Sunderland ranked UK’s top hotspot for trading card events

New research from Thistle Tavern Trading Cards named the city number one for organised play in card games like Pokémon, Magic: The Gathering and Yu-Gi-Oh!.

According to the figures, Sunderland has eight active event locations and 100 per cent of trading card shops in the city host organised play.

Thistle Tavern Trading Cards named the city number one for organised play in card games like Pokémon. (Image: Thistle Tavern)

This puts it ahead of other UK cities, including Newcastle, which came second with 20 event locations and 95.2 per cent of shops hosting events.

Stuart Robb, a card game expert at Thistle Tavern Trading Cards, said: “Trading card games thrive on face-to-face interaction.

“Whether you’re a seasoned competitor or someone who’s just opened their first booster pack, local events are where the magic really happens.

“Seeing cities like Sunderland achieve 100 per cent participation from trading card shops is incredible.

“It shows there’s a real appetite for organised play, and that shop owners are investing in building strong, welcoming communities.”

In Sunderland, there are five Pokémon TCG event locations, one for Magic: The Gathering and two for Yu-Gi-Oh!.

Reading took third place nationally, with 12 event locations and 92.3 per cent of shops running events.

Mr Robb is co-owner of Thistle Tavern Games Hub in Aberdeen, which hosts daily events and offers trading cards online.

For more information, you can visit thistletavern.com.