Dún Laoghaire Hobby and Games Shop Completes Expanison
The Warchest, a hobby and tabletop gaming shop in Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin, has finished renovations and expansion, allowing more space for players of Magic: The Gathering, Dungeons and Dragons, Yu-Gi-Oh! and other games.
Dun Laoghiare, Dublin. – May 19, 2017 – Board and card games are growing in popularity, with sales rising and tabletop games attracting the most investment on crowdfunding platform Kickstarter. The tabletop gaming industry was worth $9.6 billion in 2016.
The increasing popularity of tabletop gaming as a social activity has allowed The Warchest to double in size this year, taking over a vacant unit next to Hardy’s Bar in Dun Laoghaire.
Owner David Reynolds puts the popularity of tabletop games down to their social aspect.
“It’s a fun way to meet people, make friends and spend an afternoon or an evening, and a great alternative to the pub or cinema,” he said.
Games such as Magic, Ticket to Ride and Yu-Gi-Oh! are hugely popular, and new games or expansions to existing titles are released regularly which appeal to a broad range of people.
“We get kids as young as 10 and 11, to middle-aged people playing together. We see different ages, nationalities. Everyone remembers playing board games as a kid, and some of us just want to keep playing,” David said.
The resurgence in popularity of board games shows no sign of stopping, with growth estimated at 1% year-on-year, and brands such as Magic: The Gathering drawing new players even faster. David thinks that this is down to the community aspect of these games.
“We have a great group of people here, and I try to make sure the shop is a really welcoming place to play games. I’ve watched friendships develop through gaming and it’s amazing to be part of that, you can see that it’s not just about the games, it’s about forming a community,” he said.
The Warchest’s players share that sentiment too.
James (31) said, “I came down to try out Magic, and ended up becoming a regular. It’s the best social activity I can think of and the gaming community were incredibly welcoming. I’ve made some great friends through the shop that I’d never have met otherwise”.
The Warchest reopens on Saturday May 20th at 12pm, with a Magic: The Gathering tournament at 1pm and board games from 7pm.
Find the Warchest on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/dunlaoghairehobbyshop/
Or at http://thewarchest.ie
