchairs
- Stair lift for accessibility. Tables can be set up downstairs if stair lift cannot be used
- Kitchen hours can shift depending on staff availability, so don't assume it's on all day
- Pick-up games run by existing groups skip the booking requirement
- Two back rooms are available for private bookings, requested via notes on your table order
- Closed only on Christmas Day and New Year's Day
Plan your visit
Do we need to book a table?
Yes, table bookings are done via the website ahead of your visit. If you're joining a pick-up game already running, you don't need to book.
What are the opening hours?
It varies through the week. Evenings only on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 5.30pm, from midday Tuesday and Thursday, and from 10am on Saturday and Sunday.
Can we bring our own food?
Outside food and drink aren't allowed. There's a kitchen doing breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus snacks and drinks at the counter all day.
What can kids actually play there?
Board games, Warhammer 40K events, role-playing games and trading card games.
Is it wheelchair accessible?
There's a stair lift, and tables can be set up downstairs if that's not workable. Email ahead to arrange it.
Can we book a private room for a birthday?
There are two back rooms available. Book a table as normal and add the request in the notes of your order.
Are you open on bank holidays?
With Sunday and bank holiday hours of 10am to 6pm. The only days fully closed are Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
Can they cater for allergies?
They'll accommodate dietary requirements on request by email, but say they can't guarantee food is allergen-free because it's a shared kitchen.
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