Birmingham's Game Guru is expanding. The board game cafe, which opened at the Utilita Arena in October 2025, will open its second location at Touchwood Shopping Centre in Solihull on 14 May.
Run game nights? Backseat Gamer handles RSVPs, waitlists, date polling, and game voting so you can focus on playing.
Start organising for freeThe original Game Guru packs more than 450 board and card games into a 4,000 sq ft space alongside wood-fired pizza, craft burgers, and a full drinks menu. It runs weekly community events including Play and Connect nights, member meetups, and social game nights. Membership ranges from £20 a month up to the Golden Ticket at £250 a year, which gets you unlimited play, discounts, and priority event access.
The Solihull location will follow a similar model, combining dedicated gaming space, curated retail, and a cafe under one roof. Like the Birmingham venue, it will host regular events including tournaments, launch nights, and learn-to-play sessions.
Got a regular group? Create a private community, poll for the best date, vote on games, and let your friends RSVP in one place.
Set up your group for freeGame Guru sits just minutes from the NEC, where UK Games Expo celebrates its 20th anniversary this May, and the venue has built ties to the UKGE community with exclusive offers for attendees. Given Birmingham's growing reputation as a board gaming hub, a second venue in the wider West Midlands makes sense.
The UK now has more than 340 board game cafes, up from just 12 a decade ago. Game Guru is the latest sign that the appetite for physical gaming spaces is far from satisfied, particularly outside London. If you are in the area, it is worth checking out, and if you are heading to UKGE at the end of May, you have a new spot to play between sessions.
Sources: Toy World Magazine | UK Games Expo
