Places to Play in Edmonton?

Sarnia Shorty

Sarnia Shorty

He's going to the bag
Silver Member
Well I just got the call and I am going back to work in Edmonton for the next 3 or 4 months.

Can anyone tell me where the players shoot there? I was there a couple years ago and everyone played at the Cue Club but I have since heard that place closed. I am looking for weekly tournaments and good table to practice on.

Thanks,

Shorty
 
Sadly, the pool scene in Edmonton is pretty much crap at the moment. You can play at the Metro(downtown), the Highrun club(south east side) or at Shark's in Spruce Grove. As for tournaments, unless you're into bar box stuff at the H2O Lounge or the Whistlestop, there really isn't much to be had.

There is a new place on Whyte avenue as well called The Rack but I've never been there so I can't give an accurate review. It's owned by the same group that owns a bunch of night clubs in town and judging by their ads it's not a place for real players.
 
Alright thanks. I played at both Metro and the Highrun Club when I was there a few years back. Both were nice places but there were no players there. I have also played in the bar box tourny at H2O and it was pretty good.

I was curious where all the shooters hang out now that Cue Club is closed.
 
That's the problem now, since the Cue went broke all the best players have pretty much retired. The occasional league night you may find them out at a local pub playing barbox (wednesday is open league night) but other than that they are hard to find. Unless you arrange a match somewhere, I'd expect that wherever you go you won't find any real players.
 
I worked up there last summer and did not find anywhere to play. Driving by the Cue Club was depressing since the place is actually still vacant and has the signs.

I worked kiddie corner from Capillano Mall, the pool hall there I am guessing is High Run? Very rarely did I see a player in there, the occasional decent player in there to shoot some snooker.

Edmonton might actually be worse of a scene then Calgary atm, and that is really saying something because the scene down here is pretty dismal as well.
 
That is pretty sad to hear. When I was there they were getting 50+ players at the weekly tournament. Tons of guys that could really shoot some pool. Oh well, I'll post on here when I get there but I think i will be playing at the High Run Club, hopefully I can find someone to practice with.
 
The Highrun is my choice. It has nice tight pockets and I have seen decent players on Thursday nights (2$/hr per person after 7:00). They host tourneys Sunday: 8-ball @ 2:00/ 9-ball @ 6:00?. I would post videos of the play there, but the first time I started shooting video I was told to stop. Nice way to promote the place, eh.

To be clear, I was taping my own table for review when told to stop. Always get consent when filming someone else.
 
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I have played there a few times, I did like the tables they had. It all depends on where my office puts me up for the stay.
 
I reconmend.

I reconmend the Highrun and the Metro because the price is right and the tables are good.I also reconmend Finnagans Bistro Bar and Billiards and maybe the tables arent as good as the other to pool halls but atlease they are better the Eds Rec Room (West Edmonton Mall) and also better then the gateway.I am hoping to see more tournaments in Edmonton.I also herd of a tournament over at the Highrun Club startin at 2:00 P.M and one at 7:30 at the Whistlestop Bar to.
 
The Metro is where a lot of the old Q-club guys are hanging out......best food and service in town, brunswick tables with championship tour edition cloth.

High run has some tournaments,
All in all, not much for non-league pool in E-Town for the moment
 
cuejo said:
The Metro is where a lot of the old Q-club guys are hanging out......best food and service in town, brunswick tables with championship tour edition cloth.

High run has some tournaments,
All in all, not much for non-league pool in E-Town for the moment
Click to expand...

Does Joey from New York still run that place?
Mark
 
Hey Mark,

Yes, Joe still owns/runs the metro and he's done a good job of keeping it fresh. Unfortunately, it's not really a players room because he caters to the downtown business/school crowd. The food is generally very good but the tables(other than the metro in the back room) are way too close together and have obstructions in multiple spots caused by pillars, chairs, rails, etc.

Cheers,
Todd
 
haha, I didn't know Joey was from New York. His accent must be totally Canadianized.

I have to say, him and his staff have bent over backwards to accomodate me and my circle of friends.

We're treated like his best customers even though I doubt we bring him a very significant amount of business.
 
SpinDoctor said:
Hey Mark,

Yes, Joe still owns/runs the metro and he's done a good job of keeping it fresh. Unfortunately, it's not really a players room because he caters to the downtown business/school crowd. The food is generally very good but the tables(other than the metro in the back room) are way too close together and have obstructions in multiple spots caused by pillars, chairs, rails, etc.

Cheers,
Todd
Click to expand...


Hey Todd,
Sounds like it has never changed since day one. On a similar note, I thought a bunch of the top players in town were going to put some money together and open a place. Is that a rumor? I think I heard that the last time I talked to Thornton which was a few years back...
Mark
 
supergreenman said:
haha, I didn't know Joey was from New York. His accent must be totally Canadianized.

I have to say, him and his staff have bent over backwards to accomodate me and my circle of friends.

We're treated like his best customers even though I doubt we bring him a very significant amount of business.
Click to expand...

I guess you didn't know him when he first opened the place? He sure had his ascent back then. Plus, he always talked about how he used to play with George "Ginky" San Souci.
 
"Popeye" said:
Hey Todd,
Sounds like it has never changed since day one. On a similar note, I thought a bunch of the top players in town were going to put some money together and open a place. Is that a rumor? I think I heard that the last time I talked to Thornton which was a few years back...
Mark
Click to expand...

Lots of talk, not much action. I heard a couple guys were going to reopen the Q but there are issues with the terms of the lease(and a delusional landlord) and city licensing because the place has had non-stop sewer issues since early on. With the current price of land, it seems highly unlikely that anything substantial will open anytime soon that has any real focus on pool as opposed to being a bar/restaraunt with tables in it.

The best alternatives in town now are the Metro, the Highrun and Sharks in Spruce Grove. Sharks recently did a major renovation and made a mistake that most non-pool owners do, they paid far too much for garbage tables from some unknown manufacturer instead of listening to boatloads of advice from those of us who have been around this game for ages. The tables are ~6 mos. old and already play like crap not to mention the splitting wood on the legs.
 
SpinDoctor said:
Lots of talk, not much action. I heard a couple guys were going to reopen the Q but there are issues with the terms of the lease(and a delusional landlord) and city licensing because the place has had non-stop sewer issues since early on. With the current price of land, it seems highly unlikely that anything substantial will open anytime soon that has any real focus on pool as opposed to being a bar/restaraunt with tables in it.

The best alternatives in town now are the Metro, the Highrun and Sharks in Spruce Grove. Sharks recently did a major renovation and made a mistake that most non-pool owners do, they paid far too much for garbage tables from some unknown manufacturer instead of listening to boatloads of advice from those of us who have been around this game for ages. The tables are ~6 mos. old and already play like crap not to mention the splitting wood on the legs.
Click to expand...

Sad to hear about Sharks. Seems like every new place down here has Diamonds. I can't complain. I have one too. At least you have a big qualifier tourney coming soon for Vegas. On that note, why isn't there much BCA action in Edmonton? Every year I go, I see maybe two or three people I know from Edmonton. I hope Edmonton becomes the pool Mecca it was in the past. Keep in touch.
Mark
 
Hey Thwaites,
I thought Joey was from Vermont...........
At any rate I was talking with him the other day, there are going to be talks about having tourneys on mon and wed nights after league season is over............

the last I heard of a new room opening was the other day from a triple e leauge member, wants to open a 50 table room.......
sounds a lot ambitious to me :)
 
cuejo said:
the last I heard of a new room opening was the other day from a triple e leauge member, wants to open a 50 table room.......
sounds a lot ambitious to me :)
Click to expand...

Wow 50 tables.... that does sound ambitious. Then again I was at highrun last night and I couldn't find a parking spot and there wasn't an empty table.

That might have had something to do with St. Pattys day but I've noticed a lot more traffic through the existing halls these days.
 
I've noticed it is getting busier for the rooms in tne last little bit too.

I think a 16-20 table room woould do well......50 tables is a huge place to keep full!

Darcy
 
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