Off t'worlds! The 2023 World Championships are coming to Yorkshire!

by Paddy Tye, Worlds 2023 Organizer

4th November 2022

The Continuing Committee are pleased to announce that in September 2023, the Star Trek Customizable Card Game World Championships will be coming to God's own county: Yorkshire!

The same county in England that gave us Wuthering Heights, the Yorkshire pudding, and Patrick Stewart is now going to play host to the next Star Trek CCG World Championships from Friday 22^nd September 2023 through to Sunday 24^th September 2023. Back in 2016, London played host – offering up all the metropolitan delights of the Great British capital. Now we can show you another side to the UK – a more relaxing and beautiful side of the country filled with stunning countryside and unbeatable views. Another advantage of the North of England is that things are cheaper up north than they are down south!

Our host location is Westbourne House in Otley, West Yorkshire. This old Victorian mansion house has a large function room for games, fully licensed bar, food available on-site (from bacon butties in the morning to light bites and burgers over lunch/dinner).

How to get there and where to stay?

Otley, located just north of Leeds, is quite helpfully just a stone's throw away from Leeds Bradford Airport, so really handy for our international travellers – just a quick change at Amsterdam needed (there are about 3 flights a day from Amsterdam to Leeds Bradford Airport). Alternatively, Manchester Airport is only an hour away by train.

For UK travellers, both rail or road provide good options. If travelling by train, book a ticket to Menston train station (you'll need to change at Leeds, but it will save you time vs a bus or save money vs a taxi) – the venue / hotels are then a short bus/taxi journey away.

We recommend local taxi firm SJK (+44 (0)113 250 5222). They also have an app you can download to use so you can book a ride in advance – just search for SJK Private Hire on your app store (basically a local version of Uber)!

If driving, the postcode for the venue (Westbourne House) is LS21 3LG and there is plenty of parking space available.

For accommodation, there are 2 budget airport hotels available nearby:

• Premier Inn Leeds Bradford Airport (LS19 7AW)
• Leeds Bradford Airport Travelodge (LS19 7UE)

Of the two, I'd recommend the Premier Inn. It has an attached restaurant (not to mention the fabulous Murgatroyd's Fish and Chip restaurant just over the road), free parking for hotel guests, wifi, and staying from Thursday night to Monday morning costs just £275 per room (less than £70 per night). Family rooms are also available and can take up to 4 people.

If anyone wants any specific advice around travel or accommodation, please contact me.

Event Schedule

This is currently being worked out and we will post details shortly. Anything you want to see, contact myself or a member of Organised Play and we'll see what we can do! Tournaments will be available for sign-up shortly thereafter!

Extending your stay

Yorkshire is full of great sights, and just a short distance from other great places to visit in the north of England.

Yorkshire (so big it's been split into 4 counties) includes many fabulous and astounding places to visit:

• The historic city of York – visit the famous York Minster, walk the city walls, explore our Viking heritage at the Jorvic centre, go shopping in narrow old-fashioned streets like The Shambles, get an afternoon tea in the famous Betty's Tea Room, or discover the delights of the National Railway Museum!
• Go to the coast for more Fish and Chips, visit Scarborough for a Donkey ride or discover Whitby's connection to Dracula!
• Or you can visit the Bronte Museum in Haworth, travel on the North Yorkshire Moors steam railway (as used in Harry Potter), go for a fabulous curry in Bradford, explore the famous limestone crags of Malham Cove, or other sites such as Fountain's Abbey, the Royal Armouries, Harewood House, or Castle Howard

Further afield, you could also go across the Pennines to Lancashire to visit the home of The Beatles in Liverpool, explore more options for shopping and drinks in Manchester, or venture further up north to the stunning scenery of the Lake District. The North is a plentiful playground to explore with something for everyone.

If you want any advice or questions, feel free to drop me a PM (KazonPADD)!

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