The Game of Skittles:

Competition, or an Excuse for a Pint

Is time nearly up on one of Cardiff's favourite pub games?

By  Conor O'Connell   |    12th of December, 2022

The game of Skittles has been a popular hobby in Cardiff and South Wales for generations. 

Like darts or snookers, it’s drawn thousands of people to their local public houses over the years, helping their local watering hole while filling the need for a competitive edge. 

However, as a result of the cost of living crisis and an aging player base, Skittles has an uncertain future ahead of it.

Dan Williams is a rare sight on skittles night.

At only 27 years old, he’s considerably younger than the usual clientele. 

The age is part of the current problem with the game, as the majority of it’s players are close to retirement.

“In terms of age, 60’s and 70’s”, says Dan, “with the majority of teams being around the 60 year old mark”.

“There’s a few younger men's teams in their 40’s, but it’s not a young man's game”.

The fear is that eventually the game may age out.

A fear accelareated by the 2020 pandemic.

“A few of the other teams, following Covid, have had to pack it in”.

“The league had about five or six divisions a couple of years ago”.

“It now has three”.

It’s a shame that the game seems to be heading this way, as the game is an important source of income for the pubs that host it.

“If skittles weren't going on, a lot of those pubs would be closed”.

“Pubs are always looking for a reason to stay open”, and it seems like Skittles is providing that reason. 

Like many midweek pub leagues, there’ll always be the question over whether they’re legitimately competitive, or they’re just an excuse for a pint.

According to Dan, it’s a bit of both.

“It’s specific to certain teams”.

“Some teams will use it as an excuse to drink, as some people don’t have the biggest social lives and see it as a way to be part of something”.

“But at the end of the day, we do want to win”.

“The thrill of winning anything is there, and you don’t want to let your team down”.

While you will get the odd person who will take games very seriously, in general, the atmosphere is laid back, which is a big part of the appeal.

The way to invigorate the game would be to encourage a younger crowd to get involved, and Dan would enthusiastically recommend it.

“It’s great craic and there’s a good atmosphere”.

“If it’s going horrendously, no one really cares and it’s just a pub game at the end of the day”.

Dan understands that the future for Skittles is up in the air.

If the game doesn’t start attracting a younger generation of players, then eventually it may age out entirely.

But despite these fears, he is hopeful for the games future and believes it can have longevity.

“Over the next couple of years, another division might drop out”.

“We’re only twelve weeks into the season and we’ve already had three bye weeks due to teams dropping out”.

“As a game, I think it’ll carry on”.

“It’ll still always be a game played in a pub, and there’s always gonna be people drinking in pubs”.