Why the cottage cupboard earns its keep

There is a particular kind of rain in the British countryside. It arrives sideways off the fells, sets in for the afternoon, and quietly cancels the walk you had planned. Everyone is back indoors by half past two, damp coats are steaming on the radiator, and the cottage that felt so generous at breakfast now feels rather small. This is the moment a well-stocked games cupboard proves its worth.

Screen-free time together is often the surprise highlight of a self-catering week. Children who barely speak to each other at home will happily spend two hours over a jigsaw, and grandparents who claim they "never play games" turn out to be ruthless at cribbage. The trick is having the right things to hand before the weather turns.

What belongs in a good games cupboard

Aim for a spread of ages rather than a pile of the newest boxes. Classics survive because they work with four to ninety-four year olds and can be explained in a minute.

• Roll-and-move games: ludo and snakes and ladders are ideal for younger children and tolerate players drifting in and out.
• Strategy for two: chess, draughts and backgammon for the quiet corner, plus a card-and-board game that suits a rainy evening.
• Word and number games: a letter-tile game, a number-tile game and a quick-fire anagram game cover most abilities.
• Drawing and guessing games: pencil-and-paper versions cost nothing and can be played at the kitchen table.
• Dexterity: a stacking-block game or a domino set for the floor, well away from the good rug.
• Party games: charades, consequences and hangman need no equipment beyond a pad.
• Playing cards: two clean, complete packs, ideally with a card-shuffler for small hands.

Jigsaws: the quiet workhorse

A jigsaw is the most sociable thing in the cupboard because nobody has to wait their turn. People drift up to the table, fit three pieces and drift away. Choose a size that suits your table, not your ambition: a thousand-piece puzzle needs a lot of space and will still be half finished when you leave.

• 100 to 250 pieces for under-sevens, or a floor puzzle with chunky pieces for toddlers.
• 500 pieces is the sweet spot for a mixed family — satisfying but finishable in a wet weekend.
• 1000 pieces and up for adults on a long stay, with a roll-up mat if the puzzle must make way for dinner.
• Look for strong images: busy farmyard scenes, maps and illustrations with lots of distinct detail are far easier than a featureless blue sky.
• Check it is complete before you start. Count the pieces loosely and note any gaps on a slip of paper for the owner.

Card games that suit every generation

Cards travel well, take up no space and can be learned by a five-year-old in an afternoon. If you only pack one thing, pack cards.

• Snap and pairs for the youngest, played at speed.
• Rummy, sevens and whist for everyone once they can hold a fan of cards.
• Cribbage for two players, with a board kept permanently in the cupboard.
• Newmarket and pontoon, played with buttons or dried peas as counters.
• Solo patience for the teenager who wants to be in the room but not in the conversation.

Making the afternoon actually work

Half an hour of preparation turns a wet afternoon from a squabble into an occasion. Clear the table properly, push it against the window if the light is better there, and put a lamp behind whoever is facing away from the window. A single table lamp makes a jigsaw far easier on the eyes than overhead light.

• Set up a phone basket by the door. Games only work if the tablets are elsewhere.
• Offer teams with a handicap: pair the strongest player with the weakest, or give adults a scoring penalty.
• Agree house rules before you start — particularly on dice re-rolls and whether the youngest wins ties.
• Keep the kettle going. Toast, shortbread and a pot of tea buy another forty minutes of goodwill.
• Let people leave. A puzzle that stays out on the table all week gets finished by whoever passes.

Small touches that owners and guests appreciate

If you are the cottage owner, a little effort here pays off in reviews. If you are the guest, a few minutes tidying up before you leave will keep the cupboard usable for the next family.

• Store sets in zip bags or lidded boxes rather than loose, then label each one on the lid.
• Write a checklist on the inside of the cupboard door listing every game and its piece count, so guests can check before reporting a loss.
• Keep a pencil, a sharpener, a small pad and a spare pack of cards in a tin — they go missing far faster than boards do.
• Bin anything with missing vital pieces. Half a set of dominoes frustrates everyone.
• Add one or two local-flavour items: a puzzle of the surrounding coastline, or a map jigsaw of the county, sells the holiday and gets used.
• Leave a note of your own favourites in the guest book. Recommendations from previous families are read far more attentively than instructions.