In a surprising corner of Elephant and Castle, a unique form of entertainment is providing a much-needed boost to London's hospitality industry. RPG Taverns, a venue dedicated to tabletop role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons (D&D), is defying market trends with impressive monthly revenues, suggesting a new blueprint for social nightlife.
A Fantasy World in a Forgotten Corner
Nestled in what was described as a "cartoonishly dodgy" part of Elephant and Castle, RPG Taverns has become a haven for enthusiasts. The founders, including Shaan Jivan and Kenny Ho, have converted a former escape room into a labyrinth of themed gaming spaces. These range from a verdant mushroom kingdom to gothic chambers and a nostalgic 1980s bedroom styled after the Netflix series Stranger Things.
The business model is built around immersive tabletop gaming. Customers can join public sessions as individuals or book private rooms for their own groups. The experience is guided by a dungeon master, a narrator who controls the action and voices characters. RPG Taverns employs around 30 volunteer dungeon masters to facilitate games throughout the week.
Grounding Fantasy in Financial Reality
Despite the whimsical setting, the commercial success of RPG Taverns is very real. Operating for less than two years, the Lambeth-based venture is generating a substantial turnover. The business turns over between £15,000 and £35,000 per month, a significant figure in a challenging market.
Co-founder Shaan Jivan, who works in finance, attributes their success to offering something fundamentally different. He states that people visit "to connect, not just to drink." Convenience is key; players can order drinks via WhatsApp directly to their gaming table, blending social interaction with hospitality seamlessly.
Kenny Ho, a fashion consultant, emphasises the founders' relentless dedication, noting that when building such a venture, "you don’t ever fully switch off." The team, who all maintain full-time jobs, manage this by rotating responsibilities to ensure breaks are taken.
An Evolving Clientele and Cultural Shift
The stereotype of the isolated, hyper-focused male gamer no longer holds true at venues like RPG Taverns. The clientele is now largely comprised of metropolitan graduates, who see the game as a theatrical and social outlet rather than a purely statistical exercise.
Neither Shaan nor Kenny had a background in theatre. Shaan was a keen rower at university, a hobby he notes requires a similar level of time commitment and statistical interest. Like his co-founders, he rediscovered a latent "nerdiness" during the pandemic, playing Dungeons & Dragons online while living back with his parents.
A journalist's firsthand experience at a Stranger Things-themed event highlighted the game's compelling nature. Playing a knight named Sundar the Bold, the reporter described the genuine tension of dice-roll combat and the communal elation of a perfect roll. The evening evolved into a "dungeon-slinking, cross-dressing odyssey of the imagination," finishing by 10pm—an early night by London standards, but one that left the venue feeling secure in its future.
The rise of RPG Taverns demonstrates a shift in what Londoners seek from a night out. It's not just about drinking; it's about shared narrative, connection, and playful escapism. This model, successfully blending niche hobby culture with mainstream hospitality, could well point the way forward for a sector in need of fresh ideas.
