A friend of mine will be in London for a few weeks later this year and would like purchase a new board / set for his "for fun" collection (spends up to about $100 per purchase). He buys a new board or new set whenever he travels internationally. Any recommended stores / places / areas he should check out?
Thanks!
Originally posted by obscured08BCM Shop on Baker Street (google - and if he goes he can say hello to Sherlock Holmes who lived nearby).
A friend of mine will be in London for a few weeks later this year and would like purchase a new board / set for his "for fun" collection (spends up to about $100 per purchase). He buys a new board or new set whenever he travels internationally. Any recommended stores / places / areas he should check out?
Thanks!
Alternatively there's the Chess Shop (owned by publishers of Chess Magazine) which is at the top of Tottenham Court Road (nearest tube is Great Portland Street).
Both are in the West End so pretty central.
Originally posted by obscured08Although I was never in London there was some nice coincidence when my friend went to Royal Academy of Music and told me that there is nice big chess specialized store somewhere in the diameter of 100 meters around the Academy
A friend of mine will be in London for a few weeks later this year and would like purchase a new board / set for his "for fun" collection (spends up to about $100 per purchase). He buys a new board or new set whenever he travels internationally. Any recommended stores / places / areas he should check out?
Thanks!
Originally posted by ivan2908It will be one of the two above - there are only the two specialist chess shops in london
Although I was never in London there was some nice coincidence when my friend went to Royal Academy of Music and told me that there is nice big chess specialized store somewhere in the diameter of 100 meters around the Academy
I know what this guy is going through.
I have over 40 full size chess sets picked up from various places.
http://chessedinburgh.co.uk/chandlerarticle.php?ChandID=138
Either of the two places mentioned will see him right.
I've been to both.
If he intends to buy an expensive Staunton ask him to enquire
if being a subscriber to CHESS will get it any cheaper.
He may save £20-£30 if he subscribes and then buys the set
and the saving includes the price of subscription.
My latest passion is buying the set and board that was used as
Board one in any congress - yes I know I'm a nutcase.
Thankfully big tournaments now use these 'live boards' so I cannot
buy them.
Originally posted by ivan2908that's two more than most cities ... and doesn't include several large (general) book shops that have largish chess sections.
Only two in one of the biggest cities of the world ? Well chess is pretty underrated stuff these days ...
Actually Foyles used to have shelves and shelves of chess books - probably as much if not more than the specialist shops - but a few years back they finally started cutting back on their massive over stock and now their chess section is rather modest.
What London really lacks compared to many cities is an area of chess tables where people can meet and play.
Originally posted by JonathanB of LondonI'm a regular at Chess and Bridge on Euston road (the one near the top of Tottenham Crt Rd) their website is www.chess.co.uk and I've always found them very helpful either buying from the shop or online. It is owned and run by Malcolm Pein who is an IM and the people I've met who work there are chess players and give good advice. Big collection of books as well as sets.
BCM Shop on Baker Street (google - and if he goes he can say hello to Sherlock Holmes who lived nearby).
Alternatively there's the Chess Shop (owned by publishers of Chess Magazine) which is at the top of Tottenham Court Road (nearest tube is Great Portland Street).
Both are in the West End so pretty central.