Contact Details
Opening Times
Mon: 16:00-23:00
Tue: CLOSED
Wed: 18:00-23:00
Thu: 16:00-23:00
Fri: 16:00-23:00
Sat: 12:00-21:00
Sun: 12:00-21:00
How much will it cost?
Adult entry is £5 per person (14 years+).
Child entry is £3 per person (5-13 years) but must be accompanied by an adult.
Under 5’s are free.
Discounts
Groups of 10+ cost £3 per person when prebooked. A non-refundable deposit will be required to confirm your booking.
Harbour Lights/Picturehouse members get free regular entry (must show valid membership card on arrival), carers on duty are free with a paying guest and students pay £3 on Thursdays.
We also have a loyalty card which allows you to get a free entry, so remember to get a stamp whenever you visit!
About Us
Welcome to Board in the City – A place where you’ll never be bored again!
Step into a world of imagination, laughter, and connection at Board in the City, your ultimate board game café experience! With over 1,000 games to choose from — from timeless classics to the latest crowd-pleasers — there’s something here for every strategist, storyteller, and dice-roller. Whether you’re a seasoned gamer or just looking for a fun family day out, we’ve got the perfect game waiting for you.
As a proud Community Interest Company (CIC), we’re more than just a café — we’re a passionate hub dedicated to bringing people together, supporting local initiatives, and creating a warm, welcoming space for all ages. Every latte
you sip and every game you play helps fuel community projects that make a real difference.
Bring your friends, bring your family, and bring your sense of adventure — Board in the City is where unforgettable memories are made. Every Game is a New Adventure…
Over 1000 so far! From classics to modern designer games, you’re sure to find something you like. Simply grab a game and start playing, and if you’d like someone to teach you, our games masters are on hand.
You can play for as long as your budget will allow. Unlike regular cafes and restaurants, we want you to stay for a long time, so there are NO add on extras for the time of your stay - so settle in and get comfortable. We have food and drink to help keep your adventures going.
The vast majority of our efforts go back into the community so the cover charge helps with things like manpower, replenishing and expanding our games library, and hosting events.
On the whole-we do not charge for our work in the community.
Visitor Information
Entry requirments and cost
We take reservations, walk-ins, groups, and we are also kid-friendly. A reservation is recommended to guarantee a table. To keep our business sustainable, we apply our entrance fees at all times.
Children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult, so we are unable to take bookings for children only.
Private Hire Rooms
Along with our open areas, we have a dedicated room for large scale strategy, which is available to rent out for as long as you need.
We also have a dedicated, private function room to rent, kitted out with a large TV, dynamic LED lighting, and wall mounted speakers so your games can really come alive! Alongside this we can contact a DM for you to hire to run a DnD session.
The private function room and upper level of the café can also serve for group meetings of any nature. Prices vary based on player count and day (but will tend to be between £40-£90) so please contact us to find out more.
Parking
There is limited 2hr on street parking available in the general vicinity of the cafe. Restrictions apply 8am-6pm Mon-Sat. Please read the signs before you park! There are also public car parks a few minutes walk away for longer stays such as Ordnance Road, Kings Park Road, Compton Walk or Bevois Valley Road.
Public transport
We can also be accessed by bus. The U6C, U6H and the 20 running in both directions stop at Denzil Avenue, right in front of our door. The 1, 2, U1C, U1A, U2C, U2B also all stop at the law courts which is only a 5 minute walk away.
Accessibility
Our building is wheelchair accessible, with a disabled toilet and a ramp for the 1 step in the building. The building is well lit and normally a comfortable talking level, however this may be increased during larger events.
We want to be as accessible as possible so if you have any questions please contact us for more information.