HandyCon is a bi annual 3 day board gaming convention held in Maidenhead every January and August. We provide lots of space for people to bring along and play their own games (and also providing a games library) as well as tournaments and events.
All kinds of board/tabletop games! Whether you are a seasoned veteran or brand new to the world of board games, you are most likely find something you enjoy (and of course, others to enjoy them with!).
Of course! We actively encourage attendees to bring along and play their own games, but please be considerate of others and keep bags/crates clear of the walkways and out of the way of other gamers.
We ask that all attendees are considerate of other gamers, help promote an inclusive, friendly atmosphere and abide by our Code of Conduct.
Yes. We want to promote an inclusive, friendly atmosphere and harassment of any kind will not be tolerated. You can find the full anti-harassment policy here.
There is free parking on site at the venue for attendees (first come, first served). There is an automated parking management system in the hotel car park and even though it shall be turned off from 7 a.m. on the Friday until 1 a.m. on the Monday, we highly recommend that attendees register their cars at the hotel reception to avoid tickets. If you are arriving or departing outside of these times, be sure to register your car at hotel reception anyway. You can also park in some of the surrounding roads, some of which are free to park. Note that a section of Manor Lane (the road directly outside the hotel) has recently had parking restrictions put in place so attendees may have to use alternate roads to park, such as Ross Road and Harvest Hill Road.
Maidenhead Railway Station. The venue is only a 20 minute walk or a 15 minute bus ride away.
The nearest bus stop is in Norreys Drive, which is located in the road opposite the venue. You can find bus times for the westbound route (towards town) here and eastbound route (away from town) here.
HandyCon runs from 9am on the Friday until 8pm on the Sunday of each convention. For specific dates see the pages for January and August. The HandyCon front desk is staffed 9am - 6pm each day, (so try to arrive during those times to register, but if you arrive later than 6pm please try and find a member of the HandyCrew to assist you), but attendees are welcome to game in the designated areas outside of these hours for the duration of the convention. The hotel reception desk is open 24/7.
Attendees arriving on the Thursday evening are welcome to game in the hotel bar area, but as this is not an official part of the convention available space is not guaranteed and is available at the discretion of the hotel.
We highly advise that people pre-book tickets online before the event to avoid disappointment, but tickets may be available for purchase on the door if they are not sold out. You can check online beforehand as we keep a live inventory of available tickets throughout the con.
Bring your ticket in digital or printed form to the HandyCon registration desk to sign in and collect your pass (if you don't have your ticket you will have to provide photographic ID). The front desk is staffed 9am - 6pm each day, so try to arrive within these times to register. If you arrive later than 6pm, come and find one of the orange shirted HandyCrew to assist you with signing in (there will most likely be at least one of us around somewhere).
Under 16s are welcome but remain the responsibility of the accompanying adult(s) at all times. We have half price entry tickets available for those between the ages of 6 - 15. Those 5 and under do not require a pre-purchased ticket, just to be signed into the event on arrival.
We have a web based Game Finder, 'Players Wanted' signs available in the main rooms as well as a Facebook group to assist in organising games before and during the con. We also run a 'HandyCon Breakfast Club' on some mornings to help people find others to game with (more details are available on the pages for January and August).
Walking into a room full of gamers by yourself or for the first time can be quite daunting, but don't worry, we are here to help! First off, we try and foster a friendly, inclusive atmosphere at HandyCon so that everyone feels welcome. We also have many ways to find and get into games at the con (see above) as well as tournaments and events that can be a great way to meet other gamers. If you ever find yourself overwhelmed or at a loose end, you can always ask one of the orange shirted HandyCrew to help get you into a game or assist in any way we can.
If you have anything you are unsure or worried about you are always welcome to email us with any questions or concerns before the event or speak to a member of the HandyCrew during the con.
The open gaming areas are open from 9 am on the Friday until 8 pm on the Sunday, meaning you are welcome to game all day and night (although we recommend getting some sleep and of course, freshening up regularly to maintain good hygiene).
Some tournaments and events require pre-registration and many will be open for entry online before the event. Others you can sign up for at the con using the Game Finder or just turn up for. Be sure to check the pages for January and August for details on specific tournaments and events.
See the respective pages for January and August for details on how to book accomodation on site. Accomodation tends to get booked up relatively quickly once rooms are released, so we advise booking as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. There are also many hotels in Maidenhead and the surrounding area if the venue becomes fully booked or you would prefer to stay off site.
The hotel has a main bar and restaurant that will have a special discounted HandyCon menu. There will also be a HandyCon bar in the function rooms. Free tea, coffee and water is available at the refreshment stations and attendees are encouraged to bring along their own mugs and water bottles to help cut down on waste.
No food or drink can be brought or ordered in for consumption in the public areas of the hotel (such as the bar or any area of the con). Only food and drink purchased at the venue may be consumed in the gaming rooms or public areas.
You can find more details on our Accessibility page.
If you would prefer to venture outside of the venue, there are many restaurants, cafes and shops in Maidenhead town center, which is a just a 20 minute walk or 15 minute bus ride away.
You can! The Health Club and swimming pool is open to all HandyCon attendees. You can find more information about opening times and facilities on the Holiday Inn website.
