Hastings and St Leonards Chess Club

We are a chess club based in the centre of Hastings, a two minute walk from the railway station. We own our own premises. The club is open every day except Christmas Day from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m.

We run a series of club tournaments for individual club members during the winter and summer months catering for every level of player. We also play in the Kent and Mid Sussex Leagues.

The main Club Night is on a Friday evening from 6.45pm at which we currently hold ‘friendly’ rapid-chess competitions (timed and/or with appropriate handicap measures agreed accordingly between opponents).

Every other year we play against a French club in Bethune, alternating home or away matches and social events.

Many of our members compete each year in the famous Hastings International Chess Congress which is the oldest and best known congress in the country. Players, including many Grand Masters, come from all over the world. During the Congress, we invite the players to an Open Evening at the Club.

The club has run a successful Junior Club for many years which traditionally meets once a week on a Friday evening during term time and provides valuable coaching to chess juniors. Some of our juniors have gone on to win in their age group at the British Championships.