Last updated on October 30, 2022
This Deluxe Backgammon post is about an exciting, emerging player in the world of backgammon manufacturers, the Bone Club.
Manufacturer: The Bone Club.
The Bone Club is a British manufacturer of modern Olympic or competition-sized backgammon boards. They were formed in 2016 and are based in Lancashire, England. The boards have a contemporary style and are noted for their competition size and the vivid colours of their design. Guy Haslam is the Bone Club founder and Director. Guy has had a varied career working in web-site design and creating bespoke furniture. He is also a practising member of the Blackpool Magicians Club.
Background.
Guy has had a lifelong passion for backgammon, having been taught to play by his mother when he was just seven years old. He considers himself to be a ‘reasonable player’ who plays the game by feel rather than working out the precise mathematics for each move. He is probably being modest; we are sure he is a top-class player. Guy started playing backgammon as a way of reconnecting with family and friends after returning to the Lancashire coast from Manchester. These regular sessions of backgammon with friends and a few drinks gave him the idea for his business. Having been the owner of a medium-sized board for many years, he was introduced to a competition-sized board during one of the friendly backgammon competitions. Playing on the competition-sized board took his passion for the game to a new level. Immediately Guy decided, there and then, that he would design and sell quality competition-sized boards at affordable prices. Thus, the Bone Club was born.
Celebrity fans.
The Bone Club has a number of celebrity fans. There is a photo on the website of Jason Statham and DJ Goldie playing with a Bone Club board. Another owner of a Bone Club backgammon set is the Malaysian Royal family.
Types of Backgammon boards.
The Bone Club produces a standard range of competition-sized backgammon sets at affordable prices, but also provides a bespoke service where a board can be built to custom requirements. The price of the bespoke boards is variable.
Competition Boards.
The competition boards are in the affordable range (RRP £149) and come in a variety of colours and materials. According to the website, the boards are “Designed in England. Sourced using only reputable and sustainable materials and partners.” This something that is pleasing to the Deluxe Backgammon team with our eco-friendly ideology. They have a wooden base, a leatherette outer and an imitation suede playing field.
At Deluxe Backgammon we have previously shown disdain at artificial materials in our backgammon sets, but these boards are constructed from sustainable materials, so we can truly appreciate these backgammon boards.
All of the competition boards weigh 3.5kg and have dimensions of 65 × 37 × 8 cm. They come in a variety of striking colours and each has an album-themed name. (A Kind of Blue, Purple Rain, 7 Nation Army & Green Dream). The boards are constructed in an attaché style and include a convenient carry handle.
The case also includes lockable briefcase clasps. Inside the hand-laid playing field is smooth and the points large and clearly defined. There are thirty large (50mm) acrylic checkers in a ‘finger dish’ style for ease of moving between the points. The set also includes two hand-made leatherette dice cups in two different colours. Finally, there are four standard dice in two colours and a 22 mm doubling dice.
Bespoke Backgammon boards.
The Bone Club also specialises in custom hand-made backgammon sets with several beautiful examples displayed on the website. At Deluxe Backgammon, we particularly like the look of the ‘Bowie’, a custom full leather backgammon set with brass and leather checkers. The sky really is the limit with these Bone Club custom sets, there is an endless array of options. For example, there are 113 different colours of leather available, which as stated on the website, provides a potential for 18 billion possible colour combinations. The prices of the custom boards reflect the quality of the build and the materials. The price of the Bowie is listed on the website as £1,999 to £3,499, which is a lot of money. However, you are investing in a unique work of usable art that is likely to become an heirloom piece.
Accessories and merchandise.
The Bone Club also offers accessories and branded merchandise on their website, including dice, checkers and doubling cubes. The favourite of the Deluxe Backgammon team is definitely the solid brass checkers with the leather inlays.
Conclusion.
Deluxe Backgammon searched online for reviews and found that they were unanimous in their praise for the quality and playability of the sets. You can read some Trustpilot reviews here. Additionally, one of the competition boards received a very favourable review from two-time Backgammon World Champion, Bill Robertie. The Deluxe Backgammon team is looking forward to the opportunity to examine one of the competition boards first hand. In the meantime, from our research, we think these quality Bone Club boards are well worth considering.
Nice to see a UK backgammon set maker producing such innovative designs at such high quality. I might be tempted by a Bone Club Backgammon set!