UK - places to play

[Flakeandrun]

I'm considering moving back to the UK, and am just wondering whether there was a guide for places that actually have tables? Like some kind of reference list? I am not expecting to be able to play daily like I can here, but I am curious.

In Cornwall, there is only snooker, which I grew up playing. Ideally, I don't want to live anywhere else on that shitbox island than Cornwall (Kernow bys Vyken!).
Anyone want to go in on starting a Pool Hall with me there...?

I have next to no interest at all in English 8-ball, but love 8/9/10 ball, 14.1 etc on the American tables (Chinese 8 is a damn fun game also).

I am also considering other places I can work, as really I still haven't earned enough to live comfortably where I am from. So might end up in Taiwan, Korea, Thailand, possibly South America some place, given the current nature of business. All I know is that I am absolutely fed up of working for my current employer...

 

[Bob Jewett]

... In Cornwall, there is only snooker, which I grew up playing. Ideally, I don't want to live anywhere else on that shitbox island than Cornwall (Kernow bys Vyken!).
...

Well, it may be the deepest part of the shitbox, but London has not only American pool tables but also carom tables (at least two). It also has lots of Matchroom pool events. One way to find American tables is to look where the GB 9-ball tour has events.

 

[Flakeandrun]

Well, it may be the deepest part of the shitbox, but London has not only American pool tables but also carom tables (at least two). It also has lots of Matchroom pool events. One way to find American tables is to look where the GB 9-ball tour has events.

That's the epicentre of the shitbox, the proverbial 'hole' that stains everything 'British' and leaves the bad smell

Had a cursory glance at their site. Hope it develops/improves and will keep an eye on it. I might try and contact them directly perhaps. I'd love to know more, or enter a few (if my calendar aligns). It's just a fortune to get and stay there if I were to go home and live. Maybe I can try and line up summer travel plans with some of the dates.

Been pestering some places I know pretty hard to get some American tables more locally to the South-west.

It's 4+ hours just to find a table. Pretty depressing stuff. One of the reasons I put up with all the bullshit with work and where I am now, is that I can at least engage in the leisure pursuits that I enjoy quite conveniently.

 

[sorin]

If you insist on living in the sticks then probably won't find any decent clubs with American tables. Why not put a table at home? I imagine you can get a house with a big garden and build a man cave. That's what I did. All the best places are in London I am afraid.

 

[Cue Alchemist]

I'm considering moving back to the UK, and am just wondering whether there was a guide for places that actually have tables? Like some kind of reference list? I am not expecting to be able to play daily like I can here, but I am curious.

In Cornwall, there is only snooker, which I grew up playing. Ideally, I don't want to live anywhere else on that shitbox island than Cornwall (Kernow bys Vyken!).
Anyone want to go in on starting a Pool Hall with me there...?

I have next to no interest at all in English 8-ball, but love 8/9/10 ball, 14.1 etc on the American tables (Chinese 8 is a damn fun game also).

I am also considering other places I can work, as really I still haven't earned enough to live comfortably where I am from. So might end up in Taiwan, Korea, Thailand, possibly South America some place, given the current nature of business. All I know is that I am absolutely fed up of working for my current employer...

Where abouts are you thinking of living if you move back? Over the last 15 years I've played pool all over the uk. Im not into playing english 8 ball or snooker. But if you know where to look, there is american pool out there. Its no where near, what it was. with nearly all the rileys clubs, going out of business, some where taken over by the all stars brand. Most closed down. I live in devon, which is not far, from where your from. I use to have to travel an hour and a half to exeter for a game. In the end, like one of poster suggested.i found a place big enough to put a table.

But as far playing in the clubs, one of the biggest is in birmingham. The all stars in Bristol is another one, thay got a nice rasson table. With some sam k steels. Lester has a rileys too. Not been to london in a long while. But i know there is clubs in Victoria and the hurricane rooms in st Albans. Thats some of the ones i know of.

As i said, if you know where to look, thay are out there. With the big rise in english 8 ball there isn't as much, as there once was. Most players have gone back to playing 8 ball.

 

[jokrswylde]

It's 4+ hours just to find a table. Pretty depressing stuff. One of the reasons I put up with all the bullshit with work and where I am now, is that I can at least engage in the leisure pursuits that I enjoy quite conveniently.

One of the smartest mentors I ever knew once told me, whatever you do, remember that you Work so that you can Live...you never Live so that you can Work.

Just something to consider if you like where you live in every way except work...

 

[Flakeandrun]

If you insist on living in the sticks than probably won't find any decent clubs with American tables. Why not put a table at home? I imagine you can get a house with a big garden and build a man cave. That's what I did. All the best places are in London I am afraid.

A lovely dream to have

 

[Flakeandrun]

Where abouts are you thinking of living if you move back? Over the last 15 years I've played pool all over the uk. Im not into playing english 8 ball or snooker. But if you know where to look, there is american pool out there. Its no where near, what it was. with nearly all the rileys clubs, going out of business, some where taken over by the all stars brand. Most closed down. I live in devon, which is not far, from where your from. I use to have to travel an hour and a half to exeter for a game. In the end, like one of poster suggested.i found a place big enough to put a table.

But as far playing in the clubs, one of the biggest is in birmingham. The all stars in Bristol is another one, thay got a nice rasson table. With some sam k steels. Lester has a rileys too. Not been to london in a long while. But i know there is clubs in Victoria and the hurricane rooms in st Albans. Thats some of the ones i know of.

As i said, if you know where to look, thay are out there. With the big rise in english 8 ball there isn't as much, as there once was. Most players have gone back to playing 8 ball.

Thanks for the detailed reply! Really helpful.
Was kind of hoping with the MR push that there might be a few more clubs with American tables around.
Incredibly jealous you can afford a house, let alone one big enough to put a table! That's awesome.
If I moved back, I would only consider Cornwall. It's where I'm from, and who I am. At a push, Plymouth is liveable (minus the wannabe 'roadmen' ballied up on their little e-bikes, and the fact Devoners think Ginster's are a legit pasty lol)
I'd like to find a club, similar to the one I've found here. That has a team, community and regular competitions to be honest. I wouldn't mind travelling to play if it was as part of a team, or for a club.
I don't mind watching English 8-ball, but to play, it's such an uninspired drag of a game (imo I know others dead set on it)

If you fancy a game over Christmas, or Summer, welcome to DM me
Again, appreciate your reply!

 

[Cue Alchemist]

Thanks for the detailed reply! Really helpful.
Was kind of hoping with the MR push that there might be a few more clubs with American tables around.
Incredibly jealous you can afford a house, let alone one big enough to put a table! That's awesome.
If I moved back, I would only consider Cornwall. It's where I'm from, and who I am. At a push, Plymouth is liveable (minus the wannabe 'roadmen' ballied up on their little e-bikes, and the fact Devoners think Ginster's are a legit pasty lol)
I'd like to find a club, similar to the one I've found here. That has a team, community and regular competitions to be honest. I wouldn't mind travelling to play if it was as part of a team, or for a club.
I don't mind watching English 8-ball, but to play, it's such an uninspired drag of a game (imo I know others dead set on it)

If you fancy a game over Christmas, or Summer, welcome to DM me
Again, appreciate your reply!

If you move back let me know, the only thing that was keeping pool alive.was the gb9 tour. It brought everyone who was serious together, from all over the uk. Matchroom are more for promoting 9 ball globally. I know Plymouth did have a small rileys club, a long time ago. I would imagine that one, is long gone. English 8 ball is real popular down here. Hardly anyone plays american. The guys i know, have there own table set up. My closest tournament are one day events, which are 600 mile round trip.
If your serious, you got to do some traveling

 

[Flakeandrun]

If you move back let me know, the only thing that was keeping pool alive.was the gb9 tour. It brought everyone who was serious together, from all over the uk. Matchroom are more for promoting 9 ball globally. I know Plymouth did have a small rileys club, a long time ago. I would imagine that one, is long gone. English 8 ball is real popular down here. Hardly anyone plays american. The guys i know, have there own table set up. My closest tournament are one day events, which are 600 mile round trip.
If your serious, you got to do some traveling

Is the Gb9 still running? Most of the UK related 9ball stuff is filtered on my work intranet... so will have a look when I go home. I met a couple of players from the UK during the recent China Open (had a few frames and learned a lot). They were all playing out of London.
I am not really a fan of the monopoly on cuesports, and the tit for tat that comes with it. Exposure is great, but it's exposure for certain people/narratives etc ...but I do see MR involvement quite positively at the moment with regard to uniformity and standardisation of 9ball. Similar initiative with 10ball, straight pool etc would be cool.

I managed to get home for the first time in 4 years this summer, and the only American table I could find was in Plymouth, in one of those places that has bowling, axe throwing and bar games (can't remember it's name). Didn't find a specific club. The only place I'd been to in Plymouth before that, for any cue sport, was called the Victoria (I think?), for some snooker tournaments in my teens.

Would the guys you know consider setting up a league out of their home tables/are they local to SW? (I am familiar with ridiculous travel times being Cornish lol)
I would love to start a club, and looked at a few places/spaces in Cornwall when I was back. Would love to make some small business opportunity doing something I love. But rents, and available space, sourcing tables etc - the cost would be astronomical (even if I can find a lot of good import/export opportunities here in China for materials)

 

[vjmehra]

Is the Gb9 still running? Most of the UK related 9ball stuff is filtered on my work intranet... so will have a look when I go home. I met a couple of players from the UK during the recent China Open (had a few frames and learned a lot). They were all playing out of London.
I am not really a fan of the monopoly on cuesports, and the tit for tat that comes with it. Exposure is great, but it's exposure for certain people/narratives etc ...but I do see MR involvement quite positively at the moment with regard to uniformity and standardisation of 9ball. Similar initiative with 10ball, straight pool etc would be cool.

I managed to get home for the first time in 4 years this summer, and the only American table I could find was in Plymouth, in one of those places that has bowling, axe throwing and bar games (can't remember it's name). Didn't find a specific club. The only place I'd been to in Plymouth before that, for any cue sport, was called the Victoria (I think?), for some snooker tournaments in my teens.

Would the guys you know consider setting up a league out of their home tables/are they local to SW? (I am familiar with ridiculous travel times being Cornish lol)
I would love to start a club, and looked at a few places/spaces in Cornwall when I was back. Would love to make some small business opportunity doing something I love. But rents, and available space, sourcing tables etc - the cost would be astronomical (even if I can find a lot of good import/export opportunities here in China for materials)

GB9 is still running (or rather is re-starting next year), but all the events are being played in Bradford, so not really ideal for you!

There is also the UK 9-Ball Tour (not sure if they have a webpage, but there is a Facebook group), which is a tour run in clubs, rather than hotels.

Not sure where the locations are, but I suspect closer to London than you would like unfortunately.

Whilst the professional game is definitely on the up for all cuesports it seems, due to high rents it is becoming harder and harder for amateurs to play.

 

[Cue Alchemist]

GB9 is still running (or rather is re-starting next year), but all the events are being played in Bradford, so not really ideal for you!

There is also the UK 9-Ball Tour (not sure if they have a webpage, but there is a Facebook group), which is a tour run in clubs, rather than hotels.

Not sure where the locations are, but I suspect closer to London than you would like unfortunately.

Whilst the professional game is definitely on the up for all cuesports it seems, due to high rents it is becoming harder and harder for amateurs to play.

Yeah its been strange year, with out it. We all knew though. Last year was going to be it, for a while. There has been a couple of other tours still going. One in Scotland been running events all year. And ones in Birmingham. And the total 9 ball is still going also. (I think its still called that)
It seems to be more in the uk, you have small pockets of players. Few of us have to travel some. But it just depends where in the country, you end up playing.

 

[Flakeandrun]

Yeah its been strange year, with out it. We all knew though. Last year was going to be it, for a while. There has been a couple of other tours still going. One in Scotland been running events all year. And ones in Birmingham. And the total 9 ball is still going also. (I think its still called that)
It seems to be more in the uk, you have small pockets of players. Few of us have to travel some. But it just depends where in the country, you end up playing.

Ok, will bear that in mind, and do a little digging around prior to visiting or returning. Thanks for all the info. Really helpful.

 

[Flakeandrun]

GB9 is still running (or rather is re-starting next year), but all the events are being played in Bradford, so not really ideal for you!

There is also the UK 9-Ball Tour (not sure if they have a webpage, but there is a Facebook group), which is a tour run in clubs, rather than hotels.

Not sure where the locations are, but I suspect closer to London than you would like unfortunately.

Whilst the professional game is definitely on the up for all cuesports it seems, due to high rents it is becoming harder and harder for amateurs to play.

Thanks for this info. Will try and have a look on FB, might have to make a new account, as it's not something I really use all that often living where I am right now. This is probably the same series/events that I was chatting to some of the UK players who travelled here about.

I don't mind doing the odd bit of travel for tourneys or money games, but having a place to practice regularly would be needed to want to put that time into travelling.