DEVON
BOARD GAME
WEEKEND '24
23-25 FEBRUARY 2024
About the Event
The Devon Board Game Weekend 2024 takes place from 3pm Friday 23 February until 3pm Sunday 25 February 2024 at The Fox and Hounds Country Hotel in Devon. We have blocked out the entire hotel for the exclusive use of board game lovers to gather for a fun and informal weekend playing their favourite games. So come and sit by the fire, walk in the gardens by the River Taw, enjoy delicious food, relax and lose yourself in your favourite board games.
A Special Event and Event Dinner
The event is open to both guests staying at the hotel as well as day guests, staying or living locally. We’re aiming for about 70 people again this year, with a roughly equal mix of the two. Board games take place in our large, well-lit function room (which apparently has very good acoustics, according to players last year). Tables and seating can be configured to suit the games and group size being played at the time.
In addition to games and socialising, our bar and restaurant are available throughout the weekend . On Saturday there is a very special Event Dinner, which last year featured a themed 5 course dinner, prepared by our amazing team of chefs. Dinner was accompanied by a challenging team super-quiz – and we plan to out-do ourselves this time around! Please see the Food & Drink section below for more details.
Is it for me?
If you love playing board games and meeting new people, then the answer is probably yes! Many of the games played last year are to be found on BoardGameGeek’s Top 100, but even if you haven’t heard of some, or even many, of them, people are always will to teach their new favourite game to others. At the more casual end of the spectrum you’ll probably have played games like Settlers of Catan, Ticket to Ride and perhaps Wingspan, while a good majority of attendees will be familiar with titles like Scythe, Great Western Trail, Brass: Birmingham, Lost Ruins of Arnak, Search for Planet X and many, many others. Last year we had close to 200 games available, including many new releases.
If you have young ones or a dog that may have prevented you from attending other board game events, then this might just be the opportunity you’ve been looking for. Dogs and children of all ages are very welcome at the hotel and we encourage you to bring the whole family!
If you want to chat with other people who have been before or are thinking of attending, why not join the online discussion Discord group we’ve set up.
How it came about
Started in 2023, the event is organised by Meeples’ Corner, The Fox and Hounds Country Hotel and a handful of enthusiastic, energetic volunteers. First suggested by the owners’ son and his wife, both huge board game fans, the first event was a great success and everyone involved wanted to do it again for 2024.
We had just over 70 people in the first year, most of whom it seems are planning to return for 2024! We’ll be looking to do the same sort of numbers this time around, and availability is expected to be limited, so please book early, if you’re interested in attending.
About The Fox & Hounds
The Fox and Hounds Country Hotel is a 3 star country hotel in mid Devon, halfway between Exeter and Barnstaple. The hotel sits on 6 acres on the beautiful River Taw and is known for being its welcoming staff, relaxed atmosphere, great food and being very dog-friendly.
We have a lovely large log fire in our licensed bar area and serve coffees as well as breakfast, lunch and dinner. We have 22 rooms with a wide selection of room type and bed configurations, from single rooms to suites, as well as a luxury treehouse.
We are situated just a few minutes walk from Eggesford train station which is 40 minutes from Exeter St Davids, so we’re easy to reach for anyone who would prefer to leave the car at home.
More information about the hotel and the surrounding area can be found on the pages of this Guest Information Portal
About Meeples' Corner
Meeples’ Corner is a shop for board and card games based in Crediton, Devon. We stock all sorts of games for the enthusiast, from hard-to-get imports to family-friendly games to introduce the whole family to this great hobby. We will bring our Game Library to the hotel to make sure that there are interesting games for everyone.
Event Tickets
If you would like to stay at the hotel, the price of the event is included with your stay. We have created a special discounted rate just for for this event and accommodation prices start as low as £55 per person* per night for bed and breakfast, with a wide range of accommodation options available (see “Accommodation” below). Please call 01769 580 345 to book your stay.
If you are not staying overnight at the hotel, Day Tickets have a nominal charge starting at £5 and are available from the link below for online purchase.
*Example price is per person per night, including Breakfast, in a Small Double Room with two people sharing
Accommodation
The Fox and Hounds Country Hotel has 22 rooms of different types from single rooms to family suites, as well as a luxury Treehouse.
Many Standard Double rooms and higher can have different bed configurations, may have sofa beds and can accommodate an additional foldable bed or travel cot. Accessible rooms are available on the ground floor and one room is available with a wet room. We have two Single Rooms but single person occupancy will be available in Small Double rooms, if available, with an associated single occupancy discount.
Dogs are allowed in most, but not all rooms.
Since the hotel is block-booked for the event and a special rate is in effect, bookings can’t be made online or through our normal channels like Booking.com. Please call the hotel, or email us to reserve your room, and we will be happy to call back and help to configure the ideal room for your stay.
Pricing
| ROOM TYPE | SLEEPS | MAX OCC | B&B | DBB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single Room | 1 | 1 | 132 | 175 |
| Small Double | 2 | 2 | 220* | 305* |
| Standard Double | 2 | 3 | 259 | 342 |
| Superior Double | 2 | 4 | 299 | 383 |
| Eggesford Suite | 2 | 4 | 325 | 410 |
| Heywood Suite | 2 | 4 | 370 | 450 |
| Luxury Treehouse | 2A+2C | 4 | 540** | 650 |
**The Treehouse Self Catering rate is £510 for 2 nights.
ADDITIONAL PEOPLE IN ROOMS
- The price for an additional adult in a room for two nights is £67 for B&B and £125 for DBB.
- The price for an additional child (age 3 to 12) in a room for two nights is £35 for B&B and £55 for DBB.
- There is no charge for infants (0-2) and travel cots are available (please book a travel cot if required).
Refundable Deposit and Payment
Rooms for events require a £50 deposit payable at the time of booking. This is fully refundable until 23 January 2024, four weeks before the date of check-in. The balance of payment is not due until checkout.
Check-in and Checkout Times
Check-in time is 15:00. If your room is ready, you may check-in earlier. There is no charge for early check-in but rooms are not normally available before the normal check-in time. We are happy to store luggage, subject to space restrictions until your room is ready.
Check-out is at 10:30. For guests who want to continue playing games on Sunday, we are happy to store luggage, subject to available space.
Event Program
Key Times
FRIDAY
The event begins Friday 23 February 2023 at 15:00 with check-in and arrival. Guests are welcome to begin playing games right away but there will be a brief welcome and orientation at 16:00. A Buffet Dinner for those eating at the hotel will be served at 19:00 with games starting to wind down at 22:00 and the bar closing at 23:00. The gaming area is left open for those who want to play into the night!
SATURDAY
Games begin at 10:00 following breakfast which is served for staying guests between 08:00 and 09:45. Lunch and Cream Teas are available between 12:00 and 15:00. A sit down Event Dinner is planned for 18:30. This will be accompanied by our special team quiz (even more challenging this year!) Play continues until the wind down at 22:00 with the bar closing at 23:00. Again, the gaming area is left open for those who want to play “just one more” game.
SUNDAY
Breakfast for staying guests is served between 08:00 and 09:45 with the games area opening at 10:00. Checkout for guests staying at the hotel is at 10:30 but luggage may be stored, subject to space availability. A Sunday Carvery will be available between 12:30 and 14:30 and the games area and event will finish at 15:00.
BOARD GAME PREVIEWS
Last year Hachette Boardgames UK and Lucky Duck Games were in attendance to demo some of their latest games. We’ll keep you updated on potential games companies for 2024.
Detailed Program
A detailed daily program will be provided shortly before the event.
Food and Drink
The hotel has a fully licensed bar, a restaurant and small coffee shop. Breakfast lunch and dinner will be available to guests staying with us. Breakfast is only available to staying guests, but lunch and dinner, as well as Afternoon Tea are available to everyone attending the event. Full details can be found below. There are also several pubs and restaurants in the area some of which can be found on our local area Food & Drinks page.
Breakfast
A hot and cold buffet breakfast with a wide selection including Full English (vegetarian and vegan options available) and Continental Style choices for guests staying at the hotel. Breakfast is available Saturday and Sunday mornings between 08:00 and 09:45.
Lunch & Cream Tea
Lunch will be available on for both hotel guests and day ticket holders.
Due to the pressure on the kitchen of getting everything ready for the Event Dinner, we may opt for a buffet style or limited lunch menu this year. To be confirmed.
Cream Tea is also available between these times and can be pre-ordered online or requested on arrival. but must be pre-ordered by contacting the hotel.
- Cream Tea for One is £5.50
A Sunday Carvery with vegetarian option is available from 12:00 to 15:00 on Sunday. Please make a reservation for Sunday Lunch if you would like to have Sunday lunch with us.
Sunday Carvery is £14.95 for adults and £7.95 for children under 13. Our normal lunch menu is not available on Sundays.
Dinner - Friday
A hot buffet-style dinner will be served Friday from 19:00. The price for the buffet will be £17.50 (£8.95 children under 13) for those not staying at the hotel on a Dinner Bed & Breakfast basis.
Event Dinner - Saturday
On Saturday there is a special, themed Event Dinner. Our team of chefs is still working out the details for the event but last year we enjoyed a 5 course (including Amuse bouche and Coffee/Tea) sit down event dinner with a special board game quiz over dessert and coffee.
The cost of the dinner is included for guests with Dinner Bed & Breakfast and will be £32/person (children under 13: £14) for day ticket holders or guests staying on Bed & Breakfast only. Attendees of the dinner will be asked to pre-order, and will be contacted before the event with a link to the pre-order form.
PLEASE NOTE: The Event Dinner is open to all attendees, but is limited to 40 people, so please book early if you’re not staying with the hotel on a DBB basis.
Sunday Carvery
A Sunday Carvery with vegetarian option is available from 12:00 to 15:00 on Sunday. Please make a reservation for Sunday Lunch if you would like to have Sunday lunch with us.
Sunday Carvery is £14.95 for adults and £7.95 for children under 13. Our normal lunch menu is not available on Sundays.
Contact & Connect
THE FOX AND HOUNDS COUNTRY HOTEL
- Tel: 01769 580 345
- Email: relax@foxandhoundshotel.co.uk
- Website: foxandhoundshotel.co.uk
MEEPLES’ CORNER
- Tel: 01363 898008
- Email: info@meeplescorner.co.uk
- Website: meeplescorner.co.uk
- Facebook: facebook.com/MeeplesCorner
DEVON BOARD GAME WEEKEND
- Day Tickets: buytickets.at/meeplescorner/796827
- Discord Group Chat: discord.gg/NcNqBcndcs
- Event page: portal.foxguest.co.uk/dbgw/
Pictures from 2023 Event
How to Get Here
The Fox and Hounds Country Hotel is in Mid Devon, halfway between Exeter and Barnstaple on the A377. We’re just a three minute walk from the Eggesford train station with regular service between Exeter and Barnstaple.
Parking is free and we have a large floodlit car park as well as overflow parking. Our full address is:
The Fox and Hounds Country Hotel
Eggesford
Chulmleigh EX17 7JZ
BY CAR
Most Satnav systems including Google Maps and Waze do a good job of finding the hotel, however for those travelling from the M5, most systems will try to take you cross country down small Devon lanes. While the direct route may be a few minutes faster on paper, our advice if you want to avoid the narrow lanes, is to follow the A361 from Junction 27 right into South Molton, rather than cutting across. Your satnav should update to take you down the B3226 and then onto the A377 to the hotel.
BY TRAIN
Paddington to Eggesford station can be as little as 3 hours and 15 minutes with one change at Exeter St Davids. Its a simple relaxing way to get to travel to the hotel followed by a few minutes walk. Please be aware that the walk is along the A377 with a very narrow verge, so please take care while walking, especially if you have children or dogs with you. A taxi service is available, but they charge a minimum of £10 for what amounts to a 20 second drive. Please also be aware that there are no shops or amenities in the immediate area, so if you want to get out and explore, driving is advised.
Frequently Asked Questions
Last year we had nearly 200 games to choose from. These were provided partly by the hosts and publishers, but the majority were brought by attendees. Chatting on the Discord group chat, people decided who would bring what and we ended up making a big list so there weren’t too many overlaps or gaps.
Not at all. A lot of attendees brought their own games last year, so every game wanted was represented. If there’s a particularly rare game, you may want to bring it, but the best thing is to join the online Discord chat group and discuss who’s bringing what ahead of time.
Yes. We can lock your games away safely if you need us to. Most people last year kept games in their room or car overnight, but the facility is available if needed. The atmosphere is more like a big family get together than a large impersonal conference, where you may worry more about your things. Last year of the 200 games we had, we had a couple of counters misplaced, which were later found by the housekeeping team and returned to their owner!
Of course. There is always someone in the group that is new to the game being played or who needs a refresher on the rules. This is an amazingly friendly group of people and always happy to teach new players.
Last year we had a whole set of systems to deal with this, but honestly, it was never a problem. Between the table notices announcing a game and looking for players, online chat and just chatting to people, nobody was ever without a game or a group to play with. The whiteboards, tannoy we prepared never even got used!
There are several pubs and restaurants nearby if you prefer to eat elsewhere, some of which are linked in the food and drink section.
If you’re not staying at the hotel, but want to eat with us, we’ll be asking you to let us know closer to the date.
As a hotel and restaurant, we don’t normally allow food and drink to be brought onto the premises. However, you are welcome to bring a few snacks to nibble on, as our snack selection is limited and it’s a 5 minute drive to the nearest convenience shops.
