Chance & Counters - Board Game Café (Cardiff)
BEST FOR
Up to age 14
ENTRY
from £2.50
SETTING
Indoors
WHERE
Cardiff
What it’s like
Pick a table, pick from 700-plus board games, and let a "gaming guru" teach you the rules over pizza or a pint.
The whole point is the wall of games, over 700 of them spread across two floors, and the fact that you don't have to know a single rule before you sit down. Say who you're with and what you fancy, and one of the gaming gurus will pick something and talk you through it, which saves the usual twenty minutes of squinting at instructions while the kids lose interest.
Under-14s don't pay the gaming fee at all, which is the detail that makes this worth knowing about. Adults pay £2.50 an hour off-peak or £3.50 at peak times, Friday 5pm to Sunday 5pm, so a family of four playing for a couple of hours on a Tuesday costs a lot less than the same slot on a Saturday night. It's a per-hour charge rather than a flat entry fee, so a long, chatty afternoon over one big strategy game adds up differently to a quick round of something short.
Walk-ins are fine most of the time, but Friday and Saturday evenings get busy and they'd rather you booked a table, especially if you're a bigger group. The menu covers vegan and gluten-free, and it's worth flagging any allergy to the team when you arrive rather than assuming they'll spot it. Dogs are welcome throughout if that's relevant to your household, and it's a short walk from Cardiff Central or from the Castle if you're combining it with a day in town.
For a birthday, the group packages start at £23 a head for two hours including the gaming fee, and groups of ten or more can pre-order food and drinks so the gurus aren't taking orders mid-game.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- Families with kids up to 14, especially ones happy to sit and learn a game
- Booking
- Walk-ins welcome but booking recommended for Friday/Saturday evenings and larger groups
- Dogs
- Welcome throughout the venue
- Getting there by bus or train
- About 10 minutes' walk from Cardiff Central station
- Parties
- Group packages from £23 per person for 2 hours including gaming fee
- Kids 14 and under play free, adults pay the per-hour gaming fee
- Peak pricing runs Friday 5pm through to Sunday 5pm
- Games are split across two floors, so ask a guru if you can't spot what you want
- Book ahead for weekend evenings if you're a bigger group
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
£2.50 a person per hour off-peak, £3.50 at peak times (Friday 5pm to Sunday 5pm). Kids aged 14 and under don't pay the gaming fee at all.
Do we need to book?
Walk-ins are welcome most of the week. Friday and Saturday nights, or if you're a larger group, they'd rather you booked a table.
Is it any good for a family that's never played board games before?
That's what the gaming gurus are there for. Tell them who's playing and what you like, and they'll match you to a game and teach you as you go.
What food is there?
There's an all-day menu with vegan and gluten-free options. Mention any specific dietary need to the team when you arrive.
Can we do a birthday party there?
Group packages start from £23 a person for two hours, gaming fee included. Groups of ten or more can pre-order food and drinks ahead of time.
Are dogs allowed?
Yes, well-behaved dogs are welcome throughout the venue.
How do we get there?
It's on High Street in Cardiff's Castle Quarter, about ten minutes' walk from Cardiff Central station and a minute from the castle.
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