It’s been mostly fun, but it’s time to move on to something different. Thanks for reading and commenting.
Friday 10 September 2021
The End
Just a note to say this Blog is now defunct. I was hoping to finish it by wrapping up a few posts that have sat as drafts for some time, but it’s become increasingly obvious over the last few years that the pub trade going forward has very little appetite for the traditions that are the subject of this blog, and it’s becoming increasingly difficult to visit and photograph those pubs which still maintain the traditions of game play, many of which simply don’t open at times that are convenient for me to visit.
14 comments:
Thanks for the memories.
Do find something different you enjoy writing about. You write well.
Thanks Martin. I really enjoy the writing, even though I find it tortuous at times. When I wound up the cider blog, which I loved writing, it did seem like I was creating a bit of a hole in my life, but there’s always something to write about. This is a great subject that almost nobody is really interested in reading about, particularly those who actually play pub games at league level. I know, I’ve done it myself and spoke to them. For most pub gamers, it’s like writing about the chairs in a pub, they’re just there! I also don’t believe anything I’ve written on here has ever encouraged anyone to play these games, so it’s simply writing for my own pleasure, which is absolutely fine, but more recently I’m not getting much pleasure from it.
Anyhow, pubs are great, and I’ll always want to photograph and write about them, just not so much I guess…
That's a real shame Mark. I've really enjoyed reading about some of the classic pubs you've been too and I have to confess I have been tempted to play more pub games since reading this blog!!!
You'll be back...the Joe Bugner of the blogging world.
Thanks Beermat. I imagine that if I find myself somewhere that’s worth a post I’ll probably do something, what I’m not doing is going out of my way to visit out the way places (ie. most of the subjects of this blog) when things remain so uncertain in the pub trade, it’s just not worth the time and expense for so many fails and disappointments.
Mark, I,m so sorry to to hear this. Shove it, Chuck it, Toss it has served as an inspiration too more then a dozen pub games I have built for myself and friends. Because of this blog I've become quite a serious wood worker. I even bought a lathe and taught myself how to use it just so I could make skittles pins.
Your pictures were always high resolution and that helped a lot when trying to replicate a game. I always wanted to send you photos of some of my builds, but could not figure how to do it threw this blog.
Anyway, I understand why your getting out and wish you the best on what ever you get into next. Your biggest fan in the US.
Al
Thanks for that Al, I’ve always thought there was enough interest in the blog to make it worth doing but it’s nice to hear it expressed that way. I’ll still be pubbing, occasionally new places that might be interesting to blog about, but I think it’s got to the stage now where the only way I’m going to get a reasonable hit rate is travelling further afield, and travel is expensive and/or frustrating in the UK. For this blog it’s not entirely the end, but don’t hold your breath I’m afraid, regular posts are over for now.
I can only say that I am genuinely distressed and disappointed that you have decided to do this, Mark. I envy your writing style as you articulate so well and bring a great deal of pleasure to many people all over the world - as I am sure your records (or whatever they call them) will testify. Apart from being a fan of your blog which I regularly plug in my own monthly column in 'The Visitor' (still going at 30+ years) I truly believe that there is 'life' in pubs and pub games. This very evening I was in our local, which was 'fair buzzing' and the landlord was telling me about his plans for more pub games to be introduced. Skittles have restarted and in our league alone (Yeovil and District Sports Skittle League) in excess of 500 blokes will be out tomorrow night 'doing it'. I'm sure you'll never forget your one and only appearance in my summer team! (It's well documented in your blog!) Why not come down for a weekend and join in the fun? I'll sign you on - I'm the captain and I have the say-so!
I implore you to have a pint, sleep on it and get going again.
Peace and love from the West Country!
Hello Mark. Our mutual friend, John, told me you were hanging up your blogging pen. I am saddened by this but I understand what you’re saying regarding the current state of the pub scene. Being in Canada, the pub culture is vastly different for the most part compared to that of the UK. We do have some pubs that remind me of a proper village local as far as the patrons and staff are concerned and I relish that. The vast majority of our pubs here have all the charm and appeal of a cheap furniture warehouse with absolutely no character and definitely no soul. You helped me out several years ago with a well drawn, dimensioned drawing of a Northants skittle table. Thanks to your help, I have created and sold a number of tables. One of which is in our local pub and we run a regular Monday night league. We resume our league play on November 1st. The late start is due to the fact that my wife and I are arriving in England on September 30th to visit family and friends for the first time since May 2019 and the landlord refuses to let play commence until we are back in Canada. I will miss your musings dreadfully and I hope I will at some point be able to meet up with you in person to buy you pint of real ale and say thank you for entertaining and informative blogs and for your help in creating the Rothwell Arms Northants Style Skittle Tables.
We will be staying near St. Neots, Cambridgeshire from September 30th to October 14th. I don’t know if that’s close to you or not but if it is, well, there’s a pint with your name on it if you like. If you decide to continue writing, I would not be disappointed.
Cheers!
-Dave
Thank you for your writing, travels, and photos about pub life and games. This was a whole new world to explore for this American. I've used your photos of table Skittles to make a stand for a vintage bowling game made by a friend's grandfather. The woodworking magazine I work for has even featured a dart board cabinet and other games due largely to your work. Cheers on what comes next for you.
Thank you - just discovered this - what a lovely site - please leave it there for posterity - it's a real treasure!!!
Thanks for that Mark. I won't be taking it down, just not adding to it anymore. It would be nice to think someone else would take up the baton and write about the subject themselves, but apart from a very tiny interest group, the only people who seem to be interested in pub games is those who play them on a weekly basis in leagues, and they see no reason to write about their interest, it's just what they do. I guess when they're all gone someone will consider it worthy of discussion as a historical work, but it'll be too late then, the culture around pub games will have passed.
I've just been looking at the blog again and sooo wish for you to get fired up! Things are looking good in our area as the Yeovil Sports Skittle League will be back up to five divisions next winter, two pubs have reopened, another is getting an alley laid for the first time, our local is getting really busy again and the pub we went to last night was busy even by early evening.
Your fan-base awaits!
Hi John, funnily enough I have made efforts on a few occasions recently, including a pub in Cheltenham I was keen to visit before the pubs were locked down. But for numerous reasons they just haven't been worth photographing. I will post something new if and when I get the material, but I'm not going out of my way as I did previously, the returns are getting less and we have no real plans currently to travel where I know I'll find something interesting enough to write about.
I would of course be happy to include 'guest' posts...
'Guest' posts, eh? You tempt me, dear boy, you tempt me.
Meanwhile, perhaps your readership will be interested in my 'Pub Games' site on Facebook. It would be great to have them along. Whilst we don't have a massive following yet, membership grows across the world from Texas to Derbyshire and Canada to Perth (Australia) Friendships are being forged across the world - we don't want war we want pub games - and beer - yes we want both!
Sorry; I got carried away there...
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