PUBS

The Pub Pages

BEER & SKITTLES P. A. BAXTER

I HAVE YET TO visit The Turk's Head, Twickenham. Well, it's a bit of a trip to take in a game of shove ha'penny, table skittles (‘Devils’) and darts, but on 10th March 1964, one Ringo Starr, took in all three for comedic effect in a scene for the first Beatles film ‘A Hard Day's Night’.

Having seen the film innumerable times I felt it was time to find out more about that particular section, not least of which is to see if the pub is still

Northants table: Heavier use of leather padding and diamond-edged pin-pit. Netting. Larger pins and cheeses. there. Well I'm delighted to (‘That was fresh this morning!’) negative effect on many people, report that it is, although I don't and his efforts to retrieve money and whilst I am one of the lucky know if there is any nicely to pay (‘That'll be two and nine!’) ones who no longer have to do polished brass plaque marking results in the contents of his my bit for Queen and Country, the occasion. pockets spilling onto the shove one of the many pastimes I am

In the film, Ringo had ha'penny board – much to the now free to indulge in is more wandered off, causing panic annoyance of those participating than a few pub visits to play the amongst the production team for in a game. beautiful game! the evenings' approaching His half-pint of beer is placed It's not just about the game concert, and Ringo (still on the devils board where the though, but the whole experience genuinely hung-over from the ball on chain neatly smashes the of going out for the evening, previous night, so we're told) glass (don't you just hate it when meeting up with ones pub friends heads off on some mildly comic that happens to you?) then a and with those whom one would adventures. At the pub he was badly aimed dart skewers the not normally meet, enjoying the given a dodgy looking sandwhich sandwhich of a fellow patron, and beer and banter etc. I guess I am the next dart very nearly does fortunate that I can enjoy some the same to the pub parrot. skittles at home. Not just the Needless to say Ringo is sent on occasional game of ‘devils’, but his way! the version they play in The pub may still be there – a Leicestershire where one hurls Fuller's house – although it is wooden 'cheeses' at the pins on now a gastro-pub, so I suspect a specially made table. that pub games are no longer I can probably claim to own amongst the list of activities one the only Leicester table for many can enjoy there. Like so many of miles around! This table was us West Country people I am actually purchased from a chap continually frustrated and in Ottery St Mary (best not ask) bewildered by the confusing and and resides in our garage where sometimes contradictory advice it provides hours of fun. We given by Government over the publish a photo herewith for your present crisis. delectation; it's the one with the To have our whole way of life cloth backing. destroyed is having a very The other table is the