'Community is the core of gaming businesses'

A community of board game enthusiasts who were left so heartbroken by the closure of their favourite gaming cafe they opened their own, are planning to move to a larger location.

Potteries Gaming, on Hope Street, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, opened in November 2024, just weeks after Geek Retreat shut down.

Angela Poole, a former Geek Retreat manager, and customer Fiona Wood raised more than £2,000 through crowdfunding to launch the new venture.

"We had this strong community that wanted to stay together," Ms Poole said. "They were lost, they needed a place to go."

Potteries Gaming offers a range of board, trading card and table-top games alongside hot and cold drinks.

Ms Poole, who along with Ms Wood acts as director of Potteries Gaming, said some customers relied on the safe space provided by the cafe, with many visiting at least once a week.

The response has been so strong that Ms Poole and Ms Wood are now on the lookout for a bigger premises – and have applied to register it as a community interest company (CIC).

Director Fiona Wood is a former customer at Geek Retreat

"Community is the core of gaming businesses," said Ms Wood.

"If you can keep that community together, and grow that community, you'll be successful."

"It's about enjoyment, and being away from the screen... having that human interaction."

Matthew Cooke said places like Potteries Gaming are invaluable for young people

Customer Matthew Cooke, from Stoke, said places like Potteries Gaming were an important resource for young people in the area.

"They come from all around the city, into one place, and it's amazing," he explained.

"We haven't got many places like this locally."

Alex Jockel said gaming cafes were "like gold dust"

Alex Jockel, from Norton, brings his children to the gaming cafe nearly every week.

"Since the closure of the youth centres in the area, there is very little in Stoke-on-Trent for young people to do," he said.

"Places like this - well, they're like gold dust round here."

Ms Poole said with the new business proving so popular in such a short amount of time, the future was looking bright.

"We've literally outgrown this building now and we need somewhere bigger," she said.