Tucked away down a quiet country lane just off the A6 in Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire, lies a haven for analog entertainment. Ready Steady Roll isn’t your average coffee shop. It is an award-winning board game café and retail shop dedicated to a simple, powerful mission: helping people put down their smartphones, connect face-to-face, and rediscover the joy of tabletop play.
The café began its journey in 2015 as a humble pop-up initiative by its original founder, Darrell, appearing in libraries and museums across Bedfordshire. Its growing popularity eventually demanded a permanent home. In 2017, Ready Steady Roll settled into Studio 5 at Ivy Lodge. Today, the business is passionately run by Chas, recently joined by new business partner Evie. They have preserved the café’s signature community warmth while fostering a welcoming environment for hardcore strategists and young families alike.
For many, walking into a modern board game space can feel intimidating. With around 600 games stacking the shelves - ranging from light party favorites like Codenames to heavy strategy titles like Wingspan and Earth
The experience is rounded out by full table service. While you plot your next move, you can indulge in a menu featuring hot snack, barista-style coffee, and a rotating selection of locally made cakes.
Visitors can book a two-hour table slot for £4 for adults and £3 for children (with discounted rates on term-time weekdays), with various other deals available from time to time plus our just launched work day deal - although we encourage a non-digital experience, during the working week when the kids are at school, we offer a relaxed space where people can get on with some work or connect with colleagues away from the humdrum of a busy town centre setting.
In an increasingly digital world, Ready Steady Roll provides a rare physical community space. It acts as an educational playground for young kids building cognitive skills, a unique destination for a couples' date night, and a lively social hub during their late-night Friday and Saturday openings, or our Blood on the Clocktower events. It stands as a brilliant reminder that sometimes, the best way to connect is simply to sit across a table, pass the dice, and play.
