Countdown in Worcester 2027
Presented by Tom Stevenson
Saturday, 20th February 2027Despite a great debut in 2025, we couldn't quite squeeze Worcester into the calendar in 2026, so here it is at the start of 2027! Six games of Countdown against fellow fans of the show will give you a taste of what it is like to play for the *in this case, imaginary* teapot!
Timings:
Doors open: 10:30
First round draw: 11:00*
Practice round: 11:15–11:30
Round 1: 11:30–12:15
Round 2: 12:15–13:00
Lunch: 13:00–13:45
Round 3: 13:45–14:30
Round 4: 14:30–15:15
Break: 15:15–15:30
Round 5: 15:30–16:15
Round 6: 16:15–17:00
Grand final: 17:00–17:45
Prizegiving: 17:45–18:00
*Please be aware that if you are late, you will be "Pruned" for each game that has already started at the time of your arrival.
Event style:
The event will be carried out in the "Bristol" style. This involves everyone playing in pairs from the same selections projected onto a large screen at the front of the room.
Gameplay overview
You'll be playing six 9-round games. There will be a random draw ahead of the first round to determine the fixtures. For the following rounds, the "Swiss" system will be used, whereby you will be matched with the two players closest to you in the standings.
Once the heat games have concluded and the scores have been collected, the two top-performing players will come head-to-head in the 15-round grand final.
Prizes will be on offer for players of all abilities.Venue:
The Studio (within The Hive Library)
Location: Sawmill, Cl, The Butts, Worcester, WR1 3PD
Getting to the venue: The venue is located 0.2 miles west of Worcester Foregate Street station, and 0.9 miles west of Worcester Shrub Hill station. It's a 5-minute walk from Foregate Street or a 17-minute walk from Shrub Hill according to Google Maps. If you're travelling from Shrub Hill, First Worcestershire's 34 and 38 buses terminate at Worcester Crowngate, located over the road from the venue.
Foregate Street has regular direct trains from Birmingham (New Street and Snow Hill), London Paddington, Oxford, and Bristol Temple Meads. Shrub Hill additionally serves Birmingham Moor Street. Both Foregate Street and Shrub Hill serve Hereford, providing a connection for any Welsh visitors coming via the Cardiff to Manchester line.
Car parking: For anyone driving in, there are three public parking sites nearby: Cattlemarket, Croft Road, and the multi-storey Crowngate site.
Accessibility: The venue has wheelchair access.
Admission:
There are different admission fee options for the event, which can be found in the table below.
Single entry: £12
Two entries travelling together: £20
Bringing someone along who has never attended a co-event: £15
Newbies: £6
Lunch and refreshments:
As with most CO:Events, lunch will not be provided. There is a cafe on site, as well as the Crowngate Shopping Centre and Worcester High Street nearby.
Evening plans:
There will be a meal booking after the event, but where this will be is yet to be confirmed. Tom will keep everyone updated closer to the time.
Accommodation:
There are many hotel options available in and around Worcester, all within a couple of miles of the venue.
Parkrun:
For the parkrunners among us, the closest course to the venue is Worcester Pitchcroft. The start time is 09:00, and the average finish time (correct as of 26/09/2026) is 00:28:57. For full details, visit parkrun.org.uk/worcesterpitchcroft
Attending or organising a FOCAL event is subject to the FOCAL Code of Conduct.
Questions about this event? Contact us at hello@focalcountdown.com, or email Tom at countdowninworcester@gmail.com
FOCAL is a non-profit organisation led by volunteers and fans of Countdown. Each of our tournaments are non-official. We have no affiliation with or endorsement from ITV, Channel 4, or any other relevant entity. No copyright infringement is intended through the promotion and running of our tournaments. No gambling takes place at any of our events, and cash prizes are never offered.