A beloved board game cafe in Shrewsbury has found a new home after its community rallied together to help bring it back to life. Nerdy's, which closed its original premises in May 2025, has reopened as N3rdy's following a fundraising campaign that raised more than £8,000. Owner Katie Petrovic continued organising events throughout the closure, determined to preserve the welcoming community that had grown around the cafe. Now operating from new premises at Mardol Gardens, the business is ready to welcome players back through its doors!
A community brings Nerdy's back to life
Nerdy's originally closed in May 2025, with rising costs making it increasingly difficult to keep the cafe running. However, owner Katie Petrovic believed the venue had become far more than somewhere to play games, describing it as a “home from home” for many of its visitors.
Rather than allowing the community to disappear, Petrovic continued organising pop-up events around Shropshire during the cafe's closure. These gatherings helped maintain connections between regular visitors while giving supporters something to look forward to. The fundraising campaign eventually raised more than £8,000 towards reopening, providing crucial support for the cafe's return. Petrovic described the response as “absolutely humbling”, explaining that the money represented more than financial assistance. It demonstrated how much people valued the venue and wanted to see it return. The cafe has now reopened at new premises on Mardol Gardens, close to its original location. Known as N3rdy's, it continues to offer visitors the opportunity to enjoy board games alongside drinks in a welcoming environment.
More than just a place to play games
Petrovic first discovered Nerdy's after the coronavirus pandemic, when she was looking for somewhere to socialise, play games and feel welcome. She eventually joined the staff before becoming the owner herself. The cafe's community has become particularly important to people who struggle to find comfortable social spaces, including neurodivergent and LGBT+ visitors, socially anxious individuals and those experiencing isolation.
Petrovic believes places like Nerdy's are increasingly important, providing an environment where people can connect through a shared love of gaming without feeling out of place. The business has also become a Community Interest Company, meaning it operates with a social purpose. Petrovic hopes this structure will improve accountability, help secure funding and ensure money is reinvested into events and the local gaming community.
Another Shropshire cafe faces an uncertain future
While N3rdy's celebrates its return, another local board game cafe is facing questions about its future. The Boardroom Cafe in Wellington, which received a BBC Make a Difference award for its community work, has been told its landlord is considering selling the building.
Co-owners Jenni and John Drew are exploring options, including purchasing the property or finding alternative premises. Although nothing is changing immediately, the cafe has launched a survey asking visitors what the venue means to them, helping inform its plans and potential funding applications. Jenni Drew said she was proud of what the community had built together and wanted to do everything possible to secure the cafe's future.
A reminder of the power of board games
The return of N3rdy's highlights the importance of local board game cafes as welcoming spaces for friendship, creativity and community. While the Boardroom Cafe continues to explore its next steps, both businesses demonstrate how tabletop gaming can bring people together far beyond the game itself.
