Pub game

A pub game is one which is traditionally played inside or outside a pub. These games have a long history, often dating back many centuries. They come from the traditions of village life. Many of these games started as outdoor sports that people later enjoyed in pubs.

A game of indoor quoits, being played at a pub in the Forest of Dean

Pub games can be found in many different types. Some are games where you throw things. Others use dice, cards, or boards. There are also games that use slot machines, cue and ball equipment like in billiards, bat and ball tools like in cricket, and coin pushing or throwing. These games bring people together for fun and friendship.

History

In his book, Beer and Skittles, Richard Boston says that the first rules about controlling pubs were about games played there. In 1495, Henry VII made a law to stop people from playing indoor games that took away from practicing archery.

Many games played in pubs started as outdoor sports. Over time, these games changed so they could be played inside. This made it easier for pub owners to keep their teams going even when the season for outdoor sports ended.

Pub games included card games like cribbage, throwing games such as darts, and physical sports like cricket. In London, there was a place called Balls Pond Road where people could pay to shoot ducks in a pond behind the pub.

Types

Pub games can be grouped into throwing games, dice games, card games, board games, cue and ball games, bat and ball games, bowling games, coin pushing/throwing games, and drinking games.

Throwing games

Darts

Main article: Darts

Darts is a game where players throw small missiles at a circular target called a dartboard. It is still popular today. In pubs, there are many ways to play.

Aunt Sally

Main article: Aunt Sally

Aunt Sally is a game where players throw sticks at a figurine or a ball on a stick to knock it off. Today, it is played in Oxfordshire where players throw sticks at a small ball placed on a spike.

Devil among the tailors

Main article: Devil among the tailors

This game is a type of table skittles where players swing a small wooden ball on a string to knock down nine small skittles.

Ringing the bull

Main article: Ringing the bull

Ringing the bull is a game where players swing a bull's nose ring on a string to hook it onto a horn or hook on the wall. It was brought to the Caribbean islands by early settlers and is still played in Ye Olde Trip To Jerusalem, in Nottingham.

c. 1925 "Hope and Anchor Dart Club", Hope and Anchor, Hammersmith, London, UK

Quoits

Main article: Quoits

Quoits is a game where players throw metal, rope, or rubber rings to land near a spike. It can be played indoors or outside.

Dice games

Bar dice is a simple game played with five dice and a cup.

Card games

Many card games have been traditionally played in pubs. In Britain today, some of these include:

Traditional card games
- Cribbage
- Euchre
- Phat
- Whist
Gambling games
- Brag
- Poker

Cue and ball games

Pool

Main article: Pool (cue sports)

Pool is played on a billiard table with six pockets where balls are placed in a certain order. There are different types of pool.

Bar billiards

Main article: Bar billiards

This game began in the UK in the 1930s. It is played on a special table without pockets but with scoring holes.

Bat and ball games

Bat and Trap

A game of Aunt Sally from the 1911 edition of Whiteley's General Catalogue

Bat and Trap is a Kentish pub game played between two teams. One team bats while the other bowls. Players hit a heavy rubber ball into the air with a bat.

Bowling games

Skittles

Skittles is a classic English pub game, and many pubs have a skittle alley. The balls and skittles are often made of wood.

Coin pushing/throwing games

Pitch penny

Main article: Pitch penny

This game involves throwing coins across a room into a hole carved in the seat of a wooden bench.

Shove ha'penny (or "shove halfpenny")

Main article: Shove ha'penny

Players use a small board with lines to push ha'pennies or similar coins into place between the lines.

Toad in the hole

Main article: Toad in the hole (game)

This game involves throwing brass discs, called Toads, at a hole in a lead-topped table.

Drinking games

Yard of ale