How's the layout? Would you play here? Need opinions please!

drenkel

drenkel

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
*** EDIT: - THE LAYOUT HAS BEEN CHANGED BASED ON ALL YOUR OPINIONS. CHECK PAGE 3 FOR THE NEW LAYOUT.

Hey guys & gals. Gonna be opening a pool hall soon and I wanted to get some feedback about the layout we have put together. We are going to be focused on league play during the week, and tourneys on Fri. and Sat.

14 7' Diamond Coin Ops
2 9' Diamonds Pro-Am
Full bar /w liquor
Lounge /w couches & TV's (PPV events when applicable)

For grand opening we are going to be doing a few $10 tourneys where the house throws $500 in the pot for each one. Hoping to get about $1K payout for the players who come.

Pool will be .75 cents a game, draft beer ~ $1.50

Anyway, I wanted to get an opinion from the players. How's it look? Is there anything we could do to make customers more comfortable? Would you play at a pool hall like this?

Thanks!

futurecueslayout1.jpg
 
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Almost the same kind of layout as our pool hall in Rapid City. I likes, and love the tournaments each week your gonna have. I know the one thing that made the tournaments there popular were each week so much money would into a pot and everyone in attendence would get the opportunity to draw cards whoever drew the Ace would get the chance to break and run for the pot. Last i knew it was up to bout a grand, noone could do it for when i was going. Sure someone got it by now just wished i drew the ace when i played lol
 
I like the layout. One thing I will note that really bothers me when going to places to play league is the seating. Make sure you have a little bit of seating for all of your tables.

Also I agree with ConArtist on the break and run. We have one in my city that no one has won and it is worth $1000. I am in a different town for work right now and it seems every place that has a tournament holds them. Some you can buy tickets for and other just one entry per person. Players love to come out to have a shot at running a rack for $1000.
 
You didn't say anything about food. Is one of the rooms back there for a kitchen? Looks good though.
 
It looks very nice. I'd play there in a heartbeat! I think one of the best pool halls I've ever been in for the sheer layout is California Billiards in Mountain View, California. They have it set up so sweaters can sweat the action without ever getting in the way of the players.
 
Looks sweet, yes, I would definitely play there. Three small recommendations:

1. Your sofas/conversation pits in the TV room need coffee tables to set drinks/appetizers down on. The restrooms (only two?) seem a little difficult for those in the main room to get to, those in the TV room and smaller pool room will have a steady stream of people tramping through.

2. The four tables in the smaller room would probably work better side to side than end to end, if they'll fit that way. The less interference between tables during racking/breaking the better. When they're end to end like that, you usually get in each others' way.

3. Consider having one of your conspicuously placed coin ops being designated as a "challenge table" for king of the hill. Put up a chalk board and let people get in line to play, with the challenger paying and the winner keeping the table (for peak hours you could even make the table free). If it's timed right it can really draw in players and keep them in the room, filling up the other tables while waiting their turn. Bangers and intermediate players really eat it up. Plus, it helps keep competitive spirit alive on non-league or non-tournament nights.
 
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I don't see an entrance, unless it is at the bottom left.

I am assuming the bar in the middle is also where you check in and out for table time?

Where are the bathrooms?

Are there any pocket billiard tables? all I see is Snooker.

other than the above, it looks ok to me.
 
Thanks for the tips so far!

I will look into the break and run idea, we don't have anything like that in our area. Sounds fun though :)

Plenty of seating I think, there are ~80 seats for only 16 tables. We tried to space it out so at least 4 people can sit comfortably at each table, plus there is the lounge.

We won't be serving food. We will have snacks like chips and candy bars, but we won't be cooking anything. HOWEVER, we are working out deals with nearby restaurants where people can get food delivered into the pool hall and eat whatever they want. Just stay off the table while your eating! Lol.
 
Tom In Cincy said:
I don't see an entrance, unless it is at the bottom left.

I am assuming the bar in the middle is also where you check in and out for table time?

Where are the bathrooms?

Are there any pocket billiard tables? all I see is Snooker.

other than the above, it looks ok to me.
Click to expand...

Entrance is in the front, where the tile is. Bathrooms are in the back left. The bar isnt fully formed in that design, here's the bar below this post:

No snooker tables, they are all going to be regular diamonds. 14 of the 7' smart coin op tables, and 2 regular diamond 9' tables.

barlayout1.jpg
 
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Neil said:
Here's a few things that I DON'T like about it. If you have leagues, you are going to have at least 10 people hanging around each table. You need some kind of seating for at least that many.

The couches are going to get a lot of drinks spilled on them, you don't want them to be any kind of fabric.

You have two rooms, that as a manager, I wouldn't like. The counter person can't readily see what is happening in them. Prime spots for trouble to start. If you want to keep those areas, see about making the walls half walls if you can.
Click to expand...

I was planning on designating 2 tables to each league match. With 8 chairs at 2 tables, and 4 people shooting I figure there would be a little extra room. When you guys play league do they stick all 10 of you on a single table? I was wanting to spread the teams across two tables to make everyone more comfortable.

If ^^^ isnt the preferred method plz let me know and I can make some changes.

As for the couches, that's the only graphics I had to work with in that program. It's actually going to be leather theater seating in the lounge so everyone has a cupholder.

As for the rooms not able to be seen from the bar, we did think of that. We are installing camera system in the building with a monitor under the bar we can watch.
 
Love the layout and spacing. I would consider putting in Wifi or even a small area in your lounge with 1 or 2 computers with high speed access. You can charge for the use so that people can log on to AZ and check out the forum and action.

Also, it may be better to pull down the walls surrounding the lounge area or better yet make them into half wall with clear glass so it give your room a much better feel I think. Try to keep music level appropriate so that it not to loud for players. Probably doesn't hurt to have those touch screen games. To help drive some profit, I say section off the 4 tables in the back so that it can be individual private room if needed by pulling a wall curtain. This way, if there are guys that want to start serious action games or a poker game, they can have their privacy. Just make sure you charge them for the appropriate use of the room and keep a tab...as some of these guys can be there for days.

Last thing, get some more 9' diamond tables (Maybe 4 for the back room) and setup a small area for cue repair work.
Duc.
 
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Where are you located? It must be an area where the majority of players, or leagues, prefer bar tables. I much prefer 9-footers, so I'd prefer a room where most of the tables are 9-footers. But it must be that what you are doing is better economically for your area.
 
@ AtLarge & CueMaster98

We are in Temple, TX. Both of the other two pool halls here are really focused on bar boxes / leagues and only have a couple 9 footers. I've been checking out the other places and everyone seems to fill up the 7 footers first. I don't want to break from tradition and put in a bunch of tables my market may not be comfortable with.

We already have Wi-Fi planned, and we will have the touch games on the bar and in the lounge. The walls surrounding the lounge are not something I can alter unfortunately. We have big plans for the lounge though, I think it's going to be really nice in there. Lots of high end leather theater chairs, 55" LED TV's & waitresses to bring you anything you need.
 
The first thing that jumped into my head was the full walls separating the back four tables...

(then I read through the replies and saw that Neil already suggested the half wall)

I was thinking take it a step further than half wall...I would make the separating walls counter top with seating.

If it were me...I would see about making the four tables in the back three 9 foot tables.

The two 7 foot tables in the middle will be your action tables and tournament finals/streaming tables...and since you are making the half walls with counter top..you will have plenty of room for sweaters.

The three 9 foot tables in the back would be mainly action tables.

For the main section of 7 foot tables...Leave the bar..but ditch that one big group of tables and chairs and space the tables evenly and supply seating for all tables....I would probably even cut two of the tables and go with just 8 tables in that section...(that gives you a total of 10...7 foot tables)

I hate places that cram as as many tables as possible into a space and leave no room to stand or sit....I think it is an eventual deterrent to long term and repeat customers.
 
It looks nice.

I'd make the following changes
14 9' Diamond Pro's
2 7' Diamonds Coin Ops
Two stream tables for broadcasting tournament and "feature" action.

Restaurant quality food service to go with the bar.
 
Had 4 people comment that the seating might not be adequate for league play so I'm going to take another serious look at that.

Awesome tips guys, it's very much appreciated. Challenge tables in the front, Break & Run drawing on tourney nights, Tables to eat on in the lounge, feature action / finals on middle two tables. 4 very good ideas that will improve our venue.

If you think of anything else let me know. Thanks so much!
 
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