The title of board games champion will once again be up for grabs as the tournament visits Hampshire.

Throughout the month, residents across the south east will be competing for the title, with Southampton’s Bookshop Alehouse hosting one of the first heats.

The contest is the brain child of Pork Farms, a UK pie manufacturer. The company is running the championship in partnership with the micropub association, which promotes small pubs who offer a back to basics ethos.

The contest will run until March 26, having begun on Sunday (February 26).

Winners of the heats will compete in the grand final during the national board games week in May.

Marketing and brand manager at Pork Farms Michael Holton said: “We are thrilled with the amount of national micropubs that have signed up this year. After the success of last year, we are aiming to make the 2017 contest even bigger and better.

“The heats rounds for the contest are running for the next month and in micropubs up and down the country, so visit your venue to be in a chance of taking home the trophy.”

A micropub is a small free house which mainly serves cask ales and traditional pub snacks.

The Bookshop Alehouse, near Portswood, will be hosting the first heats which will see keen gamers compete over five board games, including Trivial Pursuit and Monopoly.

The semi-finalists will then come together at the grand final during national board games week between May 8 and 14, before a winner is crowned with an exclusive pork pie trophy.