Hood Skittles is a traditional pub game that is popular in Northamptonshire and the surrounding areas. The game is played on a table or a board, with a set of nine small pins arranged in a diamond shape at one end of the table. Players use a ball or a set of wooden blocks called "cheeses" to knock down the pins.
One of the distinctive features of Hood Skittles is the use of a "hood" or "cup" that is suspended above the pins. The hood is a wooden or metal box that is suspended on strings or chains above the table, with a hole in the bottom that allows the ball or cheeses to pass through. The objective of the game is to knock down the pins without hitting the hood, as hitting the hood results in a penalty.
In Hood Skittles, players take turns to throw the ball or cheeses at the pins, with points being awarded based on the number of pins knocked down. The game can be played with teams or individuals, and the player or team with the highest score at the end of the game is declared the winner.Hood Skittles is a fun and challenging game that requires a combination of accuracy, strategy, and skill. It has a long history and is still played in many pubs and social clubs in Northamptonshire and other parts of the UK. If you're interested in playing Hood Skittles, you can often find tables set up in local pubs or social clubs, or you can purchase your own table and set to enjoy the game at home.