Costumed characters from role-playing games were among a large crowd who attended the opening of Pens and Dragons (P&D) in Brightlingsea on Saturday, May 3.

Based in a former glazier’s shop in the yard behind the Victoria Café in Victoria Place, the building – dubbed the Dragon’s Nest – will provide a home for players of Pokemon, Dungeons and Dragons, Warhammer and Magic: The Gathering – having outgrown its former base in Brightlingsea Library.

But, according to one of the directors of P&D, author Ruth Loten, the aim is to provide much more. Open to all, it will sell books by local authors, and be a centre for storytelling, reading, writing and art.

“Our theme is everyone has a story to tell,” said Ruth, who explained that P&D has been set up with the help of grants from organisations including the Wakeham Trust, the Colchester Children’s Charity and the Essex Community Foundation.

The Nest wil also provide a home for a new SEN Support Group, aimed at parents of children with special educational needs (SEN) and those with adult children who need support with health-related issues and benefits.

For more information and opening hours, see P&D Facebook page.