Thistle Tavern, one of Scotland’s leading independent tabletop gaming venues and retailers, is announcing record-breaking growth.
Following a successful two-year residency on Aberdeen’s Union Street, the company has doubled its annual turnover to £2million and is set to become Scotland’s largest dedicated tabletop event space by player capacity, with room for over 150 players across two floors.
A catalyst for city centre revival
Thistle Tavern’s success comes at a pivotal time for the "Granite Mile." The business has worked closely with local regeneration bodies to ensure its growth contributes to the wider revitalisation of the city.
Adrian Watson, chief executive of Aberdeen Inspired, said: “The Thistle Tavern team are at the top of their game with this exciting boost for the city centre, creating Scotland’s largest tabletop event space while bringing underused space back into life on Union Street.
“This sort of innovation is at the heart of the Upper Floors Project, now being trailblazed by Aberdeen Inspired, working with Aberdeen City Council and other city centre stakeholders. It also dovetails with our city centre retail and property strategy that places major emphasis on creating leisure and entertainment attractions.
“Thistle Tavern’s plans underline the importance of independent traders in regenerating the heart of the Granite City by bringing people into the city centre to support and enjoy our fantastic hospitality and retail businesses, including Thistle Tavern themselves.”
By filling previously underused upper-floor space and drawing players from across the North-east, Thistle Tavern is helping to drive evening footfall and support neighbouring hospitality and retail businesses.
Doubling down on Aberdeen
The business is in the final stages of lease negotiations to take over the unit directly above its current location at 395 Union Street. This expansion will allow Thistle Tavern to host dedicated tabletop miniatures events while adding 70–100 additional seats to its existing games calendar. This move is supported by a collaborative effort between the business, its landlord, and city initiatives.
"Our growth in Aberdeen would not have been possible without the continued support offered by Our Union Street and Aberdeen City Council," says Stuart Robb, Director of Thistle Tavern.
"Their commitment to helping independent businesses scale has given us the confidence to make this long-term investment. By expanding our footprint, we are creating a regional destination capable of hosting major national tournaments."
Further details on the Aberdeen expansion and the new miniature’s event nights will be announced once final arrangements are in place.
The Edinburgh expansion: Connecting the cities
While doubling down in Aberdeen, Thistle Tavern is also heading south. A second flagship store is set to open in late May on Shandwick Place, Edinburgh.
Chosen for its proximity to Haymarket Station and a tram stop directly outside, the Edinburgh store will mirror the Aberdeen model with seating for 70+ players. The two-store strategy introduces a unique "Stock Rotation" service: hundreds of Pokémon and Magic: The Gathering cards will be swapped between cities weekly, ensuring a constantly refreshed supply of rare singles for local players in both locations.
"Our goal is to make Aberdeen and Edinburgh two of the best places in the UK to play tabletop games," adds Stuart. "From beginners picking up their first deck to competitive players chasing national rankings, we’re building spaces where people can compete, trade, and connect every week."
The Edinburgh flagship will open in late May with a launch weekend of special events, building into a regular schedule of nightly entertainment. This mirrors the success Thistle Tavern has seen in Aberdeen, drawing people to the city centre for a different night out.
Expert-led growth
Founded on a blend of expert game knowledge and proprietary pricing and inventory technology, Thistle Tavern’s 50/50 split between online and in-store sales has allowed it to scale rapidly. The team has grown to five members in Aberdeen, with five more planned for the Edinburgh launch.
The Tavern continues to be a pioneer for new TCG titles, with upcoming support for the Cyberpunk TCG, Neuroscape, and the highly anticipated Palworld launch later this year.