The Tudor, Leicester

Everards are a family brewer who seem to appreciate the value of their pub estate, and more often than not approach refurbishment and renovation with a sensitive touch.  It so happens that they are also the custodians of many of the traditional Skittle Alleys which have survived in the Leicestershire area (sadly, many more have been lost over the years). The game of Table Skittles is a little more widely spread in Leicester, though...

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Vat & Fiddle, Nottingham

Nottinghams other venue for Bar Billiards (the Newshouse is the other). The Vat & Fiddle is also the Castle Rock brewery tap, with a great reputation as a beer drinkers pub. The pub is conveniently located opposite the main rail station, and a short stroll from the Newshouse making an inter-pub Bar Billiards competition a distinct possibility....

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Syston & District Social Club, Leicestershire

Members clubs of all persuasions are frequently the last bastions of the pub game tradition, particularly the more genteel pastimes of Dominoes, Cards and that most genteel of all games, Bowls. For the older generation in particular, clubs are often the best, and in some cases the only venue for an affordable drink with friends, perhaps over an afternoon game of Cribbage.But many clubs are struggling to attract the new membership required to...

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Old White Hart, Lyddington, Rutland

The Old White Hart in Lyddington is a true village inn offering accommodation, fine dining, and a genuine welcome even if you're just stopping by for a drink. Being quite an upmarket Rutland hostelry, Pétanque is the game of choice, with a team currently playing in 'South B' of the Rutland & District Pétanque League. There are several well maintained pistes available at the rear of the pub, and...

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A Compendium of Pub Game Images - Pt.3

This Northamptonshire Skittles Table resides in the bar of the Cross Keys Inn, Kingscliffe in Northamptonshire. Unusually, the pins and cheeses are the yellow plastic variety more commonly seen in Leicestershire. I'm not entirely sure whether the table is used for league play, but visitors to the Cross Keys are welcome to throw a few cheeses for pleasure.These lovely cribbage board pegs were given to me recently as a gift. They appear...

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The Newshouse, Nottingham

I mentioned in my previous post that the centre of Nottingham, in common with many large towns and cities, may not be a happy hunting ground for traditional pub games. But there are exceptions, and the Newshouse on Canal Street is a good example.I suppose if I was looking for a pub in Nottingham with a decent pint and the possibility of a few pub games, the ever expanding estate of the Castle Rock Brewery would be a good...

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The Plough Inn, Old Radford, Nottingham

In common with many large towns and cities, you'll be hard pressed to find much in the way of interesting pub games in the centre of Nottingham. The closer to the busy shopping areas of a town you get, the higher the rents, and inevitably space in pubs tends to be devoted to the revenue generating pastimes of vertical drinking and dining. With one or two notable exceptions (which I'll be featuring here at a later date), you have to take a stroll...

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