20 Classic British Pub Games and How to Play Them

September 9, 2026

Whether you are looking for the ultimate list of pub games or want to recreate the atmosphere of a classic British boozer, traditional pub games in the UK offer endless entertainment. From lively throwing matches to quiet board challenges, these classic pub games were designed for small spaces and long evenings. Discover how to play these historic favourites with friends and family.

British pub games were designed for small rooms, cheap equipment and long evenings, which is exactly why they still work at home.

Twenty below with the rules, from darts to shove ha'penny. Several make excellent party games if you've got a table and a bit of patience.

Throwing games

While pool and darts are traditional pub games known across the globe, the British taproom has fostered many unique throwing challenges over the centuries. These activities test your accuracy and nerve, offering the perfect blend of friendly competition and skill. Here is how to master the most popular throwing activities found in your local.

Darts (501) - start at 501, subtract each throw, finish exactly on a double. The national pub game.
Around the clock - hit 1 to 20 in order. The best way to learn darts without losing badly at 501.
Killer - each player is assigned a number, hit your own double to become a killer, then take lives off everyone else.
Cricket (darts) - score on 15 to 20 and the bullseye, close each number by hitting it three times.
Ring the bull - swing a ring on a string onto a hook. Ancient, simple, mysteriously addictive.
Skittles - nine pins, a wooden cheese thrown underarm. Still played in Somerset and the Midlands.

Table games

Many of the finest old pub games are played on wooden tables and custom-built boards. Combining physical precision with tactical thinking, these tabletop activities have been keeping patrons entertained for generations. You do not need a lot of space to enjoy these historic pastimes, making them fantastic choices for some traditional entertainment in your own living room.

Shove ha'penny - slide five coins up a marked board, three in each bed to win. Pure skill.
Bar billiards - a table with holes and mushroom pegs, on a timer. Knock a peg over and you lose your break score.
Bagatelle - a sloped board with pins and pockets, ancestor of pinball.
Table skittles (Devil among the tailors) - a ball on a chain swung round a post at nine tiny pins.
Toad in the hole - throw brass discs into a hole in a lead-topped table. Sussex's own game.
Pool (English 8-ball) - reds and yellows, two shots on a foul, black last. The pub standard.

Card and dice games

When space is tight, a classic pub game played with a simple deck of cards or a set of dice is the perfect solution. These old fashioned pub games require minimal equipment but offer deep strategy and plenty of opportunities for friendly banter. They remain staples of rainy afternoons and quiet mid-week nights in cosy snugs across the country.

Cribbage - the classic two-player pub card game with a pegging board. Fifteen-two, fifteen-four.
Dominoes (fives and threes) - score when the ends divide by five or three. Still league-played across the north.
Nomination whist - bid how many tricks you'll take, score for accuracy. Excellent for four to six people.
Shut the box - a wooden box of numbered flaps, roll two dice, close matching numbers.
Play your cards right - higher or lower with a deck. No skill, all shouting.

Quiz and social games

Not every great evening revolves around physical skill. Some of the most beloved traditional pub games focus entirely on trivia, luck, and community spirit. These social events bring people together, spark lively debates, and turn a regular night out into a memorable, laughter-filled occasion that anyone can join, regardless of their athletic ability.

The pub quiz - six rounds of ten, one picture round, one music round. The correct format, no debate.
Play your joker - one round doubled, declared in advance. Every good quiz has it.
The meat raffle - not a game exactly, but a national institution.
Higher or lower with the till roll - the improvised game every quiz falls back on.

Playing them at home

You do not need to visit a bustling tavern to enjoy this wonderful list of pub games. Recreating these classic pastimes at home is remarkably easy and inexpensive, often requiring only basic items you already own or can easily source. Bringing these activities into your home is a great way to host memorable game nights with family.

A dartboard and a cribbage board cost less than one night out and last twenty years.
Shove ha'penny works on any smooth table with five 2p coins and chalk lines.
Six rounds of ten questions is the right length for a home quiz - about ninety minutes with a break.
Prizes should be daft: a pin badge, a bar of chocolate, a tin of something. Never money.
Write the winner and date on the back of a pin badge. It becomes the trophy for the year.

Key things to remember

Cribbage is the best two-player game for a quiet night in - twenty minutes a game.
For a home quiz, write the answer sheet before the questions. It halves the arguments.
Keep prizes small and silly. Big prizes make people competitive in the wrong way.

Frequently asked questions

What is the most popular British pub game?

Darts, followed by pool and dominoes. Cribbage is still the most widely played pub card game in the UK.

How do you play shove ha'penny?

Slide five coins up a board marked with nine beds, aiming to land three coins in each bed. Coins that land on lines don't count.

What's the right format for a pub quiz?

Six rounds of ten questions, including a picture round and a music round, with a joker round that doubles your score.

What is a good example of classic British pub games?

"Darts (501) - start at 501, subtract each throw, finish exactly on a double. The national pub game." is one of 26 examples on this page. Pick the one closest to the tone you want, then add a specific detail of your own - a shared memory, a date, a name - so it reads as yours rather than copied.

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