Opening Hours and Playing Times

Because we own the clubrooms we are potentially able to use them at any time of the week, but normal member use is Mon-Sat from around 7.30pm until 11pm, although junior training usually takes place earlier than this. We have a caretaker who lives on-site part of the time and who will open the club in the evening on the nights he is there.

The popular & informal club night is on Tuesday, and visitors are recommended to drop in on that night if possible as there will usually be someone there but there is less likelihood of serious match play going on and we will be able to show them around. Most casual play takes place from about 7.30pm onwards, while league matches on other nights usually start between 7 and 7.30pm.

In practice the use of the clubrooms varies depending on the time of year. The chess league season runs from October to March/April and the club season starts in September, so the club is usually busier during those months as home league matches often take place on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, with club tournaments sometimes also taking place. However if you visit outwith the season, particularly in the summer, then it is much quieter, and may not be open every night.

Fridays and Saturdays are no longer popular days for playing, even during the season, so we don't guarantee to be open then, in order to give the caretaker some flexibility, so access depends on whether a council member or senior player happens to be in attendance. (Regretably insurance considerations prevent us from issuing keys to all members.) Should a member wish to play on those days then they should enquire with a council member or the caretaker about access.