Whatever your level, Belper Chess Club is always open to new members!
Whether you’re a beginner, Grandmaster or anywhere in between, you’ll get a warm welcome at Belper Chess Club.
Feel free to come along to a few of our club nights to see if it’s for you! If you email us in advance, we’ll make sure someone is on hand to greet you and help you settle in – we look forward to seeing you soon!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How much does it cost?
There is no cost if you want to come to the club to play and socialise a few times to work out if it’s for you (we’re very relaxed about this!).
If you decide to join the club, the annual fee is currently £27 (2025/26 season).
Do I need to bring anything?
No, we have a large supply of boards and clocks – so you only have to bring your best moves!
How good at chess do I need to be?
It doesn’t matter how experienced you are at chess! We have over 30 people at the club ranging from those who are just starting out, right through to our most experienced player whose chess rating is near 2200ECF.
Do you play casual or competitive chess?
We play both!
If casual chess interests you, there are plenty of people to play and socialise with and there is no pressure to play competitively.
However, if you are interested in competitive chess, with English Chess Federation (ECF) rated games, we have:
- League Chess – with six Belper Chess Club teams competing across all divisions in the Derbyshire Chess Association League
- The Belper Chess Club Championship – a season long competition which is open to all club members (typically with 20+ entries)
Can you help me improve at chess?
One of the great benefits of playing Over The Board (OTB) chess is that after the game you can analyse with your opponent and learn from it. In addition, we have several strong players who are happy to share their knowledge and experience.
We also regularly run training and analysis nights where we can learn from each other. These nights are normally led by our strongest members so provide a great opportunity to improve your chess!
When and where do you meet?
Old Kings Head
1 Days Lane
Belper
DE56 1NP
Once you arrive at the pub, the room where we meet is located upstairs. To find the room:
- enter the pub through the main entrance
- go through the door located to the right of the bar
- then turn immediately left up the staircase
- follow the stairs round to the very top and go through the door
- the first room you enter is the one that we typically use for casual chess and socialising
- through the double doors to the right is a second room where we play more serious games (such as league matches) and hold analysis nights
Note: unfortunately, there is no accessible alternative to the stairs.