Crossword Club

Crossword Club kicks off at The Kitchen in Storyhouse on Monday 9 November, and it's not a one-off — it runs every Monday through to 28 December, nine sessions in total. It's held in the Kitchen area of Storyhouse, which is part of the Chester Library on Hunter Street, so it's right in the heart of the city.

The whole thing is for anyone who loves crosswords, regardless of where you sit on the skill scale. If you're into the cryptic ones — the ones that feel like solving a riddle for every single clue — there's plenty of that. If you prefer a Quick O/E, the kind you can breeze through on a train or over a coffee, that's just as welcome. You don't have to be an expert to turn up; it's as much about the process as the result.

One of the best bits is that you don't even need to bring your own gear — pens are provided, so you just need to pull up a chair and start filling in the spaces. It's pitched as a way to train your brain and have a chat with fellow players at the same time, and the organisers have a particular take on the timing: 'Grey Mondays are a great time for exercising that grey matter'. It's a nice way to spend a Monday morning, especially when the weather starts to turn.

It's free to attend, and there's no need to book — you can just drop in. The sessions start at 10am every Monday from 9 November to 28 December at The Kitchen, Storyhouse, Hunter Street, Chester, CH1 2AR.