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Time of India
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Chennai emerges as the capital of board game cafes in india
It's 10 pm, the eatery on the ground floor has closed, but the night has only begun on the third floor of The Board Room cafe. The tables are packed, and groups are setting up for hours of intense 'gaming'. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Only, in place of joysticks and consoles are meeple, dice, and tokens on a board. Phones are forgotten here. The game could go on till 5 am, but it doesn't matter to the players. "There is no limit to imagination in board games. It can become more immersive than video games," says Ashish Venkat, a hardcore board gamer. For many, the progression from video games to board games was natural once they got to know the variety and range, but others such as Ashish just walked into one of the cafés one day and got hooked. "During Covid, I got some free time and attended an online game session for beginners at The Board Room. Soon I started visiting the café every day. I'd play for eight hours a day, at times till 2 am," says the 34-year-old. In 2019, Chennai had just a couple of such cafes where a small group of regulars used to congregate. But today, there are more than 20, the highest in the country, says Phalgun Polepalli, founder of Mozaic Games and TTOX, one of the major board game conventions in the country. "The board game cafés in Chennai are also the most occupied in the country," he says. "The city has about 5,000 hardcore players today, and the games are available even in grocery and bookstores," says Suwetha Sundar, senior game guru at The Board Room, supposedly among the largest of such cafes in the country. "After Covid, youngsters wanted to connect in person, and to do something that doesn't involve screens," says Thara Srinivasan, game master, Dungeons and Dragons. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Masters are an indispensable part of a game café as they explain rules and often join teams. While it's mostly hardcore gamers and young adults who throng the all-nighters, in the daytime, the cafes see families coming in with children, solo players, beginners, and tourists who want to experience something new. Board game birthday parties are becoming the rage too. Most players are in the 16-35 age group — IT folk, lawyers, students — but there are also those who get introduced in their 40s, says Suwetha. "Adults want to get away from workplace stress, for young people it's mostly a form of bonding, as they don't have a space to meet up every week. " It was Carnatic vocalist Sanjay Subrahmanyam and wife Aarthi who introduced stand-up comedian Aravind S A to the world of board games, and now he does the same to new "minions" he says. "Sanjay has 1,000-plus games at his home and he's a patient teacher as well, which I'm not. So I take the newbies to cafes to get them acquainted with the rules, and then we all play together at my home. And no, these aren't Monopoly or Uno which most millennials grew up with but a massive range of 30 categories. Nature-themed games are among the most popular now, such as WingSpan where you set up bird trays, place the dice in the bird feeder, and play with egg tokens and bird cards, learning about species as you play. In Evolution, you score points by feeding rare species, boosting population as you progress. Gameistry, Egmore, and The Board Room have more than 1,000 games each, mostly imported. "People are also interested in strategy games these days," says Prashaunth Kamalakannan of Gameistry. The games can be expensive if one tries to buy them, costing from Rs 5,000 to Rs 26,000, which is a reason many prefer to pay the hourly rates at cafes, at Rs 150 per person. For example, 'Foundations of Rome' has 3D miniatures of Roman architecture, which users have to construct, is among those which costs above Rs 20,000. The cafes have now diversified to include workshops, quiz nights, events, and all-nighters. Also, Chennai is unique in that there's a culture of teaching games at these cafes, says Sriram Mahalingam, co-founder of The Board Room. They started out as a restaurant serving as a free meet-up group in Adyar renting out board games and conducting online gaming sessions. "There wasn't much of a game scene until 2019, but soon the community started growing, and today, we have three branches. " It takes 45 minutes or more to teach the rules for a new game, which is difficult in café hours, and that's when they hit upon the idea of an all-nighter, around two years ago, says Sriram. "We began hosting one every other week and it evolved into a community event. Many also use the workspace option to work and play." The best part of these cafes, says Thara, is the open table concept. "You don't need to bring your friends for teammates; you can pick them from the community. " Gamers get notifications on WhatsApp groups on what will be played where and when, and form teams before they arrive. "Board games are a great socialisation tool but work best for introverts too. You don't need to make small talk or open up about your life. You're all there for the love of the game," says Thara.
Scotsman
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
I stayed the weekend at this new St Andrews hotel and it's beyond fabulous
Paul Reid The newest addition to Fife's hotel scene is impressive Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... From our first floor terrace, we look out to West Sands and the Old Course. The statue of Old Tom Morris at Bow Butts is being smooched by a teenager, while this summer's swallows loop-the-loop. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad We're at the new five-star boutique hotel Seaton House. To be honest, I'd come with zero expectations, but I'm utterly smitten by this new 42-bedroom addition to the town. I've stayed at most of St Andrews' established hotels, but this place - owned by Valor Hospitality Partners - is easily the most appealing. There's that view, but also, the charming service, and the Victorian building. It was built as two townhouses, one of which was a boys' school, but they were merged, and, from the Thirties onwards, the property was The Scores Hotel. Budget or boutique? Boutique. Rooms start from £200. Room service There is a tendency for St Andrews hotels to go for a masculine US style, to suit their golfing clientele. Seaton House makes reference to the game, but softens and modernises the look, with just a touch of tasteful tartan. Our 387sq ft Junior Suite with Sea View - one of nine suites and junior suites, three of which have garden or sea views - is set across two levels, which gives it a theatrical feel, with light flooding in from the huge windows. On the upper mezzanine level is a comfortable seating area, and a telly inset into a panel, so you can rotate it and watch from the super king bed or sofa. The lower level area has tub chairs and a desk, as well as a huge marble clad shower room with Natura Bisse products. It's all very ergonomic, but beautiful, too. Maybe the nicest room I've ever stayed in. Contributed Wining and dining Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad It's home to two restaurants: chef Roy Brett's seafood venue, Ondine, and The Board Room, where they serve charcuterie, cheese and seafood boards. Ondine has a gorgeous turquoise tiled bar, with honey-coloured parquet floors. From seagulls to surfers, there is always something to watch from the windows. I'm happy to sample Roy Brett's food again, since he shut his Edinburgh branch. We tried the scallops with bacon jam; lemon sole; monkfish poivre and chips, with zingy sorbet for pudding. On night two, there are old fashioneds in the wood-panelled Bow Butts bar, before we head to The Board Room to try ALL their platters. When in Rome. The seafood version features Welch Fishmongers' wares, with hot smoked salmon, wild halibut and other piscine goodies. Their IJ Mellis cheese selection includes five slabs of fromage, including St Andrews Cheddar, and Wee Comrie, along with oatcakes and other accoutrements. While the meaty version is East Coast Cured and Peelham Farm's finest. They also serve breakfast in this bright space, with its velvety russet seating. Among other things, it includes dishes like the glorious cinnamon granola with apple compote, an excellent pain au raisin, or Newhaven smoked salmon and scrambled eggs. Contributed Worth getting out of bed for The hotel can organise a selection of activities, from private shopping in Araminta Campbell's atelier, to clay pigeon shooting, or an outdoor yoga session followed by a steam in the nearby Wild Scottish Sauna. We try the alpaca experience at Bowbridge Farm, which is led by owner Alison Johnson. They have a herd of around 60, and, first, we feed the babies for a cuteness overload. We learn how to herd them into a pen, and train them to allow a harness to be slipped over their fluffy noses, before leading them on a mini assault course. Afterwards, we do a bit of felting, with their wool, and take home our dinky alpacas as souvenirs. I wish we could smuggle away a full-sized one, too. Little extras Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The mini bar is gratis if you're staying in a suite, so help yourself to juices, beers, and Tunnocks galore. Our room also features a carafe of Kingsbarns whisky, and a large sweetie jar full of mints. On the ground floor, you'll find the hotel's garden view bijoux gym, should you need to work off the cheese. In this busy part of town, the hotel helpfully has a small car park out back, and valet parking. Guestbook comments Absolutely STUNNING property.
The Herald Scotland
05-06-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Renowned chef unveils new restaurant in Scottish town
Seaton House, the newly opened St Andrews hotel invites guests to experience the "residential ambiance and warm Scottish hospitality" of restaurants Ondine Oyster & Grill, The Board Room, and Bow Butts Bar with an "inspiring" whisky collection. The jewel in the hotel's food and beverage crown is home to Ondine Oyster & Grill, headed up by chef Roy Brett and executive chef Mark Drummond. The restaurant, one of the dishes, and chef Roy Brett. (Image: Ondine) With the hotel near the first tee of the Old Course, the highly "stylish and contemporary" dining room features an Oyster Bar on one side "while offering stunning views of West Sands Beach and the Fife coastline on the other". Ondine Oyster & Grill also features original artwork and a showstopping bar. However, "seafood will be the star of the show, with diners treated to the theatre of being able to watch chefs shuck and shell some of the finest oysters in the world". READ MORE: The firm said: "Led by one of Scotland's most acclaimed chefs, owner and founder Roy Brett, the award-winning Ondine Oyster & Grill experience will be available throughout Seaton House, with Roy also curating the menu served in a second restaurant, known as The Board Room. "Named after a play on 'charcuterie board', The Board Room, with its rich timber tones and a large chandelier adorned with copper thistles, offers a second dining experience in an intimate and relaxed space to enjoy some light bites and plates, prepared at your table and perfect for sharing. The circular table in the centre of The Board Room will encourage effortless conversation between guests. "Promising genuine Scottish hospitality, guests and locals alike will be treated to the best of Scotland's larder, from the highlands to the lowlands, wherever they choose to dine." The list of suppliers includes Edinburgh cheesemonger IJ Mellis, Fife's David Lowrie Fish Merchants Ltd, Peelham Farm in Berwickshire and award-winning charcuterie company East Coast Cured from Leith. Seaton House will also source "the best east coast shellfish and crustacea, as well as fantastic Argyll langoustines and scallops from Welch's Fishmongers".
