TWO friends who share a love of board games are opening a café with over 500 for people to play.

Coffee & Dice is set to open in Calendula Place, a new development in Christchurch Road, Boscombe, at the end of April.

Owners Marc Shotter and Jessica Hancock have spent over two years developing the café, and ran a Kickstarter campaign last year to raise the £10,000 needed to buy custom-made tables on which to play board games.

Marc explained: “We’ve been to a load of conventions and gaming events, and we noticed everyone starts a board game by taking everything out of the box and then looking for somewhere to put the box.

“A lovely company is going to make us some tables with spaces below to store the boxes, but they’re a bit more expensive.”

He continued: “I’ve always liked the idea of having a game shop with space for people to play. My business partner, Jessica, and I met through a role playing game group. She was talking about opening a board game café, and I asked if I could join her.”

With seating for around 60 people, both individuals and groups will be able to play as many games as they like, for as long as they like, for £4.

The games include classics like Boggle, Cluedo, Connect 4, dominoes, Kerplunk, Monopoly and Scrabble, as well as more specialist games.

Staff will be on hand to recommend games and talk customers through the rules of any they have not played before.

Despite opening with an impressive collection of over 500 games, Marc said this would expand once the café opens.

“There’s been a massive explosion in the board game market in the last decade – new games are brought out every week.”

As well as board games, customers will be able to enjoy coffee, cakes, and sandwiches, and even craft beer, cider, and wine if the café is successful in its licence application.

“People are moving back to the social aspect of playing games, and we love how board games bring people together” Marc said.

“People will be able to treat us like a regular café and just relax with a coffee, or if they want to engage in the board game side they can do so.

“We’re planning to have an open gaming night where people come by themselves or with a group of friends. There will also be monthly themed events, and evenings hosted by game designers.”