Independent family-owned games shop Eclectic Games is celebrating its 20th birthday this month, marking two decades since it first opened its doors to the public on 10 March 2006.
Over the years, the store has seen a mixture of challenges and successes, navigating recessions, periods of growth, and five different town centre locations—each bigger and better than the last.
Owners Becky and Darrell Ottery reflected on the milestone, saying: “It’s snuck up on us, honestly. We haven’t stopped since the move last August, and we are still getting used to our new space on Duke Street.
“We’ve been so busy that there hasn’t been time to plan a big birthday bash. We’ve decided that we’ll make our 21st the one with all the bells and whistles.”
This year, the store is marking the anniversary with cake, party games, and a special 20% discount for customers. The birthday celebrations are set for Sunday 8 March, to ensure the festivities don’t clash with the school week.
Eclectic Games has become a fixture in Reading’s town centre over the past two decades, known for its wide range of board games, role-playing games, and family-friendly events.
The store continues to be run by the Otterys, who say they are proud of the community their shop has fostered and look forward to welcoming customers old and new for the next chapter in Eclectic Games’ history.
