Vincents' support for Preston's new board game cafe

A new concept in café culture has opened in Preston following support from Vincents Solicitors. Dice and Donuts offers customers the chance to enjoy a board game or two, while relaxing over a bite to eat and a brew.

The new business is the brainchild of entrepreneur Millie Lavelle, a self- confessed “geek” whose love of board games and a desire to bring people together sparked the idea to launch a specialist café. She has taken a two-year long lease on a unit on Butler Street in the city centre, opposite the train station.

Millie secured start-up funding after winning the Preston Business Improvement District ‘Guild Merchant’ competition earlier this year, supplemented by crowdfunding from 220 “fans” who have all donated money to help get the business off the ground.

The official launch next week will see many of these supporters join Millie and BBC Radio Lancashire’s John “Gilly” Gilmore for a grand opening. Inside, visitors will have the choice of around 200 board games to play - either alone, with friends or as part of a group put together by the café’s knowledgeable Games Guides - and a selection of cakes, sandwiches, hot and cold drinks and, of course, donuts.

Millie said: “This type of social gathering is well known in the Far East where people often come together to play board games, but it’s a fairly new concept in the UK with only a few similar establishments elsewhere in the country. We held a board game event in Preston earlier in the year which saw almost 200 people come along, and there was a lot of feedback to suggest a café like this would prove popular.

“I’m really pleased with the unit we’ve got in Butler Street, it’s huge and gives us enough room to have more than 50 covers over two floors, with space to play games, and has great footfall being between the train station and the Fishergate Centre. We’re just putting the finishing touches to the interior and will be open for people to come and try us out ahead of the official opening on the 19th.”

Sanya Motorwala from Vincents Solicitors, who assisted Millie arranging the lease on her new premises, is looking forward to trying out some new board games herself. She said: “Millie is an extraordinary business woman with great vision and drive. She’s bringing an exciting concept to Preston which I think will be really well received by local people and those visiting the town. Most of us only get out the games at Christmas or on a rainy day with the kids, but I love the idea of getting friends together to learn a new game - fun with a bit of a competitive edge. “This is the first time I’ve had to get a commercial lease and I quickly realised how important it was to get professional advice. Sanya and Vincents were recommended and I was very pleased with the helpful and straightforward way they went about providing the service.”