🎪 September Big Top Board Game Mini Convention – Poole’s Premier Board Gaming Event

📍 Location: RetroCave, Ashley Road, Poole, Dorset

📅 Date: Saturday 19th September 2026

🕒 Time: 12:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Looking for fun gaming events in Dorset? The September Big Top Board Game Mini Convention is your ultimate board game day in Poole. Hosted at RetroCave, this monthly board game convention brings together players of all ages and experience levels for a full day of tabletop excitement, friendly competition and community connection.

Whether you’re a strategic mastermind or just discovering the world of board games, there’s something here for everyone.

🎲 What to Expect

Our conventions are all about bringing the community together and letting the games do the talking:

• 🎯 20+ Board Game Demos

  Try new games with guided board game demos, perfect for beginners and seasoned players alike.

• 🛍️ Pop-Up Board Game Shop (70+ Titles)

  Browse a variety of board games, from fast party games to deeper strategy titles.

• ☕ Food & Drinks

  Keep your energy up with tasty snacks and beverages from RetroCave Café.

• 🎟️ Gamer’s Passport

   Collect stamps throughout the day and earn tickets for the raffle.

• Loyalty Rewards

  Collect stamps each time you visit and for every fifth visit get £5 off at the pop up shop.

• 🎲 Open Gaming Area

  Bring your favourite games or join others. Perfect for meeting new friends at one of Dorset’s most inclusive board game conventions.

🎭 Special Event Schedule

Here’s a taste of the day’s highlights:

• 12:00 PM – Learn & Play Showcase

  Get hands-on with guided demos of the latest games.

• 1:00 PM – Hidden Gem Reveal

  Take a seat at the mystery table and earn extra Gamer’s Passport stamps.

• 6:00 PM – Big Top Group Game

  Join in the wordy wonder of On a Wing and a Prayer, a paper aeroplane throwing dexterity game.

• 7:30 PM – Gamer’s Passport Raffle

  See if your stamps have turned into a winning ticket for a brand-new board game.

👤Special Guest Feature

This month we welcome John Acorn from Mazing Games to join us and share a host of his creations with you all allowing you to discover brand new titles and find out a little about the journey that goes into making a board game. There will be six games that he is bringing along that you can try:

• Streamers

   An energy management theme park exploration game where you are live streaming your time in the park and are competing for the most viewers.

• Cuckoo

  A push your Luck Card game. Avoid drawing bird cards and score as many points as you can; if you draw an opponents Cuckoo, beware as they can steal some of your collected cards.

• Entombed

  You are trapped in a pyramid and must survive until the exits open. Once the exits open, the 1^st Explorer to escape wins. Sounds simple? The ability to rotate the walls means that the layout is ever changing, and there’s nowhere safe to hide.

• Entrapped

  You have been ‘volunteered’ to help test the latest ‘safety’ fences to ‘improve’ guest safety at the dinosaur zoo. Successfully trap the T-Rexes (or steal their eggs and successfully return them to your base) to score points.

• Hedge Your Bets

  You are playing a bad VHS video game and unfortunately the Gamesmaster overheard you insult the game, so has sucked you into the TV. In Hedge Your Bets, you not only have to get the correct key and escape the slide puzzle maze, but also bet on if your opponents will get their bet correct. The player with the most points wins.

• On a Wing and a Prayer

  A paper airplane throwing dexterity game. Throw your airplane. If it lands on the runway, you score the corresponding points. However, your opponents may wish to play a card on you, making your throw much harder or sending you backwards in the queue.

🎁 Extras & Highlights

• 🎉 Raffle prize: Win a brand-new board game

• 💸 Exclusive event-only shop discounts

• 🤝 Friendly, inclusive atmosphere for all ages

• 🎲 Connect with Poole’s growing tabletop community

🎟️ Tickets & Entry

💰 Pricing:

• £5 advance online

• £7 on the door

Enjoy a full day of affordable tabletop fun. Perfect for families, friends, or solo gamers looking for a lively board game day in Dorset.

📌 Save the Date

Looking for a board game convention, regular gaming events in Dorset, or hands-on board game demos? The September Big Top Board Game Mini Convention is your ticket to a full day of fun, strategy, and new friendships.

Roll the dice, discover new games, and join the fun at RetroCave this September. 🎲