Club Faces a Fight for its Future as Urgent Search for Venue Stepped up

Shrewsbury Chess Club is at severe risk of folding unless a new venue can be found over the summer, it has been revealed.

Club officials have issued a rallying cry for help after it was revealed on Friday that the club’s existing venue, The Nerdy Café, will close in the near future, writes Peter Kitchen.

The club – which is one of the most decorated in the county and has a rich history stretching back more than 100 years – had expected to have to move at the end of the season but attempts to find a venue suitable for hosting chess club nights and league matches in the meantime has so far proved unsuccessful.

That search has now been stepped up and the club’s hierarchy has called for anyone with ideas or potential venues to get in touch as a matter of urgency.

Club secretary Mark Smith said, unless a new venue could be found, the club could end up folding over the summer.

Prospective venues would need to have a suitable sized room to accommodate at least two league matches of five boards each. Ideally it would be away from other social gatherings to allow for a low level of noise, and have access to either a bar or facilities to make hot drinks.

So far, rooms at community centres have been investigated, while function rooms at pubs would also be a possibility.

The club was based in portable buildings on the site of the former Shelton Hospital for many years before moving to the newly-built Redwoods Centre. But the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic saw the club forced to leave and they moved to the Nerdy Café in December 2021.

Being based in the town centre gave the club a much-needed shot in the arm and helped to attract some new faces, but the 12-month arrangement with Nerdy was not renewed by the venue, although they did allow the club to remain until the end of the current season.

The club will hold its next club night at Nerdy this coming Friday (June 2) and would urge as many people as possible to come along.

Ideas can be discussed at the club night, or alternatively email Mark Smith with suggestions on markpsmith77@yahoo.com

It comes after the club enjoyed its most successful season for many years. Shrewsbury A secured its first top three finish in division one of Shropshire Chess League for 10 years thanks to a final day draw with Newport A.

The club is historically one of the longest-running and most successful in Shropshire. Throughout the early years of the 21^st century they were regulars in the top three, winning league championships in 2004 and 2011.

But the past decade has seen fortunes decline. Shrewsbury A were actually relegated in 2019 after several flirtations with the drop, but Shrewsbury B stayed up to retain a top flight presence.

Since the end of the Covid-19 pandemic the club has only fielded one over-the-board team. But should the club find a new home, it is hoped to expand active membership to ensure the club could field at least two teams in Shropshire Chess League next season, as well as competing in online and rapidplay competitions.

We have a proud competitive heritage – and we don’t want it to end this way!