The George, Desborough, Northamptonshire

Another attractive and well maintained ironstone pub in the Northamptonshire village of Desborough, and another venue for the classic Northants pub game of Table Skittles (also known as Hood Skittles, or occasionally Cheese Skittles outside of the area).

The skittles table at the George is located in its own separate alcove within the bar area (see below). This serves two important functions. Reducing the impact of rattle and clunk on the ears of other customers during a noisy game, and stopping the odd wayward Cheese from flying into the bar area.

The noise generated by a Skittles Table in play can sometimes make it an unsuitable game for a single room pub, particularly when shared by diners. All the more reason for keeping the traditional multi-room pub layout which has served pubs and their customers so well for generations. The relentless wholesale removal of interior walls from many pubs during the 80's and 90's has meant that all too often the attractive and historic exterior of a pub merely serves to hide a bland, single roomed, identikit interior. It's hard to see how the knocking through of characterful multi-roomed historic buildings makes for a more interesting and attractive pub, but sadly this trend continues even now.

Strictly speaking, the George is not a multi-roomed pub, and has probably been much altered over the years, but it does still retain several distinct areas including one for dining, which leaves the bar area free for the important business of drinking, socializing, and of course gaming, which can only make it a more interesting and successful pub to visit.
 

Wear and tear on the Darts Board surround.

 

A colourful off-cut of carpet, and a scattering of Boxwood splinters. The classic Northamptonshire Table Skittles look.