The Ryde & District Shove Ha'penny League.
Submitted July 2000, by the chairman, Paul Mattick, Tel. 01983 811661.
Consists of the following pubs:
Simeon Arms, Ryde.
Castle Inn, Sandown
Castle Inn, Ryde
Falcon Inn, Ryde
King Lud, Ryde
The Partlands, Ryde
Lake Huron, Ryde
High Park Tavern, Ryde
Princess Royal, Newport
Ryde Liberal Club
Woodmans Arms, Wooton
Fleming Arms, Ryde
Redan, Ryde
Chew Valley Shove Halfpenny League
Submitted March 2008, by Ian Thick. At March 2008, this league consists of the following four pubs situated south of Bristol in Chew Valley and on the Mendip Hills.
'The Poachers Pocket' of Chelynch
'The Hunters Lodge' Priddy
The Butchers Arms' Bishop Sutton
'The Castle of Comfort' Also Priddy.
They meet on a Monday night from October through to March with a six person team and each team plays 2 home and away games against each other. There is a singles, Ladies Singles, Doubles, Mixed Doubles, and Team Knockout competition in addition to the league fixtures. There is also a special competition 'The Ben Dors Cup' in commemoration of a founding member of the league. (His family still own the Hunters Lodge and it has been in the family for several generation without changing - Great place to go if you are local and love real ale which is sold direct from the barrel.). They are always keen to meet new players and teams wishing to join but it is difficult in an area with so many pubs falling into the hands of conglomerates plus the area also has a very strong skittles tradition and this often clashes. Apparently, the last CV champions 'deserted' to the Radstock league for the 07/08 season, having been league winners 5 or 6 times over the last 7 years. The league secretary is Alan Butcher.
The Radstock League
There is also another SH league 'The Radstock' in the South Bristol area which has approx 12teams. Mentioned March 2008, by Ian Thick.
The Barnstaple Shove Ha'penny League
Barnstaple has 2 leagues run by the owners of:
Corner House
108 Boutport Street
Barnstaple
Devon
EX31 1SY
Telephone: 01271 343528
Reported July 2009 by Dawn, secretary of the ladies league which has
5 teams. There is also an open league open to both sexes that has 10 teams.
They play on wooden Shove ha'penny boards.
In 2021, this league still maintains a Facebook page so will hopefully keep going post-corona lockdown.
The Newport Shove Ha'penny League
In Newport, they play on slate. The open championship 2009 was held in Newport and organised by Steve Short of The Ringlands Labour Club.
The covid pandemic did not dent them and their Facebook page still continues. The 2024 Welsh open was held at the beginning of June.
Blandford Shove Ha'penny league
Nov 2009 Nigel Jones wrote with info on the Blandford league organised by The Railway Hotel, Blandford, Dorset a great place playing loads of traditional pub games. The Railyway has 2 teams plus there are teams from:
Bakers Arms
Crown, Stickland
Nelsons
Bath Shove Ha'penny league
Mentioned by a member of the Barnstaple league in July 2009. No further information known
Defunct Leagues
According to the Daily Telegraph 19 May 2009, the League in Louth, Lincolnshire League ceased that year and the Keynsham and District League finished in 2008.
Italy
There is also a thriving Shove ha'penny circle in central Italy called The 1521 Club that meets with some regularity in 'BAR MACONDO' in the centre of Trestina. Trestina is close to the city of PERUGIA in Umbria and about mid-way between Rome and Florence. For details, please contact Jim Powrie.
Push Penny
Feb 2007 - it is rumoured that "The Bo Peep" in Hastings still plays Push Penny.
Oct 2014. Tony Charman says pub in Hastings that plays is The Nelson, The Bourne, Old Town.
March 2013 Kevin of the Rose in June Pub, Margate has apparently restarted the "Thanet Penny League".
June 2011 The main hotbed of Push Penny continues to be Stamford, Lincolnshire and the lynchpin pub of the Stamford League seems to be the Jolly Brewer in Stamford. Derek Robinson (League chairman) and David Needham (treasurer) reported that in the past more than 70 pubs played the game across 2 leagues. These days it is not as popular but still continues happily.
Swanage / Isle of Purbeck Shove Ha'penny
The League started a new season in Nov 2021 with teams from: Swanage Legion, Swanage Conservative Club, King’s Arms in Langton Matravers, Royal Oak in Swanage, Square and Compass in Worth Matravers and Old Harry Bar in Studland
Corfe Castle Club (70 East Street Corfe Castle BH20 5EQ) advertise that they have a board on their website Sep 2023.
The 2018/19 season was won by The Globe Inn (3 Bell Street, Swanage, BH19 2RY), according to their Facebook page, but it's not clear if the pub still plays it. 'Shove It, Chuck It, Toss It' reports that Chapelhay Tavern in Weymouth had a board in 2016. Similarly, The Black Swan Inn (159 High Street, Swanage, BH19 2NE) had a board in 2015 according to Trip Advisor, the Red Lion Inn (63 High Street, Swanage) had one in 2008 according to the Historic England website and Arthur Taylor's book 'Played in the Pub'.