Western Skittles - Pubs & Leagues

Western Skittles Leagues

Before we start, you may wish to visit The Herefordshire Skittles website that contains an extremely good and comprehensive list of Skittle Leagues, most of them Western style.

 

Alderbury Bowls Club have a skittles league of 6 local teams who play on a Thursday evening. 

Barnstaple & District Men's Skittles League

Berkeley and District Skittles League 112 teams in 7 divisions.

Bideford and District Skittles League, North Devon. Been going since 1930's and at its peak had 130 teams of six male players. It stretches from Bradworthy to Lovacott taking in Torrington and Instow on the way. Due to covid, it now has only 62 teams. Play with 10 inch Gloucester style pins with 5 inch rubber balls (submitted Stephen Schiller, Secretary, March 2024)

Blackmore and Sparkford Vale Hunt Supporters Club apparently have a skittles league with 24 teams (John Penny March 2020)

Bridgwater Town and District Skittles League, Somerset and the competing league in the same location:

Bridgwater Skittles League, Somerset

Bristol North West Skittles League, Somerset. The largest in the Bristol area (submitted John Gilvear, March 2024).

The Calne and District Skittles League (Western Skittles)

Castle Cary Skittle League [ Website disappeared Jan 2021 but found these contact details on the web: Mr Toby Strang (Secretary) Work Phone: 01458 272191 Cell Phone: 07783 134498 Personal Email: toby.strang69@gmail.com ]

Cheltenham Skittles League founded in 1906; includes fixtures and results, news, and contacts.

The Cirencester District Men's Skittle LeagueOrganises leagues and competitions for many teams in the area

Clevedon Skittles League

Colyton Skittles , East Devon

Coventry Nine Pin Skittle League. They play in a room with five alleys! (submitted John Penny May 2019). There's a facebook page too.

Devizes & District Skittles, Wiltshire (Aug 2024, website disappeared - league possibly no longer going)

Dorchester & District Skittles League

Doulting & District Skittles League, Somerset

Dover Skittles League, undoubtedly the most Easterly skittles league in the country.

East Cornwall Skittles

East Devon Skittles League

Exeter & District (Tuesday) Skittles League

Evesham & District Skittles League

Gloucester Charity Skittles League

Gloucester City Skittles League

Hereford & District Invitation Skittle League founded in 1902 and with over a thousand players in seventy teams playing the Welsh game.

Malvern Men's Skittle League

Nailsea & District Skittles League

Nailsworth & District Skittles League

Pill and Portishead District League. 2 divisions, each consisting of 13 teams including The Royal Oak, West Hill, Portishead. (Jan 2002)

Sarnia Skittles in Guernsey

Stoke and District Thursday Night Skittle League 3 divisions

Street & District Skittle LeagueThe Street league goes from Street to Glastonbury and surrounding villages and is still very active with 4 divisions (reported by Andrew Jones Nov 2023).

Stroud and District Skittles League founded in 1935.

Sturminster Newton Skittles League in Dorset, (John Penny, Feb 2020)

Taunton Deane Friday Mixed Skittles League, Somerset

Taunton Brewers Skittles League, Somerset

Tewkesbury and District Skittles Leagues

Thornbury & District Skittles League in Gloucestershire formed in 1955 with about 90 teams in 6 divisions

Totnes Skittles League, North Devon.

Weston-Super-Mare & District Skittle League in Somerset - founded in 1920.

Weymouth & Portland Skittle League

May 2022: Following repeated blows to the pub industry including the Covid pandemic, Alan Cale reports the heartening news that there are currently 118 teams in the Gloucester City League, 75 in the Gloucester Charity League and 44 teams in the Gloucester Ladies League. In Cheltenham there are 94 teams in the men’s league and 46 in the women’s league. In Stroud there are 49 teams and a further 14 teams in Nailsworth. There are 47 teams in Tewkesbury. In his opinion, at least three quarters of teams bring own their own balls rather than using those in the alley.

Inter-League Skittles Organisations, Competitions and Events

The 'Jubilee cup' is played between 5 local leagues.  Yeovil Sports, Yeovil men's, Yeovil ladies, Sherborne men's and Sherborne ladies.  It was started in 1977 and is 5 a side played over 5 games on two different alleys during the season.  It was 6 a side when it started but reduced to 5 as it took all night - John Penny Nov 2018

The British Skittles Championships is apparently the largest skittles championship in the country. It is run by "Serious About Events" and is a very large affair indeed

Other Pubs with Western Skittle Alleys

Anchor Inn, Diglis, Worcester.
The Star Inn, Ashton under hill, Evesham, Worcestershire 01386-811325 (submitted John Crowther, Feb 2000)
The Bull, Risley, Near Reading, Berkshire (submitted Ian Bradley, Oct 2000)
The Plough, East Stratton, Near Basingstoke, Hampshire (submitted Ian Bradley, Oct 2000)
The Jolly Miller, North Warnborough, Hampshire (submitted Ian Bradley, Oct 2000)
The Half Moon, Stoke-Sub-Hamdon, Nr Yeovil, Somerset (submitted Richard Feltham, Nov 2000)
The Royal George, West Coker, Nr Yeovil (submitted Matthew Butler, Dec 2000)
Ring of Bells, Norton Fitzwarren, Near Taunton in Somerset (submitted David Lowe, Dec 2000)
Black Horse, Taunton, Somerset (submitted David Lowe, Dec 2000)
Dog & Partridge, Risely, Hampshire (submitted Ian Bradley, Feb 2001)
The Seven Stars, Bath Road, Knowl Hill, Berkshire (submitted Ian Eeles, June 2001)
Winchester Arms, Trull, near Taunton (submitted 'Steve', July 2001)
The Phelips Arms The Borough Montacute Somerset (submitted Aug, 2001, Nicola.J.Forster)
The Belvoir Castle, Bath, Somerset (submitted Nov 2001, Bill Letts)
The Miners Arms, Whitecroft, Gloucestershire, GL15 4PE (submitted Elaine Grief, March 2002)
Victoria Hotel, Dagmar Road, Dorchester, Dorset (submitted Mike Thomas, Nov 2001)
The Swan Inn at Stoford, Nr Salisbury, Wilts SP2 OPR, Feb 2002

The West Bay Skittles Club. Started in 1909 and as at 2015 has had only 6 chairmen. (Yarn Magazine Oct, 2015)

Pubs and Clubs with skittle alleys in use within Leagues around Yeovil, from John Penny, May 2019. (Number of alleys at each location in brackets):

• Yellow Wagtail
• Old Barn Club (2)
• Johnson Park Club (2)
• Snooker Club, (Reckleford) Yeovil (3)
• Labour Club (2)
• GWRSA (Great Western Railway Staff Association)
• Beehive
• The Arrow
• Con Club
• The Armoury
• Royal Oak (Stoford)
• Rose and Crown (Bradford Abbas)
• Red House Inn
• Inn The Square, (West Coker)
• Great Lyde Inn
• Griffins Head, (Nether Compton)
• Hungry Horse (Formerly 'The Bell Inn')
• Railway Hotel
• Royal Marine
• Bull Inn (Ilchester)
• Y.E.S. Club (Formerly 'British Legion' - Yeovil Ex-Servicemen)
• R.O.A.B. Club
• 94 Club
• Marston Inn (Marston Magna)
• Royal Oak (Hardington)
• Butchers Arms
• Bradford Abbas Sports Club (Bradford Abbas)
• Foresters Arms (East Coker)
• Royal Standard Inn
• The Helyar Arms (East Coker)
• The Mildmay Arms (Queen Camel)
• Tintinhull Working Mens Club (Tintinhull) (2 alleys)
• Chilthorne Recreation Club (Chilthorne Domer)
• Kings Arms (Thornford)
• The Fountain, Ashhurst in West Sussex

Skittles Team websites

ABM Skittles Team playing at Wallingford Sports Park in Oxfordshire.

Dirty Dozen Skittles Team Welsh Skittles at the Llanbradach Workmens Club, Llanbradach, Caerphilly South Wales)

The Pillarmen (from South of the Gloucester City Skittles League).

The Tattibogoes team of the Hereford and District Skittles League