World Chess Day Comes to Soho with a Grandmaster Celebration at L'Escargot

Every year on 20 July, millions of chess players across the globe celebrate World Chess Day, commemorating the founding of the Fédération Internationale des Échecs (FIDE) in Paris in 1924. Established following a UNESCO initiative and formally recognised by the United Nations in 2019, the annual celebration promotes friendship, education and international understanding through one of the world's oldest and most enduring games.

With chess enjoying a remarkable resurgence in popularity, fuelled by online play, streaming platforms and a new generation of enthusiasts, World Chess Day has become an opportunity for clubs, federations and players alike to celebrate a game that transcends age, nationality and culture.

The occasion holds particular significance in Soho, where L'Escargot, London's oldest French restaurant, has long been associated with British chess. The restaurant's proprietor, Brian Clivaz, is one of the founding members of the Howard Staunton Society, which celebrates the life and legacy of England's greatest nineteenth-century chess master. Over the years, the historic Greek Street restaurant has welcomed countless chess dinners, lectures and informal gatherings, becoming one of London's most distinctive meeting places for players and historians alike.

Although World Chess Day itself falls on Monday 20 July, when the restaurant is closed, celebrations will continue the following evening with a special dinner on Tuesday 21 July, bringing together members of the Howard Staunton Society and chess enthusiasts for an evening combining fine dining with one of the game's most enduring traditions.

Guests will have the opportunity to meet Raymond Keene OBE, Chairman of the Howard Staunton Society and one of Britain's best-known chess Grandmasters. Before dinner, Keene will conduct a simultaneous exhibition, taking on up to five opponents at once using the Society's historic vintage Staunton chess sets. Participation in the simultaneous display costs an additional £10 per player, with proceeds supporting the work of the Howard Staunton Society.

The evening begins with arrivals from 6.00pm, followed by the simultaneous exhibition at 6.30pm. Dinner is served from 7.30pm.

The menu reflects the restaurant's celebrated French heritage while also offering a pair of subtle nods to chess history. Guests will begin with Les Hors d'Oeuvres Kaspa, L'Escargot's renowned signature dish, whose name inevitably brings to mind former World Champion Garry Kasparov and has become a favourite talking point at Howard Staunton Society dinners. The evening also celebrates the contribution of Jeremy King, the distinguished restaurateur and longstanding supporter of the Howard Staunton Society, whose stewardship of Simpson's in the Strand helped preserve one of Britain's most historic chess venues. It was at the original Simpson's Grand Divan that Howard Staunton played many of his famous games and exhibitions during the nineteenth century, firmly establishing the restaurant's place in chess history.

The menu features Les Hors d'Oeuvres Kaspa of smoked salmon, eel, prawns and caviar-topped Russian salad, followed by Beef & Ale Pie with pommes purée and petits pois. Dessert is King Richard's Pudding served with Sauce Anglaise, before concluding with a Plateau de Fromages de France featuring Brie, Chaource and Pié d'Angloys.

The evening is priced at £95 per person, including wine and service.

Whether you are a seasoned tournament player, an admirer of Howard Staunton's legacy or simply looking for an unusual evening in one of Soho's most historic restaurants, this promises to be a memorable celebration of World Chess Day in surroundings that have welcomed generations of chess lovers.

Places are limited and advance booking is recommended. 

Book here - https://owlsy.org/xiIQPs

More info: StauntonSociety.com