Popular Cork city games café closes indefinitely but will continue as online retailer 

The popular games cafe Tabletop has announced it is closing the doors to its premises on Castle Street for the foreseeable future.

The owners of the innovative activity and food centre made the announcement on their hundredth day of closure instigated by the coronavirus lockdown.

Posting on social media, the owners, Chris Heinhold and Emer Kelly, said: “We’re going to cut right to the chase, Tabletop will be continuing on as an online retailer for the foreseeable future. 

"We will not be reopening as a Board Game Cafe on Castle Street.” The owners said it had not been an easy decision and they had thought long and hard about their options going forward in the Covid-era.

“While social distancing remains one of the best ways for us to guard against this virus, and with the level of uncertainty around how to best reopen safely, we had to make a call.” C

Chris and Emer stressed that the online function of the store would continue to operate.

“Our webstore will be going through some changes and improvements over the coming weeks, and we really hope that you will continue to stay in touch with us for recommendations, and just general chat about the games that we all love.” As well as this their Bantry store will continue to open to the public.

“If you want to come visit us, we will be serving food and drinks from West, in Bantry.” Tabletop announced it was also having a sale of the ex-library games this week from Thursday to Saturday in store.

Chris and Emer took the time to thank their customers for their support over their two years in the city and said while it was sad news, it was not “forever news.” “

Thank you to every single one of you that ever visited. If you had backed us on Kickstarter way back then, you gave us the confidence to move forward with this idea. To our amazing colleagues that have become friends over the past few years, you were the heart of Tabletop, and you made it what it was. Thank you.”