Shops / News
How one shop is changing the game of how we play
Board-gamers in Bristol now have a new one-stop-shop to buy and play games.
Eastville resident András Ocskai has opened Play More Board Games – a board game shop and cafe on Church Road in St George.
The shop offers customers a space to game, enjoy refreshments and browse through hundreds of board games for sale.
is needed now More than ever
Owner András has loved board games since childhood, growing up in a family that not only played but created their own board games.
András added: “We made our own board games when we were kids – trivia games, roll the dice and go games.
“My father, my siblings and me, we all made games just for fun.”
Play More Board Games is a cosy gaming stop for everyone from noobs to experts – photo: Carla Wakfer
His deep-rooted passion for board games inspired András to open a space where people can play and connect.
Whether you’re a seasoned gamer or just curious to try something new, András offers a warm welcome.
He said: “Last Saturday, a group played here and had so much fun – they laughed a lot and made me smile.
“It’s good vibes all around.”
If you’re looking for a new hobby or a great way to meet people, Play More Board Games could be your new favourite hangout.
There are hundreds of games for you to peruse, try and buy at Play More Board Games – photo: Carla Wakfer
András, who unsurprisingly owns a huge collection of board games, acknowledged that the ‘play more’ in the shop’s name was as much for customers as it was for him as he “needs to play more, not just buy them.”
Gamers can play for £2.50 per hour, with big plans in the pipeline including events and championships.
For those wary of investing in expensive games, András is considering a ‘try before you buy’ model, where customers can pay a percentage of the game’s price to unbox and test it out.
Operating as an eBay shop too, Play More Board Games stocks everything from heavy strategy games to quick party games and D&D miniatures.
Snacks, drinks and spare parts for board games, András’ shop had everything a gamer could want
András also offers replacement parts for popular games, helping players keep their favourites in top shape. He said: “Sometimes the dog eats the tiles or cards get damaged and it’s hard to find replacements.
“I want to be a board game hospital too.”
After living in London and Nottingham for years, András is now eager to widen his network in Bristol which is “the nicest, most friendly city” he has ever lived in.
He’s eager to collaborate with other local businesses and gaming groups, aiming to create a thriving, inclusive community.
“I don’t want to compete with others – I want to include them,” he said.
“Maybe we’ll have Catan championships, D&D nights, or Pokémon card trading events.”
Play More Board Games is committed to being an alcohol-free space, because according to András “after a few beers, it’s just party games and slapping the table” something that is not his focus for this space.
All he wants is “to attract a serious gaming community”.
“It’s all good vibes” at Play More Board Games
András sources local services for the shop, from the sign maker down the road, to the plumber around the corner.
Keen to promote community spirit and work with the many independent shops on Church Road, he is also currently looking for local graffiti artists to decorate his window shutters.
Additionally, he plans to support local game designers by providing space for them to test and showcase their creations.
He said: “If someone makes their own game at home, they can bring it here to playtest with real people and maybe we’ll publish it one day.”
Carla Wakfer is reporting on St George as part of Bristol24/7’s Community Reporters programme, aiming to amplify marginalised voices and communities often overlooked by mainstream media.
This initiative is funded by our public, Better Business members and a grant from The Nisbets Trust.
All photos: Carla Wakfer
Read next:
Our newsletters emailed directly to you
