Purchasing a chess set in the UK

I have wanted to get a chess set for several years, but due to personal reasons it hasn't happened. I have just moved house so those reasons have gone away, and I now have more space. My idea is that will will be a mix between a display piece and to help me improve my chess skills.

I would prefer to buy in the UK to avoid the need of paying import duty, so are there any recommendations for good places to buy from in the UK? Or even the EU. I know there will be import duty, but in my head there is less changes for couriers to throw it about. Everywhere I have looked at seems to have a lot of items sold out, but I guess that is due to what is going on in the world at the moment and the start of the World Chess Championship.

I've also been looking at House of Staunton. What are peoples views on purchasing from there? I like some of their sets that have free shipping to the UK, so import duty may be ok.

Highly recommend Official Staunton but HoS is also excellent.

Also checkout the chess empire / Staunton castle ,  As you then have more  choice , Even with import tax + vat workout cheaper

I have been looking at them, but nearly all pieces, boards and sets are sold out.

Thank you all for the other suggestions as well. 

Is Official Staunton a UK based company selling sets from HoS?

@chessheaded, Official Staunton is a UK company which is employing the same manufacturer in Amritsar that HoS is using as well, i.e. the quality is very comparable and overall very good. I know both, the owner of OS and the main manufacturer and can only recommend them.

Chess and Bridge shop have hugely inflated prices.

I bought a set from StauntonCastle,  arrived in a few days with no extra charges. The quality was good for the price.I would use them again.

I also bought a set from OfficialStaunton and was not impressed, the dye/paint was inconsistent and had some brown spots on some of the pieces. Just my experience.

Official Staunton would have the largest selection in the UK and also very high quality. They have free shipping to anyone in the UK. You get to deal with someone in your own country and if you have a problem piece I would think as long as it is in stock you can get a replacement in a matter of a few days vs. much longer wait times on piece replacement.   Chess & Bridge another UK company would not have the same selection in wooden chess sets. If you want to buy chess books I would think they would be the go-to in the UK. 

HOS has free worldwide shipping on "most" wooden chess sets.  They sell their merchandise for the same price as in the USA where they are located.  They have very good service also and the quality is good. Whether or not you pay VAT or whatever extra taxes from the USA to the UK I have no idea. 

You can also deal with a few Indian chess makers on your own. Sometimes you can get a lower price. There have also been huge delays and problems (mostly due to covid? but not always). 

I am not endorsing any company, it just makes sense to buy from someone in your own country for speed, service, which seem to be two major factors. Most complaints are from those two topics. Companies with poor quality sometimes do not survive buy some do by offering super cheap prices. I would not worry about the quality of OS as they use the best Indian carvers. 

These are just my observations as a chess customer for both chess sets and books over many years. I would not think twice about ordering off of the 3 chess purveyors I site above. 

Bump. Wondering what you may have decided on purchasing. 

Not yet, life got in the way. I have decided to buy from the UK if possible though due to some of the reasons given above.

I've been contemplating the World Chess Championship board as I saw real life photos in another thread and like the look of it. However, it's £200, and while I also like the pieces, I can't really justify that much and it will mean I have to find other pieces that match the board. Not the end of the world, but buying a set that match from somewhere like Official Staunton could end up being under £200.

I understand that! The good part of looking for your new set, is that you get to look at many sets before deciding. That is fun and rewarding in itself. You’ll find the right one to purchase. Enjoy the trip.