Sydney Bridge Club (SBC) has been an independent bridge club for about a year. Its renewed focus on providing quality bridge experience has created opportunities to support growth of bridge again in Sydney.
To advance its growth aspirations, SBC is closing operations at its Canada Bay venue which it had outgrown, and opening at the Polish Club, 184 Liverpool Road, Ashfield, in the inner west of Sydney. SBC’s main Surry Hills club room continues with seven Open sessions and three Supervised sessions a week, as well as a session on Saturday afternoons in Henley in partnership with Hunters Hill Bridge Club. Strathfield Bridge Club will start an additional session on Thursdays in the space vacated by SBC at Canada Bay from 24 July.
Western Sydney has a large and growing population, and for many years has proportionately been significantly under-serviced by bridge clubs. Choosing the Polish Club as its additional new venue seems a natural fit and smart choice – both for the venue’s existing facilities and to support growth.
The Polish Club is a high-quality modern bridge venue for Sydney, overhauled in 2023. The venue offers several quality function rooms, a substantial coffee shop, snack deli with Polish delights, fully licensed bar, and lunch options on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Free underground parking (with lift access to club level), several nearby bus options, and an easy less than 10-minute walk from Ashfield train station (Brown Street exit) will likely also appeal to many bridge players across Sydney.
The larger premises in Ashfield supports simultaneous Open and Supervised play and Beginners Lessons – a proven formula for retaining and developing bridge players. SBC’s Beginners courses at Canada Bay recruited new players that saw them outgrow that venue and supported all nearby Sydney bridge clubs. Beginners Courses at the Polish Club will continue this strategy. People who are curious to find out more about learning bridge and might find the inner west a convenient place to learn should contact Sydney Bridge Club at office@sydneybridgeclub.org.au.
Bridge is a relatively well-known mind-sport played by all ages in Poland. SBC aligning itself with Sydney’s Polish community, many of whom are likely already aware of bridge and have positive associations with the game, is expected to help player recruitment.
SBC prides itself on providing a home to a diverse group of bridge players. The SBC board believes the Polish Club’s active commitment to community, diversity, and inclusion, in the cosmopolitan inner west make it a good match and will help make all SBC members feel welcome and at home there.
Weekly 10:15am Thursday morning Open sessions at the Polish Club started today – Thursday, 17 July 2025 with a healthy 16 tables. SBC’s last Supervised session in Canada Bay will be on Thursday, 31 July 2025, and will move to the new venue from Thursday, 7 August 2025.
As a launch promotion, SBC is offering free games at the Polish Club from 17 July to 7 August 2025 to all players, whether SBC members or not.
The lovely irony of a bridge service at the Polish Club, will not be lost on many bridge afficionados. The “Polish Club” is a popular bidding system in Poland, where it was invented. It involves a strong “1 Club” opening and several artificial bids. Read more about it here.
SBC’s first bridge session at The Polish Club on 17 July 2025
One of the lounge and dining areas at the revamped Polish Club
Mary Anne Loveridge, Chairman of SBC, welcomes everyone to the first Open session at the Polish Club
