Visiting the club

We always welcome new players, but officials are often tied with in matches, so please try to contact the secretary ahead of your visit using the contact email address on this website. Then we will expect you and can prepare for your arrival.

The best time for your initial visit is the first Monday of the month, ideally around 7pm, so before matches begin at 7.30pm. That will allow time to greet you properly, assess your chess strength and ask what you are looking for from a chess club – league chess, social chess, junior or adult training, etc.

If you do arrive at 7pm, it is likely that the door to the Richard Mayo Centre will still be locked, but ring the bell on the outside door and you will be admitted.

We try to cater for players of all strengths and ambitions, regardless of whether or not you know your Sicilian from your Sokolsky. Our membership ranges from master-strength players to relative novices and everyone is welcome. We believe that every member, whatever their strength, can derive pleasure from the club and make a meaningful contribution.

Playing for the club

We don’t immediately charge anyone who comes along to visit the club and play a few friendlies. It’s important for us that you feel our club is a good fit before you formally join as a member. Only club members can play for our teams. For more details see our Membership page.

Keeping up to date

There is a lot more information about us on our About page. As well as detailing the club’s activities on this website – where we post news, games and opinion about current issues in the chess world – you can follow and contact the club via our Twitter account. We look forward to hearing from you, and better still seeing you at the Richard Mayo Centre soon. Your move. 

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