Retro Relics Games Cafe opens its doors in Wiltshire

Retro Relics Games Cafe opened at Unit Two Woodlands Yard, just off Market Lavington High Street, for the first time on Saturday, October 7.

The new venue is run by Denise and Neil Rodwell, who moved to the village near Devizes in June 2022.

Retro Relics represents the fulfilment of a “lifelong dream” for the couple, and Mrs Rodwell told this paper they have got off to a successful start.

The 42-year-old said: “We have been thrilled and absolutely overwhelmed by the local support.

“We were expecting it to be quiet at first, but we’ve been busy to the point we’ve had queues.

“It’s been brilliant, terrifying but brilliant, and we’ve exceeded our expectations for the first few weeks for sure.”

Denise and Neil Rodwell at Retro Relics Games Cafe (Image: Retro Relics Games Cafe)Despite their early success, the decision to start their own business came as a shock to Mrs Rodwell after her husband revealed he had secured funding and a viewing of their new premises.

“I’ve known my husband since 1997 and ever since we met it’s always been his absolute dream to own a board game shop”, she said.

“It’s never been the right time but all of a sudden he came home and told me he’d arranged a viewing, so it was a huge surprise.

“We turned the whole unit around in about eight weeks, we were so busy and it was terrifying, but we just needed to take this risk and jump in.”

The cafe boasts a large range of games for both children and adults, including classics like Scrabble and Monopoly and role-playing games like Warhammer.

“It’s a very good selection and it’s a place where people of all ages can come and spend their time”, added Mrs Rodwell.

A wide variety of food and drink is also available at Retro Relics including tea, coffee and hot chocolate, and “award-winning cakes”, savoury scones, hot wraps, soups, and artisan bread.

Inside Retro Relics Games Cafe (Image: Retro Relics Games Cafe)The couple hopes the new cafe can act as a “community hub” so they can give back to the community they settled in over a year ago.

This would include hosting events for nursing home residents, local schools, scout groups, and others.

Mrs Rodwell said: “We’re trying to welcome as many people and groups of people as possible and give them a chance to be away from their screens.

“Board games are collaborative, so they can bring people together and they’re a really nice thing to do.”