Bay Games has been named Toy Shop of the Year at the North East 2026 Local Awards, recognising a unique Whitley Bay tabletop gaming café, LEGO and hobby store that has become a much-loved community space for families, hobbyists, gamers and people looking for somewhere to belong. Founded in 2023, Bay Games combines a library of more than 600 games, great coffee, regular events, a welcoming retail space and a community-first atmosphere that keeps people coming back. It is not simply a place to buy games or browse hobbies. It is a place where people can sit down, learn something new, meet others and enjoy shared time away from screens and everyday pressures. For the Bay Games team, this award is a proud and emotional achievement. As a small independent store built from passion, community support and a belief in connection, winning Toy Shop of the Year shows that the hard work, creativity and care behind the business are being recognised and valued.

A Tabletop Gaming Café, LEGO and Hobby Store With Heart

Bay Games is a tabletop gaming café, LEGO and hobby store based in Whitley Bay, offering something genuinely different for the local area. With more than 600 games in its library, customers can explore a huge range of tabletop experiences, enjoy good coffee and spend time in a space designed around connection as much as play. The idea is simple but powerful. Games bring people together. They give families something to do side by side, help friends share laughter and create opportunities for strangers to become familiar faces. Bay Games has built its identity around that feeling. It is not a store where customers are expected to already know everything before they walk in. It is a place where people can ask questions, try something new and feel comfortable learning. That welcoming atmosphere is one of the reasons people keep coming back. Whether someone is a lifelong gamer, a parent looking for a family activity, a child discovering new hobbies or an adult hoping to meet people locally, Bay Games offers a space where everyone can feel included. Winning Toy Shop of the Year recognises the value of that experience and the community that has grown around it.

Founded to Share a Passion With Whitley Bay

Bay Games was founded in 2023 because its founder wanted to share something they loved with the local community. At the time, there was nowhere in Whitley Bay where people could sit down, play a great game, enjoy a decent coffee and feel welcome even if they did not already know what they were doing. That gap became the inspiration for the business. Rather than creating a specialist space only for experienced players, Bay Games was built for families and people from all walks of life. The aim was to make tabletop gaming accessible, social and enjoyable, whether customers arrived with years of knowledge or no experience at all. This inclusive starting point has shaped everything Bay Games has become. The business is not just about selling games, LEGO or hobby products. It is about helping people discover enjoyment, confidence and connection through shared play. The store gives Whitley Bay something different: a place where hobbies feel open, friendly and full of possibility.

Try Before You Buy and Learn While You Play

What sets Bay Games apart is that there is nowhere else in the North East quite like it. The store offers more than 600 games that customers can actually try before they buy, along with regular events, a membership community and staff who genuinely care about finding the right game for each person. That “try before you buy” approach makes a huge difference. Choosing a tabletop game can be overwhelming, especially for people who are new to the hobby. Boxes can look exciting, but it is not always easy to know whether a game will suit a family, a friendship group, a child’s age or someone’s personal taste. Bay Games removes that uncertainty by letting customers experience games properly. The team also goes further than recommending products from behind a counter. Staff sit down with customers, learn what they enjoy, teach new games and even play alongside them. This hands-on approach creates a level of service that feels personal, thoughtful and genuinely helpful. It turns shopping into an experience and makes Bay Games a place where customers feel supported rather than sold to.

A Community Built From Scratch

One of Bay Games’ biggest achievements has been building a genuine community from scratch in Whitley Bay. Since opening in 2023, the business has grown into a place where people do not just visit once. They return, join in, make friends and become part of something. The store now hosts more than 20 events a month, has a loyal membership base and sees around 80% of customers come back again and again. Those numbers tell an important story. They show that Bay Games is not just attracting curiosity. It is creating loyalty, routine and belonging. People are choosing to spend their free time there because the space offers something meaningful. For many customers, Bay Games becomes more than a hobby shop. It becomes somewhere they look forward to visiting, whether for a regular event, a game session, a coffee, a browse or time with familiar faces. That kind of community cannot be forced. It grows when people feel welcome, valued and comfortable, and Bay Games has created exactly that.

Overcoming the Loss of the Original Premises

One of the biggest challenges Bay Games has faced was losing its original premises and suddenly having nowhere to go. For a small independent business, that kind of disruption can feel devastating. At the time, it seemed like it might be the end of the journey. Instead, the community rallied. Customers and supporters came together to help raise funds, move the business, build the new interiors, paint and set up the new space. It was an incredible moment that showed just how much Bay Games meant to people. That experience says everything about the relationship between the business and its community. People did not simply wish Bay Games well from a distance. They gave their own time, energy and effort to help it survive and rebuild. The challenge became a powerful reminder that Bay Games had already become something much bigger than a shop. It had become a place people were willing to fight for.

A Place That Draws People to the Town

One of the proudest moments for the founder came when a customer said that Bay Games was drawing people to the town and was a great thing for the local community. That comment stuck because it captured exactly why the business was started. A strong independent business can change the feel of a place. It can give people a reason to visit, spend time locally and discover other nearby shops, cafés and services. Bay Games contributes to Whitley Bay by offering something distinctive and positive, something people talk about and want to share with others. More than that, the comment reinforced the deeper purpose of the business. Bay Games was built as a place for people to belong. Hearing that customers see it as valuable not only to themselves but to the wider town confirmed that the idea had become real. It was no longer just a dream of creating a welcoming gaming café and hobby store. It was a living part of the local community.

Supporting Schools, Families and SEND Communities

Bay Games gives back to the community through a wide range of sessions and outreach work. The business runs out-of-school clubs, home education sessions and school outreach activities, creating opportunities for children and young people to engage with games in fun, social and educational ways. The team also works alongside SEND departments, supporting young people who may benefit from inclusive, structured and welcoming activities. Tabletop games can be especially valuable in these settings because they encourage communication, turn-taking, problem-solving, confidence and social interaction. In the right environment, games can help people connect in a way that feels natural and low-pressure. This work shows that Bay Games understands the wider value of play. Games are not just entertainment. They can support learning, confidence, friendships and emotional wellbeing. By working with schools, home education communities and SEND departments, Bay Games is using its space and expertise to make a real difference beyond the shop floor.

A Community Board for People Who Need Support

Bay Games also has a community board where people can leave things such as sessions, food and drinks for others who may be struggling. Those who need support can take what they need, helping ensure people do not go without. This is a simple idea, but a powerful one. It allows kindness to move quietly through the community. Some people can give a little extra, while others can accept help without needing to explain themselves. That kind of support helps create dignity, trust and connection. The community board reflects the values at the heart of Bay Games. The business understands that community is not just about events and memberships. It is also about looking after people when times are difficult. By creating a way for customers to support each other, Bay Games has strengthened the sense that everyone who walks through the door matters.

Why Whitley Bay Matters

Whitley Bay is not just where Bay Games is based. It is where the team lives, where customers live and where their children are growing up. That makes the business deeply personal. Building something in the local area that genuinely improves people’s lives means more than running a successful shop. It means contributing to the kind of town people want to live in. Bay Games wants to be part of Whitley Bay not just for now, but for the long term. The goal is to still be there in 20 years, still supporting the community and still giving people a place to connect. That long-term vision gives the business real heart. Bay Games is not chasing a quick trend. It is building relationships, routines and memories. It is becoming part of people’s lives in a way that independent businesses often do best. Winning Toy Shop of the Year is a strong sign that the local community values that commitment.

Helping Customers Find Their People

One customer story that captures the heart of Bay Games involved someone who came in alone after moving to the area. They did not really know anyone locally and struggled socially. Walking into a new space alone can be intimidating, especially when social confidence is difficult. They joined one of the sessions, got involved and began connecting with others. The following week, they came back with a group of friends they had made right there in the space. Since then, they have continued coming in together every week. That moment said everything Bay Games hoped to become. It was never only about games. It was about creating somewhere people could find their people. For that customer, Bay Games became a doorway into friendship, routine and belonging. Stories like this show the real impact of the business and why its community matters so deeply.

A Small Store Achieving Something Grand

When Bay Games found out it had won Toy Shop of the Year, the reaction was disbelief followed by immense pride. For a small independent store, achieving something so grand felt almost unreal. The award recognised everything the team and community have built since 2023. It acknowledged the events, the customer care, the game library, the inclusive sessions, the community support and the determination shown when the business faced losing its original premises. It also celebrated the people who helped make Bay Games more than a retail space. For the team, the win was a moment to step back and realise that their hard work was being noticed. Running an independent business can be demanding, especially when so much energy goes into creating a welcoming space day after day. This award gave Bay Games a proud reminder that the effort is making a difference.

What Winning Toy Shop of the Year Means

Winning Toy Shop of the Year shows that the hard work behind Bay Games is being recognised. The team is proud to have achieved this award and grateful that the value of the business has been seen by customers and the wider community. The award is especially meaningful because Bay Games is not a traditional toy shop. It represents a modern idea of play, hobbies and community. It shows that games, LEGO and tabletop experiences can bring people together across ages, backgrounds and abilities. It also shows that a business built around connection can stand out and make a lasting impression. For Bay Games, the award is both recognition and motivation. It confirms that the business is on the right path and encourages the team to keep developing, expanding and improving. Most importantly, it shows that the community believes in what Bay Games provides.

Recognition Built on Community Belief

Bay Games believes this award reflects the faith customers have placed in the business. It reaffirms that what the store provides is valued by the community and that people see the difference it makes. That belief means a great deal. Customers have not only visited and supported Bay Games; they have helped it grow, move, rebuild and become stronger. When the business faced one of its biggest challenges, the community stepped forward. That level of support creates a responsibility to keep proving worthy of their belief. The team is committed to continuing to add to what Bay Games offers and to keep strengthening the space for everyone who uses it. This award is a reminder that the relationship between Bay Games and its customers is built on trust, shared effort and genuine care.

Expanding Community Sessions and Outreach

Looking ahead, Bay Games plans to expand its community offering, work more with schools and home education communities and continue bringing people together through games, sessions and shared experiences. This future direction builds naturally on what the business already does well. Out-of-school clubs, home education sessions, SEND support and community events all show that Bay Games can play an important role in local life. Expanding this work means more people will have the chance to benefit from the space, the staff and the opportunities for connection. The aim is to keep growing while staying true to the original purpose: creating a welcoming place for families and people from all walks of life. Bay Games wants to continue helping people discover games, build friendships, feel included and enjoy being part of something local and positive.

Thanking Family, Team and the Bay Games Community

Bay Games would like to thank Alan, the founder’s dad, the team and the whole community for making this achievement possible. Each of them has given personal time and effort to improve the store, support the move, build the new interiors, paint, set up and help make Bay Games what it is today. The business is deeply grateful to everyone who has supported the journey. From customers who attend sessions to those who helped during difficult times, every act of encouragement has mattered. To each and every customer, supporter, friend and community member, Bay Games says thank you from the bottom of its heart. As Toy Shop of the Year, Bay Games is proud to continue serving Whitley Bay as a place where people can play, connect, belong and find their people.