It’s darts at dawn in Devizes now two rival pub landlords are going head to head in the battle of the traditional pub game.

Customers at the White Bear, in Monday Market Street, and the Moonrakers pub, in Nursteed Road, both Wadworth pubs, compete against each other in pool, darts, dominoes, crib, bar skittles and shove ha’penny.

The monthly events were started by Mark Elliott, landlord of the White Bear, and Russell Allinson, manager of the Moonrakers, who have only been in the town since last year.

After playing the games the landlords go head to head in a general knowledge quiz and the team with the highest score takes home a trophy. After two games evenings the scores are tied.

Mr Elliott, a Brummie, said: “Neither Russell or I are from here so we decided on the pub games night to get some community support. One of our regulars has made the bar skittles and a lot of customers are interested in playing it.

“We found the shove ha’penny table from another pub.

“The long term idea is to get the rest of the Wadworth pubs involved and maybe help local charities.”

Mr Allinson, a Lancastrian, said: “The White Bear won the first one and we won the second one, both at each others pubs. Our away form is scintillating.

“It’s nice to see people playing traditional pub games that haven’t been played for years. A lot of my customers are asking when the next one is.”

The next games evening is March 31 at the Moonrakers.