Fun and Games
In The Angel Alphabet, F is for Fun
No screens here – we believe in active participation. From traditional board and pub games to just having a laugh…
We hope we have something for everyone including the littlest – but let us know if there’s something missing.
• Traditional Board Games
• Pub Games
• Quizzes
• Puzzles
• Children’s Toys
• Frank’s Bar Challenge
Traditional Board Games
We have a large selection of traditional board games – some will already be out, others will be held behind the bar.
All we ask is not to lose the pieces!
Chess
Possibly the King or Queen of Board games.
Chess is an abstract strategy game that involves no hidden information and no elements of chance.
No player too young!
Play on the pub’s board or bring your own.
English Draughts
Another traditional game where no luck is involved.
Our board is 8 x 8 squares for local play (traditional English game), but please feel free to bring your own 10 x 10 board (for the Polish or International game).
Other Traditional Board Games
Please ask for any of the games below:
Nine Men's Morris
Famous for being popular in Tudor times, Nine Men’s Morris or ‘Merels’ dates back to at least Roman times. Each player has nine playing pieces. Players try to form ‘mills’—three of their own pieces lined horizontally or vertically, allowing a player to remove an opponent’s player from the game. Ask for an explanation of the full rules.
Snakes & Ladders
Play on our lovely hand made wooden version of the classic game of snakes and ladders, a strategy board game for two to four players, in which the players race their playing piece from start to finish according to the rolls of a single die. This is a pure game of luck, so no temper tantrums please!
Ludo
As with snakes & ladders, we have a lovely hand made wooden version of the classic game of Ludo. A strategy board game for two to four players, in which the players race their four tokens from start to finish according to the rolls of a single die.
Pub Games
Hone your skills at the Angel Inn Loddon with our selection of indoor and out door pub games.
Darts
301/501 down, round the clock, killer or Shanghai ~ you choose
All we ask is to follow our simple rules:
• Only play when it is safe to do so
• Try not to hit the wall too often
• Look after the pub darts or bring your own
• Have fun!
Cards
Crib, rummy, solitaire, bridge, contract bridge- the list is endless.
Please ask if you would like to borrow a pack of cards or the crib board, made by Steve Bishop (pictured centre RIP), and donated to The Angel Inn.
Dice
Ask for our hand-crafted, leather cup and dice.
The list of pub dice games is endless but our favourite is:
• Mäxchen
Bar Billiards
Bar billiards is great fun. If you don’t know how to play, just ask at the bar and someone will show you the ropes…
It’s a pub game, derived from Russian billiards and bagatelle, popular in England since the 1930s. It is played on a table without side pockets, using cues to aim balls into holes worth varying points (up to 200). Players must avoid knocking over skittles, which trigger point penalties, and use only one end of the table. It is a timed game; £1 coin buys you about 18 minutes of competitive fun.
Hammerschlagen
Hammerschlagen (also called Stump or Nageln) is a traditional pub game that originates in the Bavarian Alps.
Have fun with your mates and raise money for the Angel Inn Loddon’s chosen charity. [For each nail we request a £1 donation to the Rotary Action Group Against Slavery.] There are various ways of playing the game (ask at the bar) but the loser usually ends up buying a round of schnapps – we have four delicious flavours from Black Shuck Distillery in Fakenham, Norfolk.
Children (and adults!) must be supervised by a responsible grown up.
Jenga
Can be played inside or outside – we have two sizes.
Follow the traditional rules or make up your own
~ or simply use the blocks to build or play!
Five More of our Favourite Bar Games
• Pass the Pigs
• Ibble Dibble
• Frogs
• Spoof
• Fuzzy Duck
Pass the Pigs
Ask at the bar for our set of pigs and score cards.
Ibble Dibble
“I Ibble Dibble number 3, with one Ibble Dibble, pass this Ibble Dibble to Ibble Dibble number three with no Ibble Dibbles.”
[This is an example only – change numbers to suit your positions and number of Ibble Dibbles ~ Don’t forget to say “thank you” when passed the Ibble Dibble!]
Frogs
• To my left (or right), one frog
• Two eyes
• Four legs
• In the pond
• Plop
• Two frogs
• Four eyes…
[When you get to more than one frog, consecutive people say “in the pond“, “in the pond“, “plop”, “plop” (so that’s four turns involved for two frogs) – try to get higher than three frogs!]
Spoof
[All you need are three coins, or counters, each.]
Whose going to buy the next round?
Simply guess the total number of coins held. Last person in buys!
Fuzzy Duck
[No ducks required.]
To my left (or right) Fuzzy Duck (or Ducky Fuzz) – continue in same direction repeating what previous person has said until someone says “Does He” (pronounced duzzy), then play goes in the opposite direction and changes from Fuzzy Duck to Ducky Fuzz (or vice versa).
It’s really that simple!
Frank's Bar Challenge
You should know better…
…but you have to have a go!
DISCLAIMER
This is a physically demanding challenge ~ do not attempt if pregnant or if you have a heart condition.
Risk of: splinters, grazes, falls onto hard surfaces
Compete at own risk.
LEADER BOARD
Current MALE Record: 7 times round ~ Diggory, of Norwich ~ aged 30, achieved 27th February 2025
Current FEMALE Record: 3 times round ~ Martha Davies of Norton Subcourse ~aged 36, achieved 9th March 2026
Current Veteran’s record (over 50s): Frank Butt of Loddon ~ once round in each of three separate attempts.