Board in the City are a community group who run board game events around Hampshire for anyone interested in getting a little more play in their day. Visiting schools, hospitals and public spaces the group have become a popular name for face-to-face gaming, and now they are setting up a more permanent home with their own cafe. Setting up on the old site of the Dorchester Arms in Onslow Road, there will be over 200 games for customers to choose from, with game experts on hand to help you get started. As well as this there will a selection of specially selected, mostly vegan and vegetarian food and drinks to keep gamers going. The group was first set up by MIllbrook mum Hayley Binstead with friend Michelle Dadswell, who have both seen gaming's benifits for a variety of young people.

The mum of three said: “We’ve been running games in the community for free for about six years. We work in schools, youth groups and hospitals."

“The café will help us spread the gaming further afield. We do it for free in school hours but because I’m a foster mum and Michelle has three kids we can’t do it out of school hours

“There are over 650 people in care in Southampton – we’re often told by social workers that they have nowhere to take the young people they look after.

"Gaming is a therapy and if there was somewhere to go it might help with relaxation while playing.”

“It’s about social interaction, and purely face-to-face playing,” Hayley said.

For more information visit their Facebook page, and to attend their launch event register here.