
Played at the Pub
The pub games of Britain
Arthur Taylor(Author)
Historic England (Publisher)
Published on 31. July 2009
Book
Paperback/Softback
144 pages
978-1-905624-97-3 (ISBN)
Description
Aunt Sally in Oxford, Toad in the Hole in Lewes, bagatelle in Chester, quoits in Darlington and bat and trap in Kent - they sound like relics of a bygone age, and yet contrary to popular belief the pub games of Britain live on. Traditional games such as nipsy (the poor man's golf), played by Barnsley miners, may have died out in the 1990s, joining in the history books such former favourites as guile bones, noddy board, slide thrust, fox-mine-host, tick-tack, and the mysterious milking cromock. But new games emerge all the time so that nowadays regulars are just as likely to be entering pub quizzes - the first quiz league was recorded in Bootle in 1959 - or playing pool (which arrived via Australia during the 1960s) or petanque (brought over from France). Fashions may move on but find any decent pub and the chances are that there are games to be played. Arthur Taylor published his first study of British pub games in 1976, updated it in 1992, and now, with Played at the Pub brings us his third and most extensive study so far. This time, to add to his encyclopaedic knowledge and infectious enthusiasm there are copious illustrations, many of them contemporary images taken by English Heritage's own specialist photographers. Played at the Pub is not only beautiful to look at and overflowing with great stories it is also an informative guide. Where can you watch or play skittles? Where are the best pubs to play table football? Why are some of the dartbords in Manchester pubs so different to the ones you see on TV? Where can you legitimately fire a rifle in the snug? And what exactly is dwile flonking? Dipping into Played a the Pub one can almost smell the polished wood, hear the tinkle of glasses and the sound of laughter. Never has cribbage or dominoes appeared so alluring.
Reviews / Votes
'Three cheers for this invaluable and amusing book then, which tells with formidable scholarship and an aficionado's passion the story of British pub games lost and found . . . Anyone hoping to revive or sustain the curious and delightful pub entertainments of these islands...should make a start by having a copy of Played at the Pub.'Daily Mail This books, which is lavishly illustrated, is clearly a labour of love but it is also the definitive work on British pub games...Buy it! Read it! Enjoy it!'
Pub History Society 'My suggestion for a man's Christmas stocking...historically fascinating yet full of contemporary images.'
Kent Profile
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Liverpool University Press
Illustrations
276 Illustrations
Dimensions
Height: 210 mm
Width: 210 mm
Weight
650 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-905624-97-3 (9781905624973)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Previous edition
Arthur Taylor
The Guinness Book of Traditional Pub Games
Book
04/1992
Guinness World Records Limited
€32.37
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Person
Arthur Taylor spent most of his working life as a producer/director at Granada TV, and much of his spare time going to the pub. He won the Budweiser Budvar Travel Bursary in 1998 for his Good Beer Guide to Northern France, and was Glenfiddich Drinks Writer of the Year in 2001 for a portfolio of articles in the CAMRA newspaper, What's Brewing.
Content
Foreword
Played at the pub
Darts
Skittles
Table skittles
Quoits
Ring games
Cue games
Bowling games
Bat and trap
Pushing and shoving
Pitching and tossing
Throwing and cobbing
Twisting and spinning
Table football
Rifle shooting
Racing
Dominoes
Board and dice games
Card games
Pub quizzes
Spoof and tippet
Dwile flonking
Eating and drinking
Lost games
Links
Credits
Index
Played at the pub
Darts
Skittles
Table skittles
Quoits
Ring games
Cue games
Bowling games
Bat and trap
Pushing and shoving
Pitching and tossing
Throwing and cobbing
Twisting and spinning
Table football
Rifle shooting
Racing
Dominoes
Board and dice games
Card games
Pub quizzes
Spoof and tippet
Dwile flonking
Eating and drinking
Lost games
Links
Credits
Index