A new hobby shop and "safe" community space for "local geeks and nerds" is set to open in Kenilworth next month.

Friends Galli Donaldson and Nick Hall are renovating the former 'Funk it Up' unit on Warwick Road to create 'Viking and Swiss' - a games space for everything from Warhammer to Pokemon Cards and from Magic the Gathering to Dungeons and Dragons.

"We both always we felt in our lives - regardless of whether it was childhood or even adult age - a lack of somewhere locally that we can just go and sit and be a geek with like minded geeks and enjoy the company and the geekery we do," Galli told Nub News. 

'Viking and Swiss' will be a games space for everything from Warhammer to Pokemon Cards (image supplied)

"Somewhere you can just be in companionship, surrounded by people of a like mind. 

"Things like that are slowly getting a bit more mainstream, but it's still a bit niche and if you do it outside your own house you get people looking down at you.

"So this is a safe space - and a place for community."

With a ribbon cutting and opening day set for October 13, the duo have a lot of work on site left to do.

Having got the keys on September 1, they have already stripped the unit back and are now revamping the inside.

The first Magic the Gathering event has been held at Viking and Swiss (image supplied)

And Galli explained the Warwick Road shop was a perfect location for what they have planned.

"The age and the history of the property really work well with the kind of things we do," he said. 

"Dungeons and Dragons, Magic the Gathering and Warhammer, a lot of it is very much fantasy based - Lord of the Rings-esque. 

"So the age and the style of the property adds a bit of character that works well with that theme."

Funk It Up closed on Warwick Road in August (image by Nub News)

Having actually met in a Kenilworth pub, Galli and Nick have been friends for several years, and the name of the business recognises a bit of both of them.

'Viking' comes from Galli's hairstyle and 'Swiss' reflects the fact Nick spent much of his childhood in Switzerland.

And with just weeks to go until the opening, the duo are already "excited" for the opening.

"This is all a start-up, it's a new thing that we've never tried before so we're all trying to learn as we go along," Nick said. 

"Something might come up with time and we'll incorporate it. 

"At the moment we just want to open a hobby shop because you don't have one in Kenilworth at the moment.

"We think it will be a great addition to the community."

To find out more, head to the Instagram page here.

It is just weeks until Viking and Swiss opens (image supplied)