The Origins of Toads

The Sussex pub game you need to know about.

Toads is a game that feels unmistakably Sussex, and nowhere more so than in Lewes where it has been played in pubs for generations. The game evolved from Toad in the Hole over a century ago, when players would toss small brass discs - known as “toads” - towards a lead-topped box with a central hole.

The game’s origins are closely tied to the county’s foundry towns, where brass pieces were easy to produce. Over time it became a staple of local pubs, spreading across Lewes and the surrounding area. What began as a simple pub pastime soon grew into something more organised, with leagues, competitions and a loyal following that still exists today.

The rules vary slightly from pub to pub, but the basic idea is simple. Players toss their toads towards the board, aiming to land them flat on the lead surface or - even better - into the central hole. A toad in the hole scores two points, one point is awarded for landing flat on the lead, and anything that bounces off scores nothing.

Games traditionally begin with a coin toss. The first player throws two toads, the second throws three, and from then on each player throws four per turn. Players start on 31 and work their way down to exactly zero. Go below zero and you’re bust - making the final throws the most tense part of the game.

Once largely confined to Lewes pubs such as The Lewes Arms and The Snowdrop Inn, Toads has begun appearing further afield. Today you might find the game in Brighton taprooms like UnBarred Brewery or at Brolly Brewing in Horsham, where Sussex’s pub traditions meet a newer generation of drinkers.

For a full list of Toad Houses - the pubs where the game is still played - and more about the history of Toads, you can explore the official Sussex Toads website.