
ChessFest Portishead 2025
A Free Chess Festival in Portishead
We are delighted to report on the success of ChessFest in the lovely seaside town of Portishead on Saturday 12th July. Thanks to the work of CSC’s amazing Regional Coordinating Team, Portishead hosted a thriving junior tournament and established a chess club in every primary school. This was our first visit to the town but we hope to make it an annual event.
ChessFest Portishead took place in five zones across the town, from 10am-4pm:
Zone 1 - Casual Chess at Aqua. Visitors enjoyed a game of chess with brunch and coffee in this great restaurant on Portishead Marina.
Zone 2 - Elite Chess on Parish Wharf. Visitors challenged a master to a game of blitz chess and took part in a simultneous display against International Master Chris Beaumont.
Zone 3 - Kids Zone outside Portishead Leisure Centre. Visitors received a chess lesson from one of many junior coaches and met ChessKid’s Fun Master Mike Klein, who ran activities for children of all ages.
Zone 4 - Schools Competition at Portishead Primary School (9am-11am). An inter-school chess tournament for local children.
Zone 5 - Ark of Angels in Jubilee Park. Visitors watched a game of living chess on a giant board, which featured local adult and junior chess players as the pieces and pawns. Performances occurred at 12.15pm and 2.30pm.
If you would like to speak to someone about ChessFest Portishead, please contact Jane Norton.


