How prevalent are bar boxes outside the US?

W

wontonny

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Just wondering if I were to stroll into a bar or other fine establishment, would I see a valley/7ft coin operated table in the venue. Where have you seen one outside the US?

Edit - Forgot to add that in the UK English Blackball is very widely played so that doesn't need to be said. I'm mainly asking what's the minimum sized table non-US countries seem to be most prevalent.
 
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When I was in Korea,most of the bars right off base had free pool on ball-return bar boxes. The few times I saw a table in a bar away from base,it was a bar box.Not sure about the pool halls, but billiards is more common over there than pool.
 
i'm in germany at the moment, since 2006 I have spent over a year here all added up, probably 15 months. I play more pool here sometimes than in the States, especially this past year.

I have never seen a american BB in any spot in Germany, there was the small casino's with 10 video poker/slot machines all around the train station in Munich. There must be 10 of those kind of joints, most of then "Had" signe up that read "snooker" or "Pool" or "Billiards". Last August I went into one place that had 3 tables all 9', they were laying on their sides in the back-gone forever, new owners of the gambling joints-I noticed most were getting remodeled. I went to another one it had what looked like home made tables, dead serious looked like someone with the saw's and lumber built the tables, they took tokens of some sort and showed their age, had to be from the 60's or 70's. they were well worn from lots of play years ago. They looked to be 7to8 feet, hard to say as they didnt look like anything i ever saw-ever. They were dusty when I found them, I got steered to another Casino a few blocks from the Central train Station on the 3rd floor was 2 or 3 tables that were almost impossible to find they were in the addict, they looked to be 8'. I think they were hourly.

I'm in Cologne now and in the past 4 days i been to 3 spots, one private club(very nice) it has all 9' tables, went to another room that had counterfeit Gold Crown 3's, they looked great but wow the cushions were trash. Nice room and again great people. then I went to my normal spot here "Crazy Ball" It has 5 or 6 9' tables and one 8' home style table thats seen better days, great little room. I really like that spot.

I been to a couple rooms in Thailand and dont recall any BB's I played snooker,

Been to Africa-SA and Zim and NEVER saw a table period. In SA I was in Pretoria and Sandton, I am sure there must be a spot to play however i didnt look.

In Israel I seen snooker tables in the lobby of 2 different hotels.

played in many rooms all over Mexico and sont recall any 7' tables*this was many years ago-most recent was in 99 and for sure there was no small tables). there could have been in puerto vallarta but its been 18 or 19 years since I played there, seems like there was one the kids were playing on. all real bad equipment.

nothing in Jamica or Rio that I can recall

and yes seen lots of red's & yellow's (or what ever ther proper name is in the UK)

best

eric:)
 
I was playing Golf at Saint Andrews a few years back--one of my freinds relayed to my caddie that I played a bit of billairds back when--after the round--we took off to where the help goes for a Pint, and there were 6 bar boxes in the Pub--the pockets were narrow and cut like snooker pockets with standard size balls--bit of getting used to--but after a while I had to go easy on them--The snooker tables in the basement of the Royal Saint Andrews Hotel acroos the street from the Golf Course was different--first time I ever saw a 6 X 12 table-(They are Damn Huge)-wing shot made on the first throw--made no more after that one for awhile though--I was agast
 
Non existence here....in fact I never heard or known anything smaller than 9ft tables, I learned what they are from the US streams then learned that they are called Bar tables, Oh I live in Asia.
 
What kind of cue did you take with you to Germany Eric?
I hope you're not using a crappy German made cue.
You know how crappy the Germans make things. Cars, lathes etc.
 
I played on a valley 7' in the Bahamas in an open bar just off the ocean. It was a "touch" damp from the humidity.
 
Never saw one in 19 years in Japan except for a few of the bars right outside Yokosuka Navy Base, so I would assume that the only bar boxes in Japan were in bars primarily for US military folks.

dave
 
You're right Dave, the only bar boxes I've ever seen in Japan were at a bar in Okinawa.
 
I heard from a friend that there is a place somewhere in Kanto, I think it was Yokohama, that is trying to popularize UK style barboxes in Japan.
 
Araha billiards

I just put ridgeback rails on a BB for my pool hall. Mines not the only one in Okinawa but its only 1of 2 ( poolhalljunkie has the other 1 on base) that's up to stanndard. Most Japanese pros here have never played on one.
 
Mannheim Germany had at least three bars with BB (Dynamo and Valley Cougar) back in the early 90s...they catered to U.S. servicemen, so...two REALLY nice pool halls there with Brunswick GC 9 footers...one of them had Gabriel billiard tables and Riley snooker tables, too. Never saw a U.S. BB in the UK, all were British 8 ball/skittles tables. Here in Nicosia, Cyprus I've played on at least 4 BB in various bars, all Valley Cougar. Everything else are Brunswick (GC or Metro), Buffalo and even a few Oldhausen home tables. Greece has mostly 9 footers (GC) and billiard tables ("French Billiards" as they call it). Fair number of snooker tables. Never saw a BB there. Italy had BB around in a few places, but mostly places that catered to U.S. servicemen.
 
PETROBOY said:
What part of Canada are you from? Im from the east coast and we have alot of 8 foot barboxes but I haven't seen any 7 footers.
Click to expand...

This brings up an interesting point, I was always under the impression that a 7 foot table was considered a barbox and not an 8 foot table. Am I wrong or is any table in a bar a barbox? I don't mind playing on 8 foot tables but when they get to 7 foot they just seem like a toy and not a pool table.
 
Blue Hog ridr said:
What kind of cue did you take with you to Germany Eric?
I hope you're not using a crappy German made cue.
You know how crappy the Germans make things. Cars, lathes etc.
Click to expand...


dont those German's make the worst stuff ever??? Go China!!!


I brought my Boar with me, I started binging it here 2 or 3 trips ago. I hate to check it @ baggage but so far (knock wood) its made it, next trip it will be a carry on. yay!!!

I have one weakness in pool, if i'm not playing with the cue im used to at any given time I play about the 5 ball back of my normal game, its that bad. And I dont like it, I have tried to fix that for years, no chance:frown:.

It is very cold here for this time of year, it was snowing in London when I left there 4-5 days ago, here its raining, almost snowing probably 35-40 outside. So i been inside and playing pool, took last nite off. I think i'm going to play again tonight.

I'm in Koln for a few more days then off to Munich for a while,

hope your well,
Best,
eric :)
 
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In Romania, there are few barboxes, and only in bars or disco bars. Pool halls usually have mainly 9'' tables., an couple of 8''.
 
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