The Unicorn Inn, Lutterworth, Leicestershire

The Unicorn Inn is an old favourite of mine from when I lived in South Leicestershire in the late 80's. Pubs like this are often described as being 'Basic', or 'No-Frills'. I think this does pubs like the Unicorn a great disservice.I was in what I would describe as a basic pub today. A recent bland identikit refurbishment of a historic village local. Pointless vintage items dotted around the pub, none of which have any connection with...

Read More

The Crown Inn, Melton Mowbray

The cosy bar of the Crown Inn. Darts is played in the local Melton Mowbray League.The unique Leicestershire version of Long Alley Skittles, in common with many traditional pub games, has experienced something of a slow decline in recent years. A dedicated skittle alley is for many pubs an unnecessary luxury, taking up valuable dining, drinking, or even car parking space. Having said that, there are still a surprising number of alleys...

Read More

The Emperor, Cambridge

Billiards, Pool, and Darts are promised at the Emperor, a popular music venue on the edge of the city centre. There may well have been a Billiards Table at some point, but there was no sign of it on my visit. In common with many Cambridge pubs, the Emperor offers a wide selection of board games for customers to play.The Pool Table is certainly an unusual one in that it is circular, or more properly hexagonal, but perhaps even...

Read More

Three Derby Pubs

The Exeter Arms in Derby is a beautifully restored traditional ale house on the very edge of the town centre. Great beer from the local Dancing Duck Brewery (and others), an interesting food offering, and regular live music are some of the things the pub does well. The pub has a timeless and thoroughly traditional feel, and is as fine a place to spend an afternoon with friends...

Read More

The Alexandra Arms, Kettering, Northamptonshire

Famed for its ever changing range of real ales, and home to the highly regarded Julian Church microbrewery, the Alexandra is also one of only two pub venues in Kettering for the local game of Table Skittles (there are also tables in play at several clubs in the town). I find this quite surprising given that Kettering lies at the very heart of the Northamptonshire Skittling tradition, indeed teams at the Alex and Shire...

Read More

A Shove Ha'penny Board Conundrum

This handsome solid Mahogany Shove Ha'penny Board poses a question. I believe it's handmade rather than manufactured, although I've seen very similar examples elsewhere, and the basic design follows the standard layout of nine scoring beds with associated scoring areas. Where it differs from the usual layout is the addition of a double semi-circle zone at the top of the board. Notice also that there are eleven scoring areas...

Read More

A Compendium of Pub Game Images - Pt.5

The Flying Pig in Cambridge was until recently home to a Bar Billiards Table, a game once common in the city. The table has now been replaced with a more prosaic Pool Table, and Bar Billiards may well now be extinct in Cambridge's pubs (though probably not in its college bars). This excellent, down-to-earth boozer is currently under threat of closure and possible demolition by developers, so visit while you can. A small Shut The Box game...

Read More

A Devil Amongst The Tailors Table

This old Devil Amongst The Tailors table was a bit tatty when I bought it recently, though still perfectly playable (there's very little to go wrong). It would have been either home made, or constructed by a local joiner for a pub or club, and there are many features which are non-standard for a table of this size, including the positioning of the plinth and pole which are normally more central. Whether this design was specified to suit the...

Read More

The Shire Horse, Kettering, Northamptonshire

Northamptonshire Table Skittles, Darts, and Pool are played at the Shire Horse in the centre of Kettering town. The skittles table was custom made for the pub by a regular customer a good few years ago, and is used by the pub team in the Kettering & District League.The handsome 'E League' Wooden Spoon currently resides at the pub.A Tyrolean Table Skittles board is also available for play in the pub. The game is similar in...

Read More

A Compendium of Pub Game Images - Pt.4

An afternoon card game at the Exeter Arms, Barrowden in Rutland. This vintage Devil Amongst The Tailors was probably made to order by a local joiner, and presumably saw service in a pub or club for many years. This is a full size 'League' table, around 3 feet long, and made from a variety of woods including Teak for the pole, pins, and scoring board. A Cribbage Board is usually used for scoring Devil Amongst The Tailors, often...

Read More