PoolPlayerInOh
Learning In Progress
Hi, to all of you traveling players. Just wondering who has the nicest pool halls in the United States.
:wink:
:wink:
Best Pool Halls In The United States
- Thread starter PoolPlayerInOh
- Start date
Too many to list honestly. It also depends what you are looking for in a PH. Are you looking for a public establishment that has full bar service? Are you looking for a straight PH, ala Ames in the Hustler? (no booze, no food, just pool. This is Ames mister!) I've had the luxury of being all over the country, thanks to the military and have seen some very good PH's. Here's my short list...which isn't too short. If these are in any order, it's from East-West coast...not in precedence.
Chelmsford Country Club USA, Chelmsford, MA - Huge establishment, owned by Dave Cunha (sp?). Three different rooms with tables. If I remember correctly, over 60 tables. Full service bar. The last time I was there, they had Brunswick GC III's.
Snookers Bar and Grill, Providence, RI - My personal favorite pool hall, for a couple different reasons. The atmosphere in this PH is IMO, second to none. Owned by Steve and Regina Goulding, the equipment, (all Brunswick GC's, with one AMF in the back), is kept in great condition. Of particular note, the food here is excellent. Mrs. Regina Goulding makes something from scratch every day.
The Gold Crown Billiards, New London, CT - 16 Brunswick GC III's, 1 12' Brunswick Snooker table. A cut and dry Pool Hall. Vending machine drinks, no food service. Just pool. Equipment is kept in very good shape; the tables when I worked there were being done by Mike Xiaros and his crew twice a year.
Amsterdam Billiards, Manhattan, NYC, NY - I have NOT been to the new Amsterdam Billiards. I can only speak about the old Upper East side venue, which has been closed. But from what I have read, the newer place is very nice too. Also, if I'm going to pay homage to places now since gone, I have to mention the old Chelsea Billiards (also in Manhattan), Chicago Billiards, (New Haven, CT), and Jack and Jill's (Glenn Burnie, MD). Those locations were great action spots during their heydays.
Big Daddy's Billiards, Baltimore, MD - 6 Diamond's, 10 GC's. Peter Burrows owns and operates this fine establishment. Player friendly atmosphere, and great equipment. Last time I was there, about 6 months ago, Mr. Burrows was in the process of expanding into a neighboring shop in order to give him more space for tables.
Action Billiards, Salisbury, MD - Great tournament room located on the eastern MD penninsula. IIRC, the main room had about 10 GC's, second room had 8 GC's, and they also had a TV table pit at the time. Extensive pro-shop as well. Not sure if it is still open or not.
King Street Billiards, Fayetteville, NC - Awesome PH owned by Danny Odom. 25 tables, (15 GC's and 5 Diamonds, and 5 Barboxes), great food, great atmosphere, and great staff. If you're in the area, you must visit this room.
Speakeazy Billiards, Sanford, NC - A short drive from Fayetteville gets you to Sanford and this very unique pool room. If you're a fan of a classically decorated PH with antique memorabilia, this is the place for you. Limited bar and food, but excellent equipment. Another must see.
Grady's Billiards, Lexington, SC - Grady Mathews owns this joint, so that should tell you right away that the equipment, all Diamonds, is well kept. There are 8 7' Diamonds and 13 (IIRC), 9' tables. Grady is usually on hand as well to relay one of his numerous stories of life on the road, life as a pool player, as well as some other, off topic stories.
Marrietta Billiard Club, Marrietta, GA - Johnny Archer and Kim Davenport's room. Over 30 tables in very good condition, (c'mon, what'd you expect out of those two), great food and a fun atmosphere. Great room to go to a tournament at. Full service bar as well.
Mr. Cue's II, Atlanta, GA - One of the more well known pool halls in the Atlanta area. They recently replaced all of the Kim Steele pool table's with GC IV's. Full service bar, and the food is ok.
Diamond Billiard Club, Chattanooga, TN - 16 Diamond Barboxes and 4 Diamond 9' tables are in this establishment. The equipment is always top notch, and the food is even better. One of the owners, Davey Crockett does the menu's for the place and always has a "from scratch" daily special. No matter what it is, it's delicious.
Bogey's Billiards, Houston, TX - Great room located just north of Houston International Airport. IIRC, about 24 tables. Good atmosphere, well kept equipment. Didn't try the food there, but the staff was pretty friendly. Both times I went there, there was a golf game going on.
California Billiard Club, Mountain View, CA - Chet Ito (sp?) owns this room and, the last time I was there, (2004), the equipment and food was great. Very accomodating tournament room as well. I believe they have 35 or so tables. (not positive, could be less), a 12' snooker table, and 2 heated Verhoven Billiard Tables.
I've been to many other pool halls, but these are the one's which stick out in my mind as being some of the best, whether it's because of sentimental reasons, good action that was there, or just it being a plain ol' great room. Hope this answers your question...and no. I couldn't pick just one as being "the best". My favorite I wouldn't classify as being any better than the others. They each offer their own take on what a great pool room should be and should offer to the players.
Chelmsford Country Club USA, Chelmsford, MA - Huge establishment, owned by Dave Cunha (sp?). Three different rooms with tables. If I remember correctly, over 60 tables. Full service bar. The last time I was there, they had Brunswick GC III's.
Snookers Bar and Grill, Providence, RI - My personal favorite pool hall, for a couple different reasons. The atmosphere in this PH is IMO, second to none. Owned by Steve and Regina Goulding, the equipment, (all Brunswick GC's, with one AMF in the back), is kept in great condition. Of particular note, the food here is excellent. Mrs. Regina Goulding makes something from scratch every day.
The Gold Crown Billiards, New London, CT - 16 Brunswick GC III's, 1 12' Brunswick Snooker table. A cut and dry Pool Hall. Vending machine drinks, no food service. Just pool. Equipment is kept in very good shape; the tables when I worked there were being done by Mike Xiaros and his crew twice a year.
Amsterdam Billiards, Manhattan, NYC, NY - I have NOT been to the new Amsterdam Billiards. I can only speak about the old Upper East side venue, which has been closed. But from what I have read, the newer place is very nice too. Also, if I'm going to pay homage to places now since gone, I have to mention the old Chelsea Billiards (also in Manhattan), Chicago Billiards, (New Haven, CT), and Jack and Jill's (Glenn Burnie, MD). Those locations were great action spots during their heydays.
Big Daddy's Billiards, Baltimore, MD - 6 Diamond's, 10 GC's. Peter Burrows owns and operates this fine establishment. Player friendly atmosphere, and great equipment. Last time I was there, about 6 months ago, Mr. Burrows was in the process of expanding into a neighboring shop in order to give him more space for tables.
Action Billiards, Salisbury, MD - Great tournament room located on the eastern MD penninsula. IIRC, the main room had about 10 GC's, second room had 8 GC's, and they also had a TV table pit at the time. Extensive pro-shop as well. Not sure if it is still open or not.
King Street Billiards, Fayetteville, NC - Awesome PH owned by Danny Odom. 25 tables, (15 GC's and 5 Diamonds, and 5 Barboxes), great food, great atmosphere, and great staff. If you're in the area, you must visit this room.
Speakeazy Billiards, Sanford, NC - A short drive from Fayetteville gets you to Sanford and this very unique pool room. If you're a fan of a classically decorated PH with antique memorabilia, this is the place for you. Limited bar and food, but excellent equipment. Another must see.
Grady's Billiards, Lexington, SC - Grady Mathews owns this joint, so that should tell you right away that the equipment, all Diamonds, is well kept. There are 8 7' Diamonds and 13 (IIRC), 9' tables. Grady is usually on hand as well to relay one of his numerous stories of life on the road, life as a pool player, as well as some other, off topic stories.
Marrietta Billiard Club, Marrietta, GA - Johnny Archer and Kim Davenport's room. Over 30 tables in very good condition, (c'mon, what'd you expect out of those two), great food and a fun atmosphere. Great room to go to a tournament at. Full service bar as well.
Mr. Cue's II, Atlanta, GA - One of the more well known pool halls in the Atlanta area. They recently replaced all of the Kim Steele pool table's with GC IV's. Full service bar, and the food is ok.
Diamond Billiard Club, Chattanooga, TN - 16 Diamond Barboxes and 4 Diamond 9' tables are in this establishment. The equipment is always top notch, and the food is even better. One of the owners, Davey Crockett does the menu's for the place and always has a "from scratch" daily special. No matter what it is, it's delicious.
Bogey's Billiards, Houston, TX - Great room located just north of Houston International Airport. IIRC, about 24 tables. Good atmosphere, well kept equipment. Didn't try the food there, but the staff was pretty friendly. Both times I went there, there was a golf game going on.
California Billiard Club, Mountain View, CA - Chet Ito (sp?) owns this room and, the last time I was there, (2004), the equipment and food was great. Very accomodating tournament room as well. I believe they have 35 or so tables. (not positive, could be less), a 12' snooker table, and 2 heated Verhoven Billiard Tables.
I've been to many other pool halls, but these are the one's which stick out in my mind as being some of the best, whether it's because of sentimental reasons, good action that was there, or just it being a plain ol' great room. Hope this answers your question...and no. I couldn't pick just one as being "the best". My favorite I wouldn't classify as being any better than the others. They each offer their own take on what a great pool room should be and should offer to the players.
The one I was most impressed with was a place called Cafe Billiards in NC. It was a historic building with high ceilings (like 25'), nice chandeliers and about 15 or 16 9' antique tables along with an antique championship table with incredibly tight pockets. Sadly it was in an incredibly crummy neighborhood, has been sold, bought and re-sold and is nowhere near the pool hall it was when I moved here 14 years ago.
Shooters
The best poolhall that I can think of is Shooters in Olatha Ks.
I have not been to many big pool halls but of the one's I have been to
Shooters In Ks. and Big Dog Billiards in Iowa really stand out .
Of my personal favorites is Miller Time Billiards in Davenport Iowa its a great place . They have nine footers / 8 footers / 7 footers and a snooker table . On the weekends you can always find a friendly ring game or a golf game on the snooker table . The place in owned and ran by Terry & Patty and their sons . They have a kitchen that serves great food and pizza that everyone talks about ! They run weekly tournaments and specials for example the Wednesday special is $5 play all you want . Lots of people show up for for this and there is no shortage of willing opponents to practice with .
Hope to see you there !
Happy Holidays Every One !
Larry
The best poolhall that I can think of is Shooters in Olatha Ks.
I have not been to many big pool halls but of the one's I have been to
Shooters In Ks. and Big Dog Billiards in Iowa really stand out .
Of my personal favorites is Miller Time Billiards in Davenport Iowa its a great place . They have nine footers / 8 footers / 7 footers and a snooker table . On the weekends you can always find a friendly ring game or a golf game on the snooker table . The place in owned and ran by Terry & Patty and their sons . They have a kitchen that serves great food and pizza that everyone talks about ! They run weekly tournaments and specials for example the Wednesday special is $5 play all you want . Lots of people show up for for this and there is no shortage of willing opponents to practice with .
Hope to see you there !
Happy Holidays Every One !
Larry
Chris's Billiards in Chicago has the real feel of the movie the Hustler. Lots of options to choose from, upstairs. No pinball, no dartboards, just pool mr. Red Shoes is a great place as well. Always a few pros walking around looking for games. good owners who run a good business and there is always action. .
Dagwoodz said:
It has to be either Eddies classic billiards in stockton ca or hardtimes in sacramento ca
If you're talking about a "players room", many top players like QMasters in VA and STAR Paper PoolRoom in manila, Philippines.
Both have superb equipment and treat players well
Both have superb equipment and treat players well
Shooters in Olathe.
Diamond billiards club - Louisville KY - 2 9' diamond, 12 diamond barboxes - best atmosphere of any room around and the best players IMO
Louisville biliards club - Louisville KY - 10 9' diamonds ~25 or so diamond barboxes
The bank shot - louisville ky - 12 9' diamonds...snooker table and a 4-5 gold crowns
Louisville biliards club - Louisville KY - 10 9' diamonds ~25 or so diamond barboxes
The bank shot - louisville ky - 12 9' diamonds...snooker table and a 4-5 gold crowns
Shooters in Olathe
Although it has only been open for about a year, Diamond Billiards in Cape Coral, Florida is all you could ever want in a pool hall. 13 Diamond 9-foot tables and 8 Diamond 7-foot tables. Full-service, elevated bar and cocktail area. Food is excellent and very inexpensive. Owners James and Ward are constantly working to make it an even better place. Ask anyone who has been there, it is a great place. This is a players room and action is very welcome. Lastly, Billiards Digest just named it the best new room in the United States.
bob c
bob c