A new social gaming destination is preparing to open in the heart of Bicester, with Noughts & Nibbles set to welcome its first customers on 01 March 2026 at 1–3 Sheep Street.
Occupying a prominent 2,090 sq ft corner unit at the junction of Sheep Street and Market Square, the new board game café aims to become a hub for tabletop gaming, food and community-led social experiences.
The high-ceilinged space benefits from generous natural light and distinctive historic features, having previously served as a banking hall before being adapted for modern retail and leisure use.
Noughts & Nibbles blends a relaxed café environment with an extensive library of games designed to appeal to a wide range of interests and experience levels.
Visitors will be able to choose from classic board games such as Chess, Scrabble and Backgammon, alongside modern strategy favourites including Catan, Wingspan and Ticket to Ride.
The venue will also cater to fans of tabletop role-playing games, with sessions for Dungeons & Dragons and trading card tournaments planned as part of its regular programme.
Community and inclusivity sit at the heart of the concept, with the café set to host themed events, organised game nights and competitions aimed at bringing people together in a welcoming and accessible space.
“We’re thrilled to bring Noughts & Nibbles to Bicester,” said Phil Walley, founder of the café. “Our vision is to create a welcoming hub where people of all ages and interests can come together to play games, enjoy great food and drinks, and make lasting memories. Sheep Street is the perfect place for this venture—right in the centre of Bicester’s vibrant high street.”
Alongside gaming, the café will offer a menu of freshly prepared light meals, snacks and specialty drinks designed to sustain longer visits. Flexible seating, generous table space and dedicated zones for different types of play are intended to make the venue suitable for families, students and dedicated hobbyists alike.
Harvey White, Property Advisor at White Commercial Surveyors, commented: “This transaction reflects the wider structural shift we’re seeing in retail and town centres generally, where service and community led uses are increasingly replacing traditional shopping.
“Noughts and Nibbles and those like them create reasons for people to spend more time in town centres, not just passing through them, helping to build footfall, social interaction and a genuine sense of place. Delighted to have supported this transaction and to bring another use that will positively contribute to the long-term vitality of the town centre.”
