Trio open Edinburgh’s first board game bar offering ‘cheapest pint on the street’
Business partners hope to bring people together over board games and drinks
Three friends have opened Edinburgh’s first board game bar to help others enjoy the games they met playing.
The trio opened the doors to Potions and Rations last weekend, just nine days after getting the keys to the former rum bar at the top of Broughton Street.
Co-founders Mark Barrett, Daniel Long and Jesus Barrero have stocked the bar with the tabletop games they first bonded over but say they also want to cater to less diehard board game fans.
“We’re definitely the cheapest pint on the street; we’re definitely the cheapest coffee and cake on the street,” Mark said.
They hope the bar will bring people together having each had moments without friends in the city.
Mark said: “People don’t have to worry about coming in and giving it the whole ‘ohh arrr welcome to ye olde…’, we want a comfy space, a community space and a place for people to socialise.
“The fact that this is the hardest time to open in hospitality is why it’s so important we were able to open now so we’re going to be here 14-hour days just the three of us for as long as we have to to make it work so that we can open somewhere for people to come.
“We all bring in a unique little skill and we’re putting every ounce of it in, we’re not a massive company that’s already established, we’re a new Edinburgh-based company and we’re doing it for ourselves and for Edinburgh.”
The award-winning mixologist of the group, Mark has spent two decades working in independent pubs, which he said taught him how to grow community pubs, bring people together and keep things affordable.
“I want to make my own mead, but we’re not going to be downing wee flagons of warm ale, it’s all local beers and stuff,” he added.
Alongside cocktails like Druids Brew, Dragon’s Breath and Potion of Healing are classic cocktails as well as local beers and coffee from Edinburgh-based roaster machinea.
Far from competing with the city’s board game cafes, they are “unbelievably good friends” with Ancient Robot Games (ARG) at the foot of Leith Walk, who were “some of the first people through the door” and donated to the bar’s stockpile of games.
“We don’t want to call it competition, you know, we want to support other businesses,” Jesus said.
He said shows like Stranger Things have helped to catapult tabletop games like Dungeons and Dragons into the mainstream.
Tabletop gaming is thriving in the Edinburgh, with Aberdeen-based independent tabletop gaming business Thistle Tavern set to open a branch in the West End next month.
Matt said: “For us now is the time to build a social building for people. So many people work from home now, they’ve lost that social interaction so we’re trying to push for it so people can start talking and connecting.
“We’ve got people coming in just to check it out and have one drink and then they stay for five, six hours to play games.”
Potions and Rations plan to sacrifice every other Tuesday night for people to vent about their week over free tea and coffee, while money raised from their pub quizzes is going to Edinburgh Food Bank and other local charities.