Southport welcomes its first board game café

Southport has welcomed its first-ever board game café.

HARP Coffee and Games, is a new one-of-a-kind venue located on King Street in the heart of the bustling Southport Market Quarter.

The café is the first of its kind in the North West, offering a unique space where visitors of all ages can relax, connect, and enjoy a wide variety of tabletop games.

HARP Coffee and Games has been opened by former local teacher and dad-of-four Nick McCoy, 38, who wanted to create something new and very different for his home town.

Nick was born and bred in Southport and studied at Shoreside Primary School in Ainsdale and Ainsdale High School.

He taught at Holy Trinity Primary School and Ainsdale St John’s Primary School in Southport before opening HARP Coffee and Games.

The venue is perfect for people of all ages to come enjoy a wide variety of different board games, whether it’s their firm favourite, or they want to try something new.

There are around 70 board games available at the moment, with that number due to double soon.

Nick is in the process of being able to sell board games at the premises too.

He said: “Our first few days since opening have been fantastic! We’ve had a brilliant response.

“We are really keen to hear what people think. What opening hours do they want? Are there any groups who want to come in for regular events?

“There is nowhere else locally like this. There is one venue in Liverpool, Sugar & Dice; another in Preston, The Dice Box.

“One customer from Burscough came in this week and said he and his friends had been travelling to a similar cafe all the way to Bolton! He is made up that we have opened in Southport.

“HARP Coffee and Games is a cosy coffee house which celebrates having fun by enjoying the simpler things in life.

“We want to help visitors to be able to unplug and entertain themselves with some of the many games we have to offer, from classics to the newest in tabletop gaming, whilst you sip on one of our delicious barista crafted drinks.

“We are very proud of our coffee! It’s sourced from Mr Duffin’s and is roasted in The Lake District. It’s fantastic.

“We have tea, milkshakes, cold drinks, cakes, cookies and muffins.

“Our cakes are made by Sam Lee from Icing Queen Cakes in Southport. They’re exceptional.

“Soon we’ll be able to offer food such as burritos, calzones, nachos, that people can eat while they’re playing.

“This is a relaxed venue. We want people to feel like they can call in and enjoy some coffee and cake. Or come in and play a board game.

“We just want people to call in and feel very welcome.

“We have several board games that people can play for free such as chess, draughts, Labyrinth, card games, backgammon, Screwball Scramble. We have an extensive choice of others that people can hire for just £3 each, and then use for as long as they want.

“We have one player games; two player games; games where you can have two or more players.

“We’re speaking with different societies and groups such as the Southport Board Games Group and the Ormskirk Board Games Society, and also with local schools about creating some regular events that they want to see, whether it’s Dungeons and Dragons nights or whatever suits them. We’re open to ideas.

“The local gaming community in Southport have been brilliant. They have been really supportive.

“I have been speaking to someone locally who is going to come in and run some sound therapy sessions with a group of children, and then they’ll all stay and play some board games together.

“At the moment, our opening hours are 9am-4pm Monday-Tuesday; closed Wednesday; 9am-8pm / 9pm Thursday-Friday; 9am-6pm Saturday; and 11am-4pm Sunday. I’m keen to see what people think, and I may change those hours depending on people’s reaction.

“Some other cafes charge people for the length of time they are there; I didn’t want to put any time pressure on anyone, it’s not what you want when you’re trying to relax and play a board game!”

The HARP Coffee and Games name was inspired by Nick’s four children; Honora; 1; Autumn, 11; Reuben, 10; and Poppy, 9.

He said: “I was power washing in our garden, and spelled the first letters of my children’s names; one of them shouted ‘it says HARP!’ I thought it was a great name.

“I love our HARP logo, which has been designed by Julie Morris at Lionheart Tattoo Studio on Tulketh Street.

“We’ve worked with local people and local businesses wherever we can.”

Nick has already been speaking with local schools about how he can host their visits.

He said: “It’s been great to see the reaction. We had a big group of children here the other day.

“There wasn’t a single mobile phone in sight; just lots of people sat together, playing games together, chatting, relaxing, interacting and communicating.

“As soon as they left, the phones came straight back out again!

“I have enjoyed my career as a primary school teacher in Southport, but this is quite different. I am really enjoying it.”

Nick is really pleased to have become part of Southport Market Quarter.

He said: “It’s been very exciting planning everything and getting it all ready, and now the doors are open! I really want it to do well.

“One of the things that really attracted me to this area was all the incredible independent businesses they have here.

“New venues opening like Quicksilver Music, Southport Market Blinds, Season Coffee, Connolly’s, have all made such a positive difference. It feels very up and coming.

“There is a real sense of community here. They have all been so supportive. Michelle from Season, Ling from Lings on Kings, Tracy from The Plant Room, and others have all called in to say hello and offer any help.

“There are some great businesses in this area, and they seem to be growing.

“Southport Market Quarter feels like an exciting place to be.”