The welcoming Manchester community where board games build friendships

In a pub corner on a rainy Manchester evening in 2017, a few friends pulled out a board game and unknowingly began building one of the city’s most welcoming grassroots communities. 

What started as a midweek gaming night for students and locals has grown into a powerhouse of tabletop joy: Dungeons & Flagons, Manchester’s leading independent tabletop events company, with a board game library of over 500 titles and weekenders now drawing hundreds of attendees.

Fast-forward to today, and their flagship event, the Manchester Board Game Festival (MBGF), is fast becoming a big draw for the city’s cultural calendar.

With themed RPG (role playing games) sessions, charity pub quizzes, indie traders, play-to-win tables and an infectious sense of camaraderie, MBGF is proof that you don’t need a headset or a high score to have fun; you just need a table, a game, and a few friends. 

“We’re so excited to be back with an even bigger event,” said founder James Oxley, grinning as he chats about the upcoming April festival, held over three days at Sachas Hotel in the Northern Quarter. 

“MBGF is all about creating a space where people can connect, play, and discover new games and friends.”

And that’s exactly what Dungeons & Flagons does best: creates space for connection, curiosity, and community.

Dungeons & Flagons

James Oxley never planned to launch a city-wide tabletop revolution. But after graduating with a degree in events management and picking up a role at The Bread Shed, he saw an opportunity to merge work and passion.

“That’s where I used to drink as a student, so it felt like a natural fit,” he said. “The manager was looking for event ideas, and I just threw out a board game night. It was something I loved, and it turned out loads of other people did too.”

Within weeks, the Wednesday night games spilled from the pub floor into the backroom nightclub space. Attendance soared to 80–100 people weekly.

“We had loads of board games, a big open space, and no pressure, it just worked.”

From there, the momentum snowballed. Dungeons & Flagons began running full-day Sunday events and soon branched into private bookings, student socials, weddings and team-building days. But the real turning point came during lockdown during the Covid Pandemic. 

“Everything shut down,” James said. “But when things reopened, I decided to go all-in. I quit my other job and made this my full-time thing. That’s when it really took off.”

Post-pandemic, the events multiplied across venues city-wide. James pitched tabletop nights as an alternative to karaoke or DJ sets—something fun, unique, and social. “I was surprised how quickly venues got on board. At one point, we were doing four or five events a week.”

The birth of Manchester Board Game Festival

The bigger weekend events outgrew their first home at MMU Students’ Union. But as venue availability shifted, James saw a chance to rebrand.

“The old names—‘all-dayers’ and ‘weekenders’—didn’t really tell people what they were,” he explained. “So we came up with the Manchester Board Game Festival. We wanted something that sounded exciting and open.”

The first MBGF launched in February at the Pendulum Hotel and pulled in 800 attendees over three days. From game demos to a Geek Fayre market and game tournaments, it was a celebration of all things tabletop, and everyone was welcome.

James lights up when he talks about the upcoming April edition. “We’ve got seminars, RPG sessions, a bring-and-buy sale, board game bingo, charity pub quizzes, it’s just this big, buzzing mix of everything that makes the hobby so special.”

But underneath the dice rolls and deck shuffles, the real magic is in the people.

A community like no other

“Nerd culture is cool now,” James laughed. “Shows like Stranger Things and Critical Role have made it mainstream. But more than that, I think people just want to get away from screens.”

In a world of constant digital noise, a board game becomes something almost sacred. It forces us to sit, listen, laugh, strategise, and sometimes, inevitably, lose to your little cousin at Codenames.

“There’s something grounding about sitting around a table with other people,” said James. “Modern games aren’t JUST about winning—they’re about storytelling and connection.”

That ethos shines through in everything Dungeons & Flagons does. From the moment someone arrives into an event, they’re greeted by hosts in branded T-shirts, clearly signposted areas for newcomers, and a warm welcome that says, “You belong here.”

“We’ve made it as easy as possible for people to know where we are and who we are,” James said. “Especially if you’re coming alone, it can be scary. But a game makes conversation natural. It’s a shared focus. It takes the pressure off.”

Inclusivity isn’t a buzzword, it’s the beating heart of the festival. “No one gets left out. We’ll always find you a table.”

Board games, bingo, and big laughs

MBGF’s events are packed with fun and heart. Saturday’s Board Game Pub Quiz, hosted by James himself, is half trivia, half comedy set, and all for a good cause. Then there’s Sunday’s Board Game Bingo, complete with surprise prizes and spot-on puns.

“We suggest a £1 donation per person, and the money raised goes to great charities across the UK,” James explained. “It’s a nice way to give back while having a laugh.”

For this weekends festival, they are offering a chance to ‘re-roll’, making a £1 charity donation at the front desk means that you can re-do an action in a game, a nice bit of fun for charity.

Meanwhile, the Play to Win Shelf gives attendees the chance to try out new games and potentially win them. The Demo Zone connects players with game designers. And the MCR Geek Fayre, running alongside the festival, showcases 37 indie makers selling everything from handmade dice trays to geeky jewellery.

“It’s all part of creating this joyful ecosystem,” James said. “Whether you’re here for the games, the shopping, the socials, or just to try something new—it’s all valid.”

Looking ahead: bigger, better, and local

While the community keeps growing, Dungeons & Flagons is fiercely proud of its Manchester roots.

“We want to keep it central and accessible,” James said. “Our goal isn’t to go corporate. It’s to stay connected—to keep listening, keep improving, and keep bringing people together.”

Future MBGF dates are already in the diary, with summer, Halloween, and Christmas specials in the works. The plan? Keep doing what they do best: building something real and accessible for everyone. 

James is the first to admit he never expected any of this. “It started as something small—just a group of friends playing games. But that’s what makes it so special. That energy has stayed with us. It still feels like friends gathering around a table. Just… a few hundred more of them now.”

Game on, Manchester

Whether you’re a veteran Dungeon Master or can’t tell your Settlers of Catan from your Sushi Go!, the world of Dungeons & Flagons is open, inviting, and ready for you.

As James puts it, “At the end of the day, we’re here to share joy. To create a space where people can laugh, talk, and maybe lose horribly at Uno.”

So grab a lanyard, pull up a chair, and shuffle the deck. The next great adventure could be just one roll away.

Find out more about Dungeons & Flagons

You can find out more about Dungeons & Flagons and their next dates for the Manchester Board Game Festival on their website here