The Games Hub
Edinburgh's basement of 700+ board games – pay £2.50, play all night, and don't miss the Hub Burger.
Photos
About
If you're walking down Lauriston Place and spot the unassuming front of The Games Hub, don't be fooled by the tiny shop – it's a TARDIS of tabletop fun. Upstairs you'll find a snug café serving proper mochas, homemade cakes, and paninis, while downstairs a basement opens up with over 700 board games, a separate PC gaming room, and a war games table. At just £2.50 entry you can stay all evening, and the staff are always up for a chat about the latest releases. Pro tip: grab a Hub Burger if it's on special, and bring your own group for the quiet, cosy vibe – it's a hidden gem for serious gamers and casuals alike.
Facilities
Board Game Café
Games Hub Edinburgh is a board game café offering a large selection of board games, a cafe menu with drinks and snacks, and a basement gaming area. It is located in Edinburgh and provides an affordable gaming experience with a friendly atmosphere.
Shop
Games Hub Edinburgh is a small and pleasant cafe that offers a decent selection of discounted gaming products, including card games, X-Wing, Star Wars Armada, Guild Ball, Tanks by Battlefront, and more. For a small fee, customers can access a large downstairs gaming area with hundreds of board games, a separate PC room, and plenty of tables and chairs. The venue also features a cozy cafe providing snacks and drinks.
Board Games
Games Hub Edinburgh offers a large selection of board games available for play in a dedicated basement area, with an entry fee of £2.50 per person for unlimited access to the game library, which includes around 700 games from classics to recent releases.
Dining
The venue offers a café with a selection of food and drinks, including paninis, homemade cakes, coffee, and tea, serving lunch and dinner.
Work & Study Spaces
Free WiFi is available; some users found it reasonably fast for browsing while others reported poor connectivity.
Games Hub Edinburgh is primarily a gaming venue with a cafe, board game library, and PC gaming room. It offers free WiFi and basic cafe seating, but is not designed for focused work or study, lacking ergonomic furniture and dedicated workstations.
Full Description
The Games Hub Edinburgh is a vibrant board game café and retail store located at 101 Lauriston Place, Edinburgh EH3 9JB, in the Southside & Holyrood neighbourhood. It operates Monday to Thursday from 17:00 to 22:00, Friday from 17:00 to 22:00, Saturday from 12:00 to 22:00, and Sunday from 12:00 to 22:00. The venue offers a pay-and-play model with an entry fee of £2.50 per person, granting unlimited access to its extensive board game library of over 700 titles, ranging from modern classics to obscure editions. The games library includes board games, card games, and miniature war games, and the stock is regularly updated. The café upstairs serves a selection of tray bakes, paninis, homemade cakes, coffees, teas, chips, and specials like the Hub Burger. Free WiFi is available and reasonably fast. The basement gaming area is spacious, with plenty of tables and chairs, though it is accessible only via stairs (no lift), which may pose a challenge for wheelchair users. There is a separate PC gaming room (additional charge applies) and a dedicated tabletop area for war games and role-playing games. The store also sells board games, card games, and gaming accessories, including discounted items such as X-Wing, Star Wars Armada, Guild Ball, and Tanks by Battlefront. Payment options include credit cards, debit cards, and NFC. The venue has a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars from 235 Google reviews, and a TripAdvisor rating of 3.6 out of 5 from 16 reviews. It also features 7 electric vehicle charging points (Level 2, Type 2 socket, 7 kW each) operated by POD Point, with a complicated tariff structure (£0.45/kWh or £0.75/kWh). The business is operational and accepts cashless payments. Reviews highlight the extensive game selection, friendly and knowledgeable staff, and affordable pricing as major strengths. Some reviews note that the basement can feel stuffy, the decor is tired, and cleanliness has been inconsistent, particularly in the toilets. The venue hosts regular gaming meet-ups and events, including sessions for solo gamers to meet others. The Games Hub has an active online presence with a Facebook page, Twitter account, and Discord server. Despite mixed reviews, it remains a popular destination for tabletop enthusiasts in Edinburgh, offering a welcoming environment for both locals and visitors.