Chance & Counters in Birmingham

I've always been a fan of this place, the game selection is the staff have always been friendly and accommodating, the biggest downside was that it has always been mildly cramped... This time in particular however was truly incredible. The place had been redone, so the cramped issue had been completely resolved (it also wasn't incredibly busy so I can't say how is like when it's busy, but the tables are far more appropriately spaced out so I doubt it's much of an issue) additionally, the food was GORGEOUS the two of us who came had the satay fried and a chicken burger as a part of a lunchtime meal offer alongside a drink and we were thoroughly impressed!! Lastly, a massive positive review to Will B! Not only was he a friendly and anchorage face, but hw is so evidently passionate about both board games and his job, you can tell in his attitude towards customers and how helpful he is and encouraging of others!! He really elevated the atmosphere to a whole other level!

I'll be honest, I wasn't expecting much, thought we might leave within an hour and find a bar. Ended up leaving when they closed, so 4hrs of entertaining completion, some really nice cocktails and every intention of going back.

Advised that they've recently changed their policy so will not serve anyone with an allergy from the kitchen.

Love this board game cafe 😀 Lots of games to choose from, and the food is lovely too (Classic Dirty Fries are delicious, and very filling 😋). The atmosphere is great and the staff are really friendly. I can recommend this place 👌🏻

Really great selection of games for a reasonable cover per person per hour. The staff was amazing and you could tell that the guy with the long hair loves his job. He really helped us choose games and got them exactly right. We just had drinks and coffee and they were nice.

We frequently come from Solihull for a date night in Chance & Counters and it's our favourite place to relax and have some fun. There is a big selection of board games, the food and drinks are nice and atmosphere very relaxing. The only criticism is that sometimes it takes a while for anyone to take our order but it's never been so bad to spoil our experience there. We'll definitely be returning :)

It has a cool atmosphere with in house service and food quite nice But it's disappointing and quite honestly very bad service for a restaurant to have ran out of milkshakes even though my friend had booked out half of venue in advance for more than a months notice for 40 ppl+

Really great experience coming here, staff were all super friendly and helpful, always there to top up a drink or ask if we needing anything. Vegan food was excellent, good selection of board games! Will definitely be back!

Rude staff. Belittled me and spoke over me when I was enquiring about just having a pint. Not returning here again.

This place is absolutely amazing, had the vegan burgers and dirty fries. Thank you will for a wonderful service.

Spacious and inclusive, with a decent range of draft beers and an even better range of games that are well labelled and catalogued

Not a bad place. Full of left wing hippies. I liked it. What I didn't like is that the outside eating area was full of smokers. It really dragged down my review.

Good place to go with a few people and chat, play games. The price of the game is per hour. So we just split it between us with the bill but what we hadn't expected was there was an £11 tip added to the bill. Surely that should have been upto us if we wanted to tip the staff. They were polite and did a good job bringing our drinks and food to the table. £11 seems a bit steep.

They have quite a diverse menu for what they are, my friend found the ice cream sandwich quite sickly and heavy. The drinks were all lovely, between four of us we tried different flavours of their milkshakes, all went down well and their gluten free cider options were lovely. Their selection of board games is vast with items for all ages and skill level, family classics and indie games too. Lovely staff and atmosphere, we will be back when I visit Birmingham again.

Ignored when we were stood waiting then sat outside not busy at all and still waited over 20 mins for coffee. Won't be back

Great little hidden gem. So many games to choose from. The menu isn't big for food but the service is quick and the staff are wonderful.

Tell you what, it's very rare you go somewhere and the staff love their jobs. But the staff here, really, truly, honestly do. They make great recommendations, and it's such fun! From first dates, to lifelong friends, board games brings out the best. Can't wait to go back!

This place is so much fun! Have a drink, a meal or just a coffee as you play games. The games selection is huge and all in good working order. Food was delicious (tikka fries especially) and there's a great selection of beer.

Stopped by with a friend who was visiting and had a great time, the atmosphere was fantastic, staff were great and board game selection is solid especially if you’re unsure about buying a game and want to try it out

Really great place! Lots of great games and great food. We went with our dog, and they really made us all feel welcome

I am really disappointed at a recent conversation I had with a staff member. I have been coming to Chance and Counters with girlfriends for a long time, we eat and play here for hours. So I thought it'd be a perfect spot to get my family together. I rang this morning to discuss booking (there are 18 of us) and was told I could book for no more than 12. Fine, I suggested I'd book for 12 and my sister would book the rest of the spaces for her lot. The woman said no, you can't do that. The maximum number of people that KNOW eachother is 12 (strange). I said right, we will all just do separate bookings for ourselves, partners and children it's fine. I was then told I couldn't do that either - the woman's words were: This will cause a lot of problems. What problems?! It's a big bunch of (well behaved) people bringing in custom. I was reaaaaaaally shocked at this service. Basically told that no more than 12 people are allowed to know each other in there?! God forbid you book with 12 people and see someone you know in there. I know if I'd have spoken to the older gent (the one who is a wizard at all games) it would've been a different story. Whoever I spoke to this morning has really let the place down because I won't be going back. The Hideout boardgames cafe in Bham accommodated my request in an instant.

The worse iced chai ever, little bit of syrup on the bottom so basically had cup of milk with ice for nearly £7..

I've come here with friends, family and have organised work events here. It's really excellent having a fun place that is completely accessible, which is able to cater to such a wide range of needs. Really friendly staff and great food, on top of a great selection of games :) I can never visit without getting some fries, they're amazing!

Good range of board games, pretty chill atmosphere

The (very reasonable) fee per hour means there’s no pressure to order food/drink if you’re on a budget, the range of games is incredible!

I love this place but I went here this evening and the woman at the till was so rude that me and my friend left

Been here twice and loved all the games both times. The staff are lovely, especially the man with long hair. £2 per person per hour to play any games felt very reasonable and we stayed for around 4 hours. We’d already eaten but having looked at the menu we’re excited to try the food next time.

Great place for fun games for friends and family

such a lovely place! the staff is always very nice and helpful, the game selection is unreal! hot drinks are lovely and the loaded fries are really good.

Amazing games, amazing food, staff were incredibly friendly and helpful, 10/10 can't wait to come back

Highly recommend this board game café! They have great food, including delicious buffalo wings, garlic bread fries. The selection of games ranges from easy to complex, and they offer a good selection of beer. The staff is also very helpful. Perfect spot for a fun and tasty night out! Its doggy friendly too!

Amazing venue with a fantastic range of games for all. Food was delicious, great range of craft beers and cider and tap and themed cocktails.

Really enjoyable evening. Staff were friendly, helpful and attentive. Huge array of Games to try and the category stickers used for them are really helpful.

Super! They have an immense range of board games that are sorted by categories. Staff is welcoming and friendly. Food is excellent. Definitely recommend it! It’s very popular so try booking in advance. [updated] they just changed their menu for a paper one. Sadly the cauliflower wings have been swapped for mushroom wings 😬. Nevertheless the rest of the food is still tasty and delicious. So are the drinks, especially the mocktails cherry and the passionfruit ones

Didn't eat here but people were friendly and welcoming. Good range of boardgames.

This place exceeded my expectations and have improved since my last visit more than a year ago. The food used to be meh but it's actually quality when I visited a few weeks ago . Service very pleasant , lovely and prompt and the craft beer menu is surprisingly good as well. Recommend !

Great but way way too expensive!!!

Fabulous place for hours of fun . Board games for everyone. Food & drink while you . What's more to love.

This used to be my favourite game venue in Birmingham - especially for their taco Tuesday offer but there recent menu changes and game cost change just didn’t hit the same… Service used to be very fun and personality filled but it took over 20 minutes with their new system for someone to come over 2 hours of games, a dessert and two drinks came to just under £25 (Photo of their old taco deal with the best fish tacos we had ever eaten which we are willing to sign a petition to bring back) Overall would go back for a drink and game night but nothing more

Great board game bar with a plethora of games to choose from, organised in order of accessibility/difficulty and type. Staff are very helpful and will walk you through games you are unfamiliar with. Good selection of food and drinks to enjoy alongside the games.

A boardgames cafe/bar next to the NQ64 arcade bar. Big selection of games. Would like to have tried the food but I'd already eaten. Next time.

Good vibes. Loads of choice with the games. Very friendly staff. Could have done with some healthy options on the food front😬

Didn't eat here, bought a raspberry lemonade, a tea and a warm water. My friends warm water took around 15 mins to arrive and was forgotten by the server. The board game selection was good, but there is a £2 per person charge every hour if you want to use the boards. Bathrooms were """rustic dirty""" and looked kinda rundown, but in a artsy Digbeth kinda way, as you can see in the pic . Expected more of a aesthetic/vibe in the decorations. But overall, okay.

Nice place but prices are too high and people aren’t very welcoming

Food was generally overpriced and not tasty. All hot food was served pretty cold. The beyond meat burger patty was good because of the brand but the dressing and chips was poor. The wings were cold, breaded and chewy (I brought them home to revive them in the air fryer). The chilli cheese fries had some flavour and were okay. The milkshakes were £6 and flavourless. One of our servers was lovely but the other was cold and unhelpful. The atmosphere was echoey which made it hard to hear each other when playing games. This was somewhere I had been looking forward to visiting, especially for the food which was such a let down. Wing and Tack night offers have been cancelled too. As we left we heard other people complaining that it was a rip off. Overall disappointed.

Great place to take the kids on a wet school holiday, nice atmosphere and plenty of games and food/drink to choose from

Really cool place. A great concept. Getting everyone interactive with playing board games. Great way to spend an evening catching up, and having a bit of competitive fun. Staff are attentive and food is pretty good as well. A bit cold but overall atmosphere is good. Good selection of drinks too. 4 yrs later...went back with wife and daughter and had another great time chilling, having a laugh, getting competitive and amongst a great atmosphere. Food was good, although two of the items we asked for, they had run out. Oreo and Biscoff milkshakes were great. They've expanded the range of games with international games inducing an Indian national favourite Karem (like pool but played with counters and fingers). £4 per person and 10% service charge is added on the food and drinks bill.

Everyone was lovely, food was delicious, great atmosphere and fantastic staff.

Genuinely such a fun place, there is a huge variety of games that can be played starting from 2 people up, the workers know every game and are able to redirect you towards games you have never tried that fit what you want to play or the time you have. it's also not expensive at all and the food is great !

Staff were helpful and friendly, lots of board games and the space itself is nice and light

Staff were very welcoming and pleasant. I had a milkshake and it was actually one of the nicest I've had in years, which was unexpected. We only visited briefly before our transport home, so did not have time to play anything, but there was a large selection.

Stopped for Coffee and ended playing games. Had a good time

Just wanted to say how great the staff are. The time spent to help us choose some games and explain how to play them was amazing and made the experience even more enjoyable and I can't wait to come back.

The best dirty chai latte, really attentive staff and a great range of beers on top. Would recommend for a chilled catch up with mates.

Great place, really knowledgeable staff especially with helping us select a game to play, an overall really enjoyable time. Thank you.

Staff are very helpful and friendly... the coffee and milkshake were both delicious

Great place - a large selection of board games. Staff are friendly and willing to help with choosing games. Great selection of beer and food. Really good value too well worth a visit.

Was more expensive than I would've liked and the portions were small but the staff were lovely attentive and the place was cozy

What a brilliant experience, only made better by Will. Highly recommend this, great beer and game selection. Will took the time to explain the rules of a game and did it in such an enthusiastic and engaging way. Good for beginners and 'pros' alike

Was made to wait over half an hour and still not served any food. Waiter had no idea how much longer it would be so left with in the end hungry. Seriously unimpressed with the service. If they know it’s going to be a longer than normal then they should say so from the start so people can make a decision as to whether they want to wait.

We (2 adults & 2 children, 7&8) visited Chance and Counters today - 27th March 2024 and had a really lovely 2 hours. There is a massive array of games to choose from - all of the ones we chose had all the pieces and seemed quite new or well looked after. The staff were friendly and the perfect balance of ‘available to order from’ without being constantly present so you felt pressured to order something. It was also a welcome surprise that the children were free as part of an Easter Holiday offer. We ordered drinks, including a delicious raspberry ripple milkshake. Would recommend and we will definitely return.

Love coming here! The staff could not be more helpful - nothing is too much trouble! A great family afternoon

Went with my sis and her boyfriend as we were looking for a board game cafe close to town. It did not disappoint. We really enjoyed our time here so much - the amazing food, amazingly kind and attentive staff, and so so helpful explanations of games. I would definitely recommend this place to others and eagerly return!😊

Has such a great time at this bar on Saturday. Great recommendations by the bartender called Lottie! Would definitely recommend a great night out!

Excellent staff! Excellent games! Excellent food and drinks! Well worth the visit if you are in or near Digbeth! 🤩😍

One of the few places in the area open for dinner on a Monday night in Bristol. We didn't opt for the games but were very tempted and good value at £2 per hour. We had drinks (cider/beer) and some food - the tacos were great and loaded fries very crispy. Very happy with our choice for dinner although if we returned would ask specifically for a table for two instead of sitting at the end of a longer table with other people. An issue with the bill was swiftly rectified by the friendly staff. Would recommend.

Literally as soon as entered, we were greeted and told that we need to leave at 1 as they double booked the table. I’m not kidding not even both of us are through the door and we hear that. Through out our 45 mins stay ( we were forced to pay for the full hour even though we weren’t able to finish the hour) we were bothered every 5 mins. Out of the countless times, 4 times we were told we have to leave at 1. Imagine you’re ok a date and but you and your partner can’t get a second for each other and are being reminded that you need to leave. I’ve informed a waitress and she basically said “tough”, what she actually said was “sorry about that there is nothing I can do about that” without even checking or asking. I wouldn’t recommend it, we next to the place next door and we’ve had a much better time. We weren’t rushed, we were able to enjoy ourself. Worst time we’ve ever had.

Lovely place, great hot chocolate and coffee. Service fast and nice people. Lots of games!

We’ve come in at 12:15 but before we’ve even had a second to take the place in a lady informs us that we have to leave at 1, constantly throughout our time trying to forget that experience people came over to us over 3 times to remind us that we have to leave at 1. Then the 5th they came over at 12:45 to take out money for an hour of playing when we didn’t even spend 30 mins there yet we’ve informed the waitress but they said there is nothing they can do. Made myself and my partner upset. Definitely won’t come again.

Lovely place, super friendly staff, the coffee and the hot chocolate was delicious, we got a super comfortable table and it was warm and cozy. The board games are very fun, huge selection

What an awesome place for fun!! So many games to choose from with an expert on hand if needed to understand the rules. The service is excellent, food is superb and such a fab choice of drinks including alcohol but lots of non alcoholic choices. We went as a family. Looks like they allow dogs but probably check that when booking and it looks like booking is a definite if you want to get a seat. We had a great time!!

Fantastic place and one of my favourite places in Birmingham.

Great games and lovely atmosphere!

If you get the chance go and play with some counters😉. A very wide range of games for all ages and skills, good food options too.

This spot is great for an activity for friends to all meet up and catch up while playing some great games you may not have ever even heard of! My only complaint is that we didn't plan ahead and only booked 1 hour. Hardly enough time to finish a game. Service was great, didnt have a chance to try the food.

Been a few times, soon to be a regular! This is by far the best place to go in Birmingham! They have excellent and friendly staff. They help you out if you are struggling with a board game choice, and it is an absolute blast!

Such a lovely place for drinks and games !! Lots of games to play and everyone was so lovely ! Shout out to Edie she was so lovely and made our fiends bday so special

Fantastic staff. Especially the wizard. Nice atmosphere. The food is great but I feel all there food and drink menu being v. Expensive. A cup of hot chocolate will put you down close to £5.

Absolute Collection of Weirdos. My child left this place traumatised after the attitude of staff and a ridiculously shoddy service. They seem to only hire weirdos it skin tight weird costumes that only children should probably wear. The food was terrible and over priced for what it was. Upon complaining we were completely ignored, I might as well spoke to the wall. I couldn’t help but wonder if the staff were found on a junkie farm and have been BDS checked. Definitely would never return even to use the urinal. They dress in weird costumes, treat you terribly brig you way below average food and ignore you even though YOU pay their wages. There are far more much better places than this in this amazing city where you feel more comfortable and valued. There was a bit of a bossy miserable mother hen figur that freaked my child out. Absolutely disgusting behaviour and food. You can’t beat bone head or hockey social ( run by Digbeth Dining Club Professionals )

Chance and counters is a regular on my schedule. Whether it's a date, friends night, family visiting, or any other occasion, it's a perfect activity. And the wings are incredible

Leisure space where it is possible to jpg different types of board games made available for a price per hour. They also serve meals and drinks.

I love this place. Staff are incredible, especially Will who was very friendly and amazing! He gave us so many tips on what games to play and was super throughout. Will absolutely be back to play some Talisman!

Great family cafe. Food was very tasty. Very filling. And staff went above and beyond

Came on a Friday afternoon, really enjoyed. Decent beers on tap, loads of space, more games than you would ever play in a month and the staff were super friendly. Highly recommend and will be coming back.

Nice cafe with modern lunch menu. Games wonderful choices. Lovely staff.

One of the coolest cafes I’ve been to! The Garlic Chicken Burger was AMAZING and the board game selection is out of this world

Excellent atmosphere, great selection of games, and delicious vegan options. So much fun whether a couple of friends having coffee or a big group having a games night.

Whether you live in Brum or are visiting this is a great little spot to order drinks (and food if your hungry) pick a game and chill out. There is something about the distraction of a board game that encourages great conversation. All in all a good little find.

Food is lovely. The choice of games is immense. Love it here. Great fun

What a gem of a place. Could stay here for hours. Kids loved it. The amount of board games they have are massive and they have all been catalogued and well looked after. The drinks are great and the milk shakes are delicious! Staff are friendly and helpful. Cnat wait to visit again and play more games!

What a gem of a place. Could stay here for hours. Kids loved it. The amount of board games they have are massive and they have all been catalogued and well looked after. The drinks are great and the milk shakes are delicious! Staff are friendly and helpful. Cnat wait to visit again and play more games!

Lovely atmosphere and great selection of games. The food is good but a limited selection. Good selection of drinks

Had a great time here with the family. The service and the staff are excellent, great choice of board games and the food is wonderful. Can't wait to come back again.

Great way to pass the time, food was on point - game selection was huge. Staff were brilliant - service was great. Staff advised on good games for our needs/requirements. Purchased 6 games before we left!

So happy to have found C&C. We called in hoping to grab some food before the cinema. We were a bit restricted for time, but the staff went above and beyond to accommodate. Really is a great place. Cracking burgers at a reasonable price. Really friendly and helpful staff. Will be back. Thanks C&C

Great place to unwind and spend time with friends. Good service by staff.

First visit to the newly opened Leeds chain of Chance & Counters. Staggering selection of board games, with helpful stickers on so you have at a glance an idea how approachable or difficult they are to grasp. Friendly staff, dog friendly, great choice of drinks. Some friends ordered food which looked fab. Only £2 an hour for the 'games' charge, and half price on Tuesdays. Would gladly go back for a wholesome mid week night.

Even if you like or dislike board games Chance & Counters is a great place to spend the afternoon. Great selection of food and drinks. Pretty much any board game you can think of and the staff are always on hand to help with whichever game you choose. 10/10 🖤🤍

Visited today for the Christmas menu. Had booked sometime ago and looked forward to the visit, however we were sadly disappointed. The roast potatoes were off the menu, no explanation was given and our burgers arrived to the table already cold. There was a huge delay between being served the burgers and the fries. We had to leave and take our mince pies with us as after 2 hours they had still not been served! Personally I would not have paid the bill as we were thoroughly disappointed! The restaurant was also bitterly cold and no atmosphere at all.

Really fun place to go, interesting drink too.