Blog posts

Today dawned cloudy and rain threatened on the coast throughout late morning and afternoon. Several of the guests ventured on the Paradise Valley levada walk and they were rewarded with better weather – at least it stayed dry for them. After a walk lasting about two hours, they ended at a local tea house for a light lunch of sandwiches, scones and cake. One of the participants, Claire, writes “We really enjoyed our trip yesterday, walking along a levada. The levadas are a special water irrigation and aqueduct system.

Bridge may not have the same mainstream appeal as chess or poker, but it offers unique advantages that make it an exciting and engaging game—especially for younger players looking for mental challenge, teamwork, and social interaction.
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1. Bridge is a Team Game (Unlike Chess or Poker)

The hotel Melia Madeira Mare is an excellent venue for a bridge congress, with step-free access throughout. The rooms are spacious and comfortable (though some folk find the beds a little hard) and well-serviced; the food is excellent, with a wide range of choices on the buffet. Tonight’s paella was particularly popular.

The Congress started today, with a pairs event – the pre-Congress Pairs – for which our guests were joined by four players from the Madeiran federation, both of whom finished in the upper half of the field.

Our friends at BAMSA (Bridge: A MindSport for All) have conducted research and interviews with young bridge players to determine if bridge can help tackle loneliness by providing much needed connection in the digital age. 

How about giving a new player a waltz around their first tournament? The Strictly come teaching event is being held on RealBridge by the Welsh Bridge Union.

When: Saturday 31 January 2026 at 7pm
Where: on RealBridge

Christmas is a time of year when most bridge clubs hold a special event to celebrate and perhaps enjoy a more light-hearted game of bridge than usual. This may mean no more than just savouring some mince pies and a glass of wine with the usual evening's duplicate, or it could involve some more serious fun. Even if your club is not yet meeting in person, you may still choose to hold and online video party.