Welcome to the web-site of one of the most popular & friendly Bridge Clubs in England.

We would like to thank you for looking at this web-site. We hope that you can find amongst the extensive information provided, the knowledge or insight you require.

On the home pages, we mostly cover Club information & upcoming county wide events, whereas, in the "MENU" in yellow writing on a black background (to your left (on an I-Pad, Tablet, Lap-Top or similar) ), we report on more of the workings, origins & statistics of the Club. We also portray there, more of the big wide world of Bridge that is out there, including teaching, viewing, merchandise, and breaks/holidays, all put together in one place, for your ease & convenience. We hope that you will return here soon.

• Looking for a hobby / pastime that will stretch your mind?
• Newcomer to the game, intrigued by what you have seen or heard?
• Don't know if this is for you?
• Unsure of where to start?
• Apprehensive, because you are taking a step into the unknown?

Or :-

• Returning to the game after some time away?
• Able to play, but no partner - not sure how to find one?

We may have the answer - just e-mail John Dalton at john57dalton@gmail.com or alternatively you can contact Danny Parsonson by e-mailing him at treasurer@wakefieldbridgeclub.co.uk

We are a thriving Bridge Club with approximately 170 members, but we always welcome new members to our friendly group. We would be extremely pleased to see you, so come along and take the plunge, and find out if the game of Bridge is for you. We offer various levels of entry into our world, from absolute beginners upwards.

Bridge is a game played by all ages and abilities in schools, universities, bridge clubs, social groups & individual houses as well as the vast majority of countries all around the world. So we at Wakefield Bridge Club, are always looking to expand our fantastic game to more of the residents of our area, whatever your age, so that you all can discover its pleasures.

The game of Bridge has been proven to be excellent for your mental health, by making the maximum use of your brain's aptitude and abilities. It is a mentally challenging form of entertainment, offering intellectual and social stimulation on a routine basis. Bridge's intricacies should make it particularly appealing for those who want to sharpen their acuity whilst performing mental gymnastics. In detailed research of Bridge Players v Non - Bridge Players in the age category 55 - 90, that study indicated that Bridge players outperformed non players in terms of memory & reasoning. Listening, etiquette, concentration, dealing with winning & losing along with many other social skills, can be enhanced by playing Bridge.

All you have to do is take the first step - TRUST US - we will try our best to help you take it from there.

• If you have tried us and like what you see, and keep returning, you can expect to be asked to become a member of our Bridge Club.

Did you know, that up to 20% of all adults know how to play Bridge - why not join them?

We were pleased to announce the commencement of new Beginner Bridge Training @ Wakefield Bridge Club.

We will be holding another brand new Beginner Bridge Training programme of lessons in 2027. This will start on Thursday 29th April @ 18.30 until 20.30 for multiple weeks. These will not be consecutive weeks, due to holidays so please refer to our "Calendar" for further details. There will also be a taster day for everyone interested on Thursday 8th April 2027 @ 18.30 with no obligation for about an hour or so, as a chance for everybody to decide for themselves, whether they wish to participate in learning to play Bridge. 

If you know of anybody, families or friends etc who may like to find out about learning to play Bridge, please contact John Dalton on john57dalton@gmail.com. This is to pass on the names & details of any interested parties & for more information. 

In 2021, we relocated to our present home in Thornes Park.  We have taken part of the ground floor of the former school/college, which is now a part of the Penny Appeal Campus. We have two Bridge rooms, with a small kitchen and separate ladies and gents toilets. The aerial view (shown above) shows the former college/Penny Appeal buildings at the top left, and the main car park. The thin grey line running through the trees, from the bottom right of the photograph, marks the line of the road up from the park entrance on Horbury Road, the A642. This is the only road entrance for vehicles, to the Car Park & Bridge Club, as all the other entrances have bollards in the roadways to prevent further access, or are dead ends.

For detailed guidance on finding us please refer to the "MENU", look for the section which is labelled "HOW TO FIND US AT WBC" (WAKEFIELD BRIDGE CLUB) and then select either of the two alternatives of "Map/Photo directions", or "Written directions" to WBC .(You will need to rotate the map/photo pictures - use the swivel icon on the page, please).

Please use the assistance of Google Maps,which will help greatly or we recommend the use the downloadable what3words app, which divides the whole of the earth into 3m x 3m squares, and so pinpoints exact locations.

The post code of the club is WF2 8QZ; the what3words address of the club room entrance is flank.inspector.waving; the what3words /// address of the car park entrance is kind.brass.exchanges. (Download the what3words app which can be accessed via your smartphone, for an accurate location of where we are). We recommend this course of action.

If you are using satellite navigation to direct you to the club, please ensure that you approach from the A642, Horbury Road, Wakefield, which is the North entrance to the three parks that make up Thornes Park. Reliance on your car's satellite navigation, will end up with you at one of the wrong entrances to the parks, with no access through. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

​When you are walking up from the main car park, please look out for for the signage on the enclosure with green fencing, directing you to walk around the building to your left, to locate the entrance to the Bridge Club, which is now the only access that we have to our Club rooms. 

Forthcoming Events are always listed in the "MENU" under "CALENDAR". 

PLEASE PLAN TO ALWAYS ARRIVE AT LEAST 10 MINUTES BEFORE THE START OF ANY OF OUR SESSIONS.

This is to enable us to select the correct type of game movement, based on the numbers present. If you turn up close to the starting time, this delays this selection and therefore the start of the session. Turning up late may mean that we have started without you, and you will be going home without playing. It also means that all those who turned up in plenty of time, are delayed by you & will NOT finish on time. It is in your hands to make this NOT happen!

Local Black Masterpoints & NGS gradings are available on all of our playing sessions, but not on any of our teaching sessions. Occasionally, we can offer Blue Masterpoints, but only on specific weekend events.

Monday Mornings -  The third step - We offer a gentle, regular session of Bridge, that should provide an introduction into meeting other members of WBC, as well as introducing you into the mechanics of a Bridge session. If you would like to be involved simply turn up on the day. 

Monday Evenings - These have a competitive atmosphere. Pairs of visitors are always welcome, but if you need a partner, please place an advert on Pianola, on Partner Finder. Occasional Monday evenings are marked as Teams Events, and then advance registration is required - see the calendar (shown in the "MENU" under "CALENDAR" for details).

Tuesday Mornings - The improver / intermediate step. A teaching session for individual improvers, and existing members with some experience of the game. We replay interesting (random, not prepared) hands from a previous session (usually Thursday's), and discuss teaching points as they come up, but we don't always agree. Open to all members, this is an excellent opportunity to think and talk a little more deeply about your bridge.

Tuesday Evenings - The atmosphere is a little more relaxed. Players of all abilities are welcome.

Thursday Mornings - The second step. A teaching session for individual beginners and individual improvers. This is your chance to play some new & unseen hands of bridge, with no expectations or time limits. We will be talking about a host of different Bridge related topics, with examples shown & explained (may be on a different subject).  

Thursday Evenings - These have an even more competitive atmosphere. Pairs of visitors are always welcome, but if you need a partner, please place an advert on Pianola, on Partner Finder. Very occasionally, there are Teams Events (see Monday evenings above for the protocol). 

Thursday Evenings - The first step. A teaching session for beginners. This is your chance to learn how the game of Bridge is played, from the bottom up, and to hopefully gain an appreciation of why so many people play this game. Only occurs when a course is running - see our Calendar for more details.

Friday Mornings - This session aims to be relaxed in character, but it is competitive, and players of all grades are welcome. 

Saturday Mornings - This session runs once a month, on the last Saturday of each month, and is relaxed in character. Players of all grades are welcome. 

Need to know :- 

• Monday Morning    - Level ♣/♦           - start at 10.00, finish about 13.00 - play about 18 boards.
• Monday Evening    - Level ♥/♠           - start at 19.00, finish about 22.30 - play about 27 boards.
• Tuesday Morning   - Level ♣              - start at 10.00, finish about 12.30 - a teaching/discussion session involving up to 8 boards.
• Tuesday Evening   - Level ♦/♥           - start at 18.45, finish about 21.45 - play about 24 boards. 
• Thursday Morning - Level ♣             - start at 10.00, finish about 12.30 - play up to 8 boards with a topic discussion. 
• Thursday Evening - Level ♠             - start at 19.00, finish about 22.30 - play about 27 boards.
• Thursday Evening - Level ♣ or less - start at 18.30, finish about 20.30 - a beginners teaching session (meets only when a course is running). 
• Friday Morning      - Level ♦/♥          - start at 10.00, finish about 13.00 - play about 20 boards.
• Saturday Morning - Level ♣/♦          - start at 10.15, finish about 13.15 - play about 20 - 24 boards. 

Levels (in our opinion), equate approximately to difficulty of each of our sessions (suits in bridge ranking order). 

• Normal sessions - are charged at £3.30 table money per head, per session. Please don't bring cash into the Club to pay, as we will send you a bill at the end of each month and you can pay by bank transfer. For visitors, the first session is always free, and we hope that you will return. From then onwards it is £5.00 per person, per session. This may change in the future, but only after our AGM takes place on Tuesday 13th April 2027. 
• Extra non Weekly Events - these will usually be charged to you at the end of the month, after they have occurred, together with the sessions that you have played in. These extras, are found by looking on the "MENU" under "CALENDAR" on this web-site. 
• Membership 2026 - 2027 :- The membership fee will be £25 per year. However, new members can join during the year at a rate of £2.00 per month remaining until the following 31 March (payable as a lump sum). Our annual AGM takes place on Tuesday 13th April 2027, after which this may alter.
• Drinks - Tea and coffee are available for a small donation (we suggest £0.50 per drink) in our own kitchen (we will sort out the milk). We have two large fridges (the second is only in use for functions), and members are invited to bring their own drinks in for consumption. Thank you for your honesty.
• Biscuits - Biscuits (when available) are now available freely in the kitchen. Now share nicely.........

Remember - If you use cups or glasses from the kitchen, can you PLEASE remember to return them afterwards, so as to wash them up or put them in the dishwasher - THANK YOU.

Did you know? All the monies that are donated for hot drinks, etc, manage to pay for the replacement of tea, coffee etc, also to pay for all the cleaning materials we require & the toiletries that we all use, whilst at the Bridge Club.