On a Tuesday night at Café 1001 on Brick Lane in Shoreditch, a new community has formed.
Combining chess and cocktails, Knight Club is a free event inviting individuals, experienced or new to the game, to play chess and enjoy a drink.
Knight Club was founded by Yusuf Ntahilaja, 27, nearly two years ago in a smaller bar near Aldgate. Now on a ‘good evening’, up to 280 patrons attend the event.
In a time when our lives are increasingly online, Knight Club offers attendees a respite from their screens, and a much needed free third space.
Ntahilaja said: “Knight Club is a taste of the weekend on a Tuesday.”
Café 1001 is a cafe by day, bar by night and holds a variety of community focused events ranging from BYOV (Bring your own vinyl) on a Wednesday to DJ nights on the weekend.
Knight Club’s success is demonstrated beyond their weekly events, with tours across Europe and hopes for more international travel soon.
These spaces are critical to communities, and part of a growing chess revival amongst young people.
Feature image credit: Natasha Stone
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