Next night
Tuesday 3 November
- Time
- 7–9pm
- Where
- BR3WERY Kelsey
- Price
- £5 a place
1 Kelsey Park Road, Beckenham BR3 6LH. Arrive at 7pm, or just before, to get settled.
£5 per person includes
- Entry to the evening’s games.
- All the equipment and an introduction to the game.
The winner takes home a jug of beer.
After that, we meet on the first Tuesday of every month, 7–9pm.
Booking opens soon
Places aren’t on sale yet. Join the list and we’ll email you as soon as you can book.
Keep me postedThe game
What is Toads?
Toads, also known as Toad in the Hole, is a traditional Sussex pub game with a strong following in Lewes. You throw brass discs, the “toads”, towards a lead-topped table, aiming for the hole in the middle.
A disc through the hole scores two points. One that stays on the lead scores one. The aim is to work your way down from 31 to exactly zero.
It sounds straightforward. Getting a disc to stay put is where things get interesting.
Nobody is quite sure how old it is. The earliest clear description of the English game that historians have found is from 1931. Today its home is Lewes, which still runs its own league, and it’s where we first played.
- Where everyone starts
- 31
- Discs a turn
- 4
- Points for the hole
- 2
- A place for the night
- £5
The rules
How to play
You don’t need to learn this before you come. We’ll explain it at the table, but here’s a guide to the game.
1
Take your turn
Everyone throws four discs a turn, from the very first turn. Stand behind the marked throwing line and throw them one at a time. Players take turns. Leave the discs where they land until the turn has been scored.
2
Count the points
2Through the hole1Resting on the lead0On the floor0Touches any woodA disc that touches any wood, the backboard, sides or frame, is “dead” and scores nothing that turn, even if it then lands on the lead or drops through the hole. Count where the discs finish, not each throw as it lands.
3
Work down from 31
Start on 31 and subtract each turn’s points. Reach exactly zero to win the leg, one complete game. A normal four-disc turn can score up to eight.
4
Fewer discs near the end
Once you’re under four points, you only get one disc per point you have left. Check your score at the start of your turn:4 or more left4 discs3 left3 discs2 left2 discs1 left1 discReach exactly zero part-way through a turn and you’ve won: stop there, and don’t throw the discs you have left.
5
Don’t go bust
If your turn’s final score is more than you need, you’ve gone bust. Nothing is deducted, and you start your next turn on the same number. With one point left, a disc through the hole scores two and puts you bust. Gone over with discs still in hand? You can use them to knock a scoring disc off and get back to exactly what you need.
6
Knock-ons count
A later throw can nudge an earlier disc into the hole, or knock it off the table. Even a dead disc can move a live one, although the dead disc itself still scores nothing. That’s why the final position matters.
The hosts
Meet Alex and Sam
We’re Alex and Sam, the pair behind Over Two Cans, our beer podcast and YouTube channel.
We discovered Toads at Beak Brewery in Lewes and wanted a table of our own. Noel, a Brighton Toads player, made our custom table, and we took it with us on visits to breweries around the UK. We’d sit down with the brewery owners for an interview, then finish with a game of Toads.
Now we’re bringing that same mix of beer, conversation and friendly competition to Beckenham. Bromley Toads Society is a chance to get more people round the table and give a brilliant pub game a regular local night.
Come and say hello. We’ll get you throwing.
On the night
How the night runs
7pm
Arrive and settle in
Come at 7pm or a little before. Alex and Sam will be at the table to say hello.
Then
Learn the game
We explain the rules at the table before anyone throws, so it doesn’t matter if you’ve never played.
Through the evening
Play
We’re planning singles, so there’s no team to organise. We’ll explain the format on the night.
9pm
Crown a winner
The winner takes home a jug of beer.
The venue
Find us at BR3WERY Kelsey
You’ll find us at BR3WERY’s Kelsey Park Road bar, just off Beckenham High Street.
Our night runs 7–9pm. Arrive at 7pm or a little before; Alex and Sam will be there to welcome you and explain the game.
Questions
Before your first visit
When can I book?
Soon. Places aren’t on sale yet. Join the list and we’ll email you as soon as booking opens.
How much is it?
£5 a person. That covers your place in the games, with all the equipment and an introduction to how to play. There’s a takeaway jug of beer for the winner.
Do I need to have played before?
No. Beginners are welcome, and we’ll explain the scoring and show you how to get started.
Can I come on my own?
Absolutely. We’re planning singles, so you don’t need to bring an opponent or a team.
Do I need to bring anything?
Just yourself. The table and brass discs are provided.
What time should I arrive?
7pm, or a little before. The night runs until 9pm.
Booking opens soon
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