Game Soup

Back in the dawn of time, before soup was invented, Mr Genius (aka Bruce) was a student at Edinburgh University. Before he learned how to dice vegetables, he used to be found rolling dice and saving the world from dragons as a member of the Grand Edinburgh Adventuring Society - the university's role-playing club.

Back in 1987, 25 years ago, inspired by StudentAid we set up a role playing game convention with any proceeds going to charity. We did far better than we expected and next year we did it all over again, with the money going to Barnado's.

Much to my amazement, 25 years later I'm back in Edinburgh, now working at university while dicing vegetables in my spare time. The convention, now called Conpulsion has gone from strength to strength. Under the leadership of the tireless Phil Harris, this Easter it opens for the 25th time. This makes it one of the longest-lasting of such conventions in the UK and in the last two-score years and five it has raised tens of thousands of pounds for a wide range of local charities.

We're delighted to be doing our bit to help out this year. We'll be opening for lunch on Easter Saturday to provide soup for all who come in through the door. For every soup we sell we'll contribute 50p towards this year's charity Pass IT On. The charity accepts donated computers and adapts them for use by people with disabilities in the Edinburgh area (EH postcode).

If you're a convention attendee, show us your ticket and you'll also get 50p off any soup on the menu. We'll still be donating 50p as well. There'll be a mix of vegetarian, vegan as well as omnivorous options and all gluten-free. We're basically a take-away with a small number of seats but all the packaging is compostable so bring it back afterwards and we'll recycle it for you. We do have a small number of seats and free wi-fi. Check us out on Facebook if you want to get an idea of the soups we normally do.

We'll be open from 11-3pm on the Saturday. Of course, you don't have to be at Conpulsion to drop in for soup or any of our normal range of Artisan Roast coffees, gluten-free cakes and all manner of healthy and delightful snacks. We'll also be more than happy to explain all about this gaming lark.

If you're reading this and wondering what all this role-playing stuff is about, there's no better way to find out then to go along to Conpulsion this Easter weekend. There's a massive range of boardgames suitable for anyone to try, all sorts of special events (aspiring novelists and artists and creative types of all sorts should check out the Creator Zone on the Sunday)  and even a Steampunk disco on Saturday night that's open to anyone with a cog or two. You don't want to know how disappointed we are not to be able to make it there this year.

So, do check out Conpulsion if you don't know of it already. And if you're going to Conpulsion, drop by for lunch on the Saturday between 11-3pm and fill your dice bag with soup. Let's face it, one healthy meal for the weekend won't hurt you.