The Home of Chess

The Home of Chess returns to Simpson's in the Strand on Sunday 6 December, the next session in a regular series hosted by Jason Kouchak. It's an evening of simultaneous and blindfold play, with British Grandmasters Stuart Conquest and Luke McShane on the boards.

If you're not familiar with the venue, it's worth knowing why this particular spot matters. Simpson's in the Strand, also known as 'The Grand Divan', opened in 1828 as a meeting place for the best British chess players and quickly drew the world's best, who played countless casual games there. In 1851 it hosted the most famous game of all: the 'Immortal Game' between Adolf Anderssen and Lionel Kieseritzky. By the end of the 19th century the chess room had been pushed to the upper floor, and since 1904 the restaurant has stood at 100 Strand, near Covent Garden. After a 1920s remodelling it became a busy luxury restaurant and, for a time after the Second World War, the only Michelin-starred restaurant in England.

The chess tradition revived with the 1980 club championship final and a 2003 tournament in honour of Howard Staunton. The restaurant closed in 2020 and reopened under the Savoy Hotel group and restaurateur Jeremy King, who appointed the musician and chess enthusiast Jason Kouchak as director of chess and music. This session is held in The Assembly Room.

There are two ways to get involved. Twelve player places are available at £75 each, which includes 'The Immortal Game' cocktail on arrival. If you'd rather watch than play, spectator tickets are £25. The session is on Sunday 6 December at Simpson's in the Strand, 100 Strand, London.