Some people like board games. Some people love board games. When you talk to the staff at Black Dragon Games you realise they are dedicated to board games. Based in Melton Mowbray (a town famous for its pork pie) the family-run business promotes itself as a game shop, but since opening in 2021 they have rapidly become the centre of an incredible, and rapidly growing, gaming community.
Where to begin?
I recently sat down with one of the shop managers, Kayla (Kay) Caiazzo, and she kindly answered some of my questions. To start with I asked Kay what she would suggest if someone completely new to tabletop gaming walked in and asked where to begin. Without hesitation Kay explained that she would ask them two questions, the size of their group and the time they would be willing to invest.
At this point she gestured to the stacked shelves behind us and said that they try to maintain a stock of games that are accessible to a wide audience. She continued to explain that, if someone had a medium sized group who wanted something in the 30 to 40 minute range then she would immediately suggest Carcassonne or King of Tokyo as great entry points. She also suggested that if the person were looking for two player games then she would point them towards Patchwork or Odin's Ravens to get them started.
Ready to level up
Kay was smart enough to see my next question coming and was ready to answer when I asked what she would suggest if someone wanted to step things up, moving from introductory games to mid-weight games with a little more complexity.
For medium sized groups, especially those who are happy with a competitive element, she offered Catan and Ticket to Ride. However, she also suggested that more recent releases would check the same boxes, suggesting the popular 2024 tile placement game Harmonies. She also recommended that for larger groups, who may have six players, they may want to consider Colt Express or Deep Sea Adventure, depending on the theme and size of game they enjoy playing.
Community led events
At this point in our discussion we moved away from the shop and stepped towards the open area at the back that provides space for their gaming sessions and long list of community events. I asked Kay about everything they offer and she showed me a wall of games that creates their tabletop library. Sessions at the tables are easy to book through their website, which also features a full list of the games they have available to play. Many of the ones that Kay mentioned earlier were available, as well as heavier weight games such as Scythe and Twilight Imperium, and thankfully the staff are on hand to walk you through any of these more challenging titles.
Once again this library is only a part of what Black Dragon offers. Game nights are organised every Tuesday and are run by a mix of staff, community members or independent groups. During these sessions you can explore new titles or try out heavy weight games that require more time and table space. They also offer guided and unguided play sessions for specific games and when Kay hands me the flyer for this month I spot Villainous, Wyrmspan and Nemesis on the list of upcoming sessions.
On top of these events Black Dragon also offers a loyalty scheme, after collecting enough stamps the rewards include either vouchers or a free session at a gaming table. Although I’m not sure people need much encouragement to visit the shop; twice during our discussion Kay was incredibly apologetic as she ran off to answer questions and help other visitors.
Dedication to gaming
At the heart of Black Dragon Games is the dedicated staff. As mentioned this is a family business run by Richard, Linda and Elizabeth Foulston, and in every interaction that family spirit shines through.
During my time talking to Kay she referenced Nick Brown, who I only caught a glimpse of because he was usually talking someone through a game. Likewise, after my visit I followed up over email with Richard, Managing Director, and he reinforced this message with a shout out to all of his team, including Josh Mills, William Ramshaw and David Anderson.
The staff are beyond knowledgeable, each and every interaction I have had highlights how much they genuinely care about tabletop gaming. I think given a little time Black Dragon Games will be putting Melton Mowbray on the map for more than just pork pies, it is rapidly becoming an outstanding gaming community.
