What Is a London Bridge Club and How Can You Start Playing?

Updated

A London bridge club is a venue where people meet to play duplicate bridge, take lessons, and join supervised sessions — as opposed to casual home games where four friends play rubber bridge. At the Andrew Robson Bridge Club (ARBC), a leading London club, you can start without any experience: the club runs free taster sessions for newcomers, courses for all levels, and regular sessions both in person and online. The main steps are to try a taster or beginner course, then book into a session — either a supervised game or a duplicate — and pay for the course or membership through the club's store.

What actually happens at a bridge club

A club is organised around scheduled sessions rather than one-off games. At ARBC the main formats are:

  • Duplicate bridge — the same hands are played at multiple tables and scores compared, so results depend on skill rather than lucky deals. The club runs duplicate sessions in person and on RealBridge.
  • Supervised bridge — played on RealBridge, with help available during the session, which suits players who have learned the basics but aren't ready for open duplicate.
  • Online sessions — the club lists RealBridge sessions and BBO duplicates, with a separate online timetable and BBO FAQs.
  • Courses and lessons — teaching at all levels, from beginner tuition to advanced courses, plus a daily video service (BridgeCast) and articles for beginners, intermediates, and experienced players.

This is the key difference from a home game: at a club you'll usually be paired with a partner, move between tables, and play a set number of boards against a field of other pairs.

Beginner routes into a London club

If you've never played, the lowest-commitment entry points at ARBC are:

  1. Free taster session — the club holds free bridge taster sessions aimed at people new to the game. Check the current dates before planning around it.
  2. New bridge courses — courses run from complete beginners through to duplicate players, so you can pick a level rather than guess.
  3. BridgeCast and learning articles — Andrew Robson's daily video service and written tips (Beginner Corner, Tips for Intermediates, deals for the more experienced) let you build knowledge between sessions.

For someone who already plays, the route is shorter: book a table for a duplicate session, or join a supervised RealBridge game if you want support while you get used to club play.

How to choose between London clubs

Use the same criteria for any club you're considering:

Factor What to check
Location and travel The club publishes a map, transport information, and a 360-degree tour of the interior; nearby accommodation is also listed
Teaching quality Who runs the lessons, and whether courses are split by level
Session types Duplicate, supervised, and online options — some players need one, some need all three
Timing Opening hours and the online timetable determine whether sessions fit your week
Entry route Whether there's a free or low-commitment way to try before joining

ARBC's distinguishing feature is that tuition is led by Andrew Robson, described on the site as Britain's No 1 bridge player teacher, and the club also links to affiliated clubs teaching "the Andrew Robson way" (AR Bridge Chelsea, Dorset Bridge, Whites).

Practical first steps

  • Book a course through the club's course booking page, or pay for courses and memberships in the store.
  • Become a member if you plan to play regularly — membership is a separate step from booking a single session.
  • Book a table for a duplicate session when you're ready to play rather than learn.
  • For online play, use the RealBridge and BBO instructions and FAQs before your first session, since the joining process differs from turning up in person.
  • What to bring: for in-person play, expect to play with cards provided at the club; for online sessions, you need a device and the relevant platform set up in advance.

The club's site does not publish prices for courses, memberships, or sessions, so check the store and booking pages for current costs rather than assuming any session is free — only the taster sessions are described as free.