Fisherton Street gaming store to celebrate first anniversary

Thursday, 18 July 2024 05:55

New Realities Gaming, a family-owned business dedicated to bringing the joy of trading card games and board games to the Salisbury community, is celebrating its first birthday.

New Realities Gaming was started by Emrys when he was 16 years old, using the proceeds he received from playing in the Pokémon World Championships.

Unable to access school and rarely leaving the house, travelling to game stores to play trading card games was the only outside engagement Emrys could manage for many years.

His family decided to support his passion by helping him start a games store in Salisbury, which would provide a safe community space for anyone interested in games.

Since opening its doors nearly a year ago, New Realities Gaming has become a hub for gamers of all ages to meet others and play in person away from the computer.

With their daily events and open play area, they provide an alternative to the usual pub, cinema, and restaurant options.

The focus on in-person tabletop games, including board games and trading card games such as Pokémon and Magic: The Gathering, includes a wide selection of TCGs, board games, snacks, and drinks, and regularly hosts tournaments, game nights, and special events.

The store has grown to become a safe and open space where people can learn and play new games with others they meet through the shop’s community on various social media platforms, such as Discord and Facebook.

The store, located at 142 Fisherton Street, will host a special event on the weekend of August 3rd and 4th to mark this milestone and thank the community that’s built up over the past year for its constant support.

Whilst the past year has been challenging in terms of the cost of living and, more locally, with the roadworks on Fisherton Street, the store has gradually grown its events and communities around tabletop games.

“It’s our goal to create a welcoming space and foster a community where people interested in various geek cultures such as Trading Card Games, Board Games, D&D and Anime can come together, have fun, and share their love for the games we all enjoy!” said Emrys, owner of New Realities Gaming. “We can’t thank everyone in the Salisbury community enough for embracing our store and helping us grow; we look forward to celebrating this milestone and looking ahead to another event-filled year of games with everyone who has supported us.”