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One of the most vibrant locations on a weekday evening in east London's Brick Lane isn't a dining spot or a urban fashion label temporary shop, it is a chess club – or rather a chess and nightlife fusion, precisely speaking.

This unique venue represents the surprising blend between the classic game and London's dynamic nightlife culture. It was started by a young entrepreneur, in his late twenties, who began his initial chess club in August 2023 at a smaller bar in a nearby area, not too far from the current location at Café 1001 on Brick Lane.

“I wanted to make chess clubs for individuals who share my background and those my age,” he explained. “Typically, chess is only put in spaces that are dominated by senior individuals, which is not diverse enough.”

On the first night, there were only 8 boards between 16 people. Now, a “good night” at the regular club event will attract about 280 attendees.

Upon arrival, the venue seems closer to a music night than a chess club. Cocktails are being served and tunes is in the air, but the chessboards on each table aren't just decorative or there as a gimmick: they are all in use and surrounded by a queue of spectators eagerly anticipating for their turn.

One regular, 24, has been attending Knight Club often for the past several months. “I possessed no knowledge of chess before I came here, and the first time I ever played, I played a game against a expert player. That was a quick win, but it left me intrigued to study and keep playing chess,” she said.

“The event is about 50% social and half participants genuinely wishing to engage in chess … It's a pleasant way to unwind, which avoids going to a club to see other people my generation.”

An Activity Reborn: Chess in the Contemporary Age

Lately, chess has been firmly established in the societal spirit of the times. Its appeal of online chess proliferated during the pandemic, making it one of the most rapidly expanding online games in the world. In popular culture, the streaming series a hit show, along with the author's recent novel Intermezzo, have crafted a distinct imagery surrounding the game, which has attracted a fresh wave of players.

But a great deal of this recent appeal of the chess night isn't always about the intricacies of the game; rather, it is the simplicity of connecting with others that it enables, by taking a seat and playing with someone who may be a total unknown individual.

“It is a great clever disguise,” remarked Jonah Freud, co-founder of a local venue in London, a bookshop, library, coffee house and bar, which has organized a well-attended chess club weekly since it began four years ago. Freud’s aim is to “remove chess from its elite status and make it feel like billiards in a casual pub”.

“It is a very simple tool to meet people. It somewhat removes the pressure of the necessity of small talk away from interacting with people. One can handle the awkward part of introducing yourself and talking to a new acquaintance across a board instead of with no kind of shared activity around it.”

Expanding the Community: Chess Nights Beyond the Capital

Elsewhere in the UK, Chesscafé is a regular chess night held at York’s Cafe, just outside the city centre. “Our observation was that individuals are seeking spaces where you can socialize, socialise and have a good time beyond going to a pub or club,” said its founder and coordinator, a young leader, 21.

Alongside his friend a partner, 21, he purchased chessboards, created flyers and began the chess club in the start of the year, during his final year of university. Within months, he reported their event has grown to attract over 100 youthful participants to its events.

“Such a venue has a particular connotation associated with it, about it being quiet. We really try to go the contrary direction; it is a social party with chess as part of it,” he said.

Discovering and Playing: An Alternative Cohort of Chess Enthusiasts

Among numerous attendees, chess clubs are an introduction to the game. One participant, 27, is learning how to participate in chess with other attenders of chess night at Reference Point. She became curious in the game was piqued after an pleasurable evening moving to music and playing chess at a previous Knight Club's events.

“It's a strange concept, but it functions well,” she said. “It promotes face-to-face exchanges rather than digital pastimes. It is a no-cost neutral ground to meet new people. It's inviting, one doesn't need to necessarily be good at chess.”

Kezia humorously likened the popularity of chess among young people to the facade of the “performative male”, an attempt to feign braininess while projecting the veneer of “coolness”. Whether the chess trend has cultivated a authentic passion in the sport is not a notion she's entirely sure about. “It's a wholesome trend, but it’s largely a trend,” she observed. “When you compete against opponents who are truly serious about it, it quickly becomes less fun.”

Serious Play and Togetherness

It might seem like a bit of lighthearted activity for those aiming to employ a chessboard as a social vehicle, but competitive participants do have their role, albeit away from the dancefloor.

Lucia Ene-Lesikar, in her early twenties, who assists in organise the club,says that increasingly skilled players have formed a competitive ranking. “Participants who are in the league will face one another, we'll go to quarter-finals, semi-finals, and then we will finally have a champion.”

A dedicated player, 23, is a competitive competitor and chess instructor. He has been the competition for about a year and participates at the club almost weekly. “This is a welcome alternative to playing intense chess; it provides a sense of community,” he said.

“It is fascinating to observe how it becomes increasingly a communal pastime, because previously the sole people who engaged in chess were people who rarely socialize; they simply stayed home. It is usually just two people playing on a game board …

“What I like about this place is that one isn't actually playing against the computer, you're engaging with live opponents.”