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Chess & Bridge shop relocation
Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2026 5:38 pm
by Paolo Casaschi
Just noticed this announcement:
https://chess.co.uk/pages/visit-our-retail-store
Does anyone know the new location?
Re: Chess & Bridge shop relocation
Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2026 5:52 pm
by John Upham
The current C&B premise was the former home of British Chess Magazine. C&B prior to Baker Street was at Euston Road when the lease expired.
I assume that the same thing has happened at Baker Street.
No knowledge of the new retail premise location.
Re: Chess & Bridge shop relocation
Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2026 9:55 pm
by Jon D'Souza-Eva
John Upham wrote: ↑Sun Apr 19, 2026 5:52 pm
The current C&B premise was the former home of British Chess Magazine. C&B prior to Baker Street was at Euston Road when the lease expired.
I assume that the same thing has happened at Baker Street.
The announcement on their facebook page said that the building was being demolished.
Re: Chess & Bridge shop relocation
Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2026 9:46 am
by John Upham
Jon D'Souza-Eva wrote: ↑Sun Apr 19, 2026 9:55 pm
John Upham wrote: ↑Sun Apr 19, 2026 5:52 pm
The current C&B premise was the former home of British Chess Magazine. C&B prior to Baker Street was at Euston Road when the lease expired.
I assume that the same thing has happened at Baker Street.
The announcement on their facebook page said that the building was being demolished.
Thanks for the update. Sad to see it go.
Re: Chess & Bridge shop relocation
Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2026 11:01 am
by Rob Coles
"Please note our retail shop located at 44 Baker Street, London is now permanently closed. We will be moving to a new central London location this summer and full details will be released in the next issue of CHESS"
From the April edition of Chess magazine.
Re: Chess & Bridge shop relocation
Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2026 8:26 pm
by R G Edwards
I'm amazed that they can afford to trade in central London. The rateable value of 44 Baker Street is £76,500. Which means that their business rates are £32,895 per year. Then there's the lease, which for 1000 square feet (this includes the sales floor and back office, toilet etc) in that location is roughly £95,000 per year. So that's about £125,000 per year in rent and rates. And that's excluding all the other costs. You have to sell an awful lot of stock to cover that.
Re: Chess & Bridge shop relocation
Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2026 10:15 am
by Mike Gunn
On the many times I have been to the shop (in Euston Road and Baker Street) they always seem to have a fair number of customers.
Re: Chess & Bridge shop relocation
Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2026 12:42 pm
by David Gilbert
Mike Gunn wrote: ↑Tue Apr 21, 2026 10:15 am
On the many times I have been to the shop (in Euston Road and Baker Street) they always seem to have a fair number of customers.
Indeed. I’ve even bumped (literally) into you in the shop! I do recall an American couple spending a small fortune on Bridge books conceding “we’ve nothing like this at home”. Looking forward to discovering the whereabouts of the new premises and paying a visit.
Re: Chess & Bridge shop relocation
Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2026 12:29 pm
by MJMcCready
Please do post the new address here once it is confirmed.
Re: Chess & Bridge shop relocation
Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2026 9:58 am
by MartinCarpenter
R G Edwards wrote: ↑Mon Apr 20, 2026 8:26 pm
I'm amazed that they can afford to trade in central London. The rateable value of 44 Baker Street is £76,500. Which means that their business rates are £32,895 per year. Then there's the lease, which for 1000 square feet (this includes the sales floor and back office, toilet etc) in that location is roughly £95,000 per year. So that's about £125,000 per year in rent and rates. And that's excluding all the other costs. You have to sell an awful lot of stock to cover that.
The answer I got was people dropping in and buying randomly expensive chess sets
You don't need that to happen so very often to make it worth keeping a physical presence and central London presumably has very impressive footfall.
Re: Chess & Bridge shop relocation
Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2026 10:15 am
by Paul Heaton
From the teaser of the May magazine on Chess & Bridge website seems we will have to wait longer for a new location, though June still a target. In the editorial:
“I am hopeful that Chess and Bridge Ltd
will reopen in a new central London location
sometime in June.”
Re: Chess & Bridge shop relocation
Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2026 12:25 pm
by James Pratt
I wonder whether Malcolm's future FIDE candidature might be linked to the absence of an emporium ? Afterall, nobody appears a shrewder operator now do they?
James
Re: Chess & Bridge shop relocation
Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2026 5:19 pm
by Geoff Chandler
I spotted the CHESS van and staff at the Finsbury Park car boot sale.
Re: Chess & Bridge shop relocation
Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2026 1:30 pm
by Paul Heaton
Latest magazine says will hopefully open in July (though aspiration this coincides with Chessfest this Sunday seems ambitious) not too far from the old one.
Paul Heaton wrote: ↑Thu Apr 30, 2026 10:15 am
From the teaser of the May magazine on Chess & Bridge website seems we will have to wait longer for a new location, though June still a target. In the editorial:
“I am hopeful that Chess and Bridge Ltd
will reopen in a new central London location
sometime in June.”
Re: Chess & Bridge shop relocation
Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2026 6:05 pm
by MJMcCready
Do we know what the new location is yet?