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One of the liveliest locations on a weekday night in east London's Brick Lane couldn't be a dining spot or a streetwear brand temporary shop, it's a chess gathering – or a chess and nightlife combination, to be exact.

This unique venue represents the surprising fusion between the classic game and London's dynamic evening entertainment scene. It was started by a young entrepreneur, in his late twenties, who began his first chess club in August 2023 at a smaller bar in Aldgate, a short distance from the current location at Café 1001 on Brick Lane.

“I wanted to create chess clubs for individuals who share my background and those my generation,” he explained. “Usually, chess is only put in spaces that are full of older people, which is not diverse sufficiently.”

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

At first glance, the venue seems more like a music night than a chess club. Mixed drinks are flowing and music is playing, but the chessboards on every table aren't just ornamental or there as a novelty: they are all in use and surrounded by a queue of spectators waiting for their turn.

One regular, 24, has frequented the club often for the past several months. “I possessed no knowledge of chess prior to I came here, and the initial occasion I tried it, I competed in a game against a grandmaster. That was a swift win, but it made me intrigued to study and keep playing chess,” she said.

“The event is about half networking and half participants actually wanting to engage in chess … It's a nice way to decompress, which doesn't involve visiting a typical nightspot to see others my generation.”

A Game Revitalized: Chess in the Modern Era

In recent years, chess has been firmly established in the societal zeitgeist. Its appeal of online chess proliferated throughout the pandemic, making it one of the most rapidly expanding internet pastimes globally. In popular culture, the Netflix series The Queen’s Gambit, along with the author's recent novel Intermezzo, have created a certain imagery surrounding the game, which has attracted a new generation of enthusiasts.

But a great deal of this newfound attraction of the chess club isn't always about the technicalities of the play; rather, it is the simplicity of connecting with others that it enables, by taking a seat and playing with a person who could be a complete unknown individual.

“It's a great Trojan horse,” said one organizer, founder of Reference Point in the city, a bookstore, reading room, coffee house and bar, which has organized a popular chess club weekly since it opened several years back. His aim is to “take chess off a pedestal and make it feel similar to billiards in a casual pub”.

“It's a very easy vehicle to get to know people. It somewhat takes the pressure of the necessity of conversation away from socializing with people. One can handle the uncomfortable part of making an introduction and talking to a new acquaintance over a game rather than with no shared activity around it.”

Growing the Community: Social Gatherings Beyond the Capital

Elsewhere in the UK, Chesscafé is a recurring chess night taking place at a city cafe, just outside the city centre. “We found that individuals are seeking places where you can socialize, socialise and enjoy a good time beyond going to a pub or club,” said its founder and coordinator, Karan Singh, 21.

Together with his friend a partner, 21, he bought game sets, printed flyers and started the chess club in January, while in his last year of university. Within months, Singh said Chesscafé has expanded to draw over 100 youthful players to its gatherings.

“Such a venue has a specific reputation associated with it, about it being quiet. Our approach is to move in the opposite direction; it's a social get-together with chess as part of it,” he said.

Learning and Engaging: An Alternative Generation of Chess Enthusiasts

Among numerous attendees, chess clubs are an introduction to the game. Zoë Kezia, in her late twenties, is learning how to participate in chess with other visitors of chess night at the venue. She became curious in the game was sparked after an pleasurable evening dancing and playing chess at a previous Knight Club's events.

“It's a strange idea, but it works,” she commented. “It promotes in-person exchanges instead of screen-based pastimes. It's a free neutral ground to meet new people. It's welcoming, one doesn't have 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 appearance of “coolness”. Whether the chess trend has cultivated a authentic interest in the sport is not something she is quite convinced by. “It is a positive phenomenon, but it’s largely a fad,” she observed. “Once you compete against opponents who are really dedicated about it, it quickly becomes less enjoyable.”

Serious Play and Togetherness

It may all be a bit of fun and games for individuals looking to use a chessboard as a social vehicle, but serious participants do have their role, albeit away from the dancefloor.

Another organizer, 22, who helps running Knight Club,says that increasingly competitive attenders have formed a competitive ranking. “Participants who are in the league will play each other, we'll progress to early rounds, advanced stages, and then we will finally have a league winner.”

A dedicated player, in his twenties, is a competitive competitor and chess instructor. He joined the competition for about a year and participates at the club almost weekly. “This is a nice option to playing intense chess; it provides a feeling of belonging,” he said.

“It's interesting to see how it evolves into more of a social activity, because in the past the only people who played chess were those who didn't socialize; they just stayed home. It's usually just a pair playing on a chessboard …

“The thing appeals to me about this place is that you're not actually facing the digital opponent, you are engaging with real people.”