Outside The Box Board Game Cafe

04/11/2026

🎆 WHAT'S ON THIS WEEK AT OUTSIDE THE BOX! 🎄

Halloween is over, Bonfire Night is upon us, and before we know it, it'll be Christmas!

It's time to start thinking about Christmas presents, family get-togethers and catching up with friends. We can help with all three! 🎁

Whether you're looking for a new game to play around the Christmas table, a present for someone who's difficult to buy for, or somewhere to get everyone together for an evening, come and see us!

Here's what's happening this week:

☕ Wednesday, 12–3pm – Chatty Café
Our free weekly get-together. Pop in for a chat, a cuppa and some friendly company. Everyone welcome!

🎆 Thursday, 3pm – Light & Lovely Games Club: featuring Hanabi
Very appropriate for Bonfire Night! This week we're playing Hanabi, a clever little cooperative game where you're trying to put on the perfect firework display. The catch? Everyone can see your cards except you!

🔥 Thursday, 6.30pm – We Read The Rules: London
We're heading back to London after the Great Fire of 1666! Join us to learn this brilliant Martin Wallace game about rebuilding the capital. We read the rules so you don't have to!

♟️ Friday – Clubs Galore!

3.30pm – Scrabble Club

4.30pm – U18 Chess Club

7pm - Mahjong for Beginners – FULLY BOOKED!

🀄 Saturday, 7pm – Mahjong Club
Another chance to get together for an evening of Mahjong!

See you soon!

Rachel & Helen x

03/11/2026

🎄 Anyone still trying to organise the work Christmas do?

Helen and I would love to host you at Outside The Box!

We've got over 300 games, including some brilliant ones for larger groups. We'll even teach you how to play, so no experience needed 😂

You can have the whole café to yourselves, or just book a few tables. Pies, pizzas and a licensed bar too!

Drop us a message if you fancy something a bit different this year. 🎲
[email protected]

01/11/2026

🎲 We've had some lovely new dice arrive in the café!

First up, Mystery Dice Advent Calendars – 25 days, 25 mystery dice to unwrap. Includes a full set of dice. A rather nice alternative to chocolate if you've got a D&D player in the family!

We've also got Jumbo Liquid Core Mystery Dice, which are enormous and have swirling liquid inside. They're quite mesmerising to watch!

Both are in stock now, so pop in and have a look next time you're passing. Get a head start on your Christmas shopping!

31/10/2026

30/10/2026

🎃 HALLOWEEN GAMES AFTER DARK! 👻

Tomorrow night at Outside The Box for an evening of mystery, monsters and magic. 💀

Everyone will get to play three different games during the evening, including some Halloween favourites:

🩸 Betrayal at House on the Hill
👻 Mysterium
🔮 Omens
🔪 Chucky

🗓️ Saturday 31st October
🕡 6.30–10pm
📍 Outside The Box Board Games Café, Bramhall

We'll explain the rules, so you can concentrate on surviving the evening!

🎟️ Book your place on our website now!

29/10/2026

We are seeking volunteers for our under 18's Chess Club. This runs every Friday 4.30pm - 5.30pm at Outside The Box Board Games Cafe. If you know how to play chess and would like to help young people to improve their game then please get in touch.

Please contact Helen & Rachel by email at [email protected] or you could pop in to see us for more information. 😃

28/10/2026

🎃 **WHAT'S ON THIS WEEK AT OUTSIDE THE BOX!** 👻

It's half term AND it's Halloween! 🎃

The café is all decorated for Halloween, and we've got spooky lollipops and pumpkin spice hot chocolate topped with Halloween marshmallows to get you in the mood! 👻

**Here are our Hallowe'en Events this week:**

🩸 **Wednesday 28th, 6.30pm – Blood on the Clocktower Hallowe'en Special**
SOLD OUT! A night of murder, mystery and plenty of accusations!

🎨 **Thursday 29th, 12pm – Kids' Hallowe'en Crafts: Masks & Skeleton Hands**
Get creative with Helen at our Halloween craft workshop. Just **4 spaces left!**

🧪 **Thursday 29th, 3pm – Board Game Academy: The Quacks of Quedlinburg**
Come and learn this brilliant push-your-luck game about brewing potions and trying not to blow up your cauldron! **4 spaces left!**

🐙 **Thursday 29th, 6.30pm – We Read The Rules: Unfathomable**
SOLD OUT! We're heading aboard the SS Atlantica, where terrifying creatures lurk beneath the waves and not everyone is who they seem. Just look at those monsters in the photo!

🦇 Friday 30th, 2.15pm – Hallowe'en Batty Bingo
SOLD OUT! Four rounds of bingo, Halloween mini-games and plenty of family fun, all raising money for the Chatty Café Scheme!

👻 **Saturday 31st, 6.30pm – Hallowe'en Games: After Dark**
We're finishing the week with an evening of spooky board games! Everyone will get to play three different games, from longer mysteries to quick and silly Halloween favourites.

**Book your space on our website!**

26/10/2026

Join us for some Spooky crafty fun this half term. Only 4 tickets left for the masks and skeleton hands workshop 👻 on Thursday 29th October at 12pm. Feeling hungry? Why not include pizza in your ticket booking! Grab your space on our website

25/10/2026

📸This week's Customer Photo of the Week features some impressive balancing skills!

The game is Nekojima, and the aim is to build a network of wooden poles and cables without bringing the whole lot crashing down.

These two lovely customers spent a whole hour determinedly working together to progress through the levels. I don't think we've ever seen a team stick at it for so long!

It's tricky enough indoors, never mind in today's windy weather! 😂

If you're looking for somewhere warm and dry to spend your Sunday, we're open 12–7pm, with plenty of games to keep you entertained.

23/10/2026

♠️ **BRIDGE OUTSIDE THE BOX** ♥️

Have you always fancied learning to play Bridge, but been put off by the thought of a lengthy course or having to find a partner to come along with?

We're doing things a little differently at Outside The Box!

Meet Becca and Steve (pictured), our friends who have offered to introduce you to Bridge over two relaxed sessions.

The idea is to learn enough of the basics to get you playing, without committing to a long course. And if you enjoy it, we're hoping to follow up with regular, informal sessions where beginners and improvers can continue playing and learning together.

And you don't need to bring a partner! Come along on your own and we'll match you up with other players.

We've recently added a page to our website especially for people who'd like to visit Outside The Box on their own. Bridge is another opportunity to meet people over a shared interest.

You'll find details of our Bridge sessions and our new Solo Visitors page on our website.

♣️ ♦️