The sports of the pub and the club
Canalside Sports is an independent guide to five sports that Britain plays in pubs, social clubs and on village greens: darts, snooker, pool, bowls and club cricket.
These are games most people have tried and few have been taught. The rules are passed on across a bar or a boundary rope, and half of them turn out to be house rules. This site sets out how each game is played, how matches and leagues are organised, and what you need to know before your first league night.
Pick a sport
| Sport | Start here |
|---|---|
| Darts | How to play 501 |
| Snooker | Rules and scoring |
| Pool | English 8-ball rules |
| Bowls | Flat green and crown green |
| Cricket | Club cricket formats |
Most used
- Darts checkout chart: every standard finish from 170 down
- Dartboard height and throwing distance
- Snooker ball values and how a break is scored
What you will find here
Each section has the same three kinds of page.
- Rules, explained in the order you meet them in a game.
- Formats: how league nights, cup ties and club matches are run.
- Practical guides: equipment, measurements and etiquette.
Where the official rules and common pub practice differ, we say so. In pool and darts that happens more often than you might expect.