What's the difference between a spectator chair and a regular bar or kitchen stool?

NewFloridian

NewFloridian

New member
We're new pool table owners (a beautiful 12-year-old Connelly!) so please forgive the newbie question... From what I can tell, the seat height for purpose-built pool spectator chairs is 25-33". A standard bar-height stool has a 30" seat height. Instead of paying $450-900 for a "spectator chair", why not get some bar stools for a lot less? The upside of the bar stools is that they usually swivel, which would make it easier to follow the action. The downside of the bar stools is that they don't include cupholders or a notch for a cue stick (but if it is truly just a notch in the wood, maybe that could be added to a non-swivel bar stool and is a simple notch in the wood secure enough for a valuable cue stick? Would you leave a Dennis Searing cue in a spectator chair notch?)

If the answer is "You have to have spectator chairs", what is the best seat height to select? And what are some good brands/sources? We live in South Florida (Jupiter).

Thanks in advance for any advice!
 
Thanks to everyone who has answered so far. It is tough to know what the right height is because we won't have the chairs/stools in our living room until we buy them. So I'd be grateful to find out what has worked best for others. It is also tough to get something comfortable because most of the sources are mail order so it is tough to know what is actually comfy.
 
26.5" seat height on mine.

Dimensions -
30.5" W
21" D
44" H

Brunswick Contender Spectator Chair
Brunswick Contender.png
 
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NewFloridian said:
We're new pool table owners (a beautiful 12-year-old Connelly!) so please forgive the newbie question... From what I can tell, the seat height for purpose-built pool spectator chairs is 25-33". A standard bar-height stool has a 30" seat height. Instead of paying $450-900 for a "spectator chair", why not get some bar stools for a lot less? The upside of the bar stools is that they usually swivel, which would make it easier to follow the action. The downside of the bar stools is that they don't include cupholders or a notch for a cue stick (but if it is truly just a notch in the wood, maybe that could be added to a non-swivel bar stool and is a simple notch in the wood secure enough for a valuable cue stick? Would you leave a Dennis Searing cue in a spectator chair notch?)

If the answer is "You have to have spectator chairs", what is the best seat height to select? And what are some good brands/sources? We live in South Florida (Jupiter).

Thanks in advance for any advice!
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The higher the height of the chair seat, the better you can see the action on the pool table. Spectator chairs have arms, a backrest and usually have a foot rest. Good ones have two levels of support bracing between the seat and the bottom of the legs. What is nice is a two chair unit with a connecting small table between the 2 chairs for placing drinks, etc.

The best US made spectator chairs were made by a company called Renaissance Wood Products, located in the Louisville area, which went out of business at least 15 years ago. We still have all our original Renaissance spectator wood slatted seat and backrest chairs ordered 26 years ago when we opened, and they are all still in great shape - one of the best purchases we ever made for our poolroom.
 
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Depending on how long your spectators are going to be sitting, you need back and arm support. If not sitting long, 30" stools work. BTW, bar stools work for a bar because the customers at least have arm support-- the bartop.
 
ChrisinNC said:
The best US made spectator chairs were made by a company called Renaissance Wood Products, located in the Louisville area, which went out of business at least 15 years ago. We still have all our original Renaissance spectator wood slat seat chairs ordered 26 years ago when we opened, and they are all still in great shape - one of the best purchases we ever made for our poolroom.
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So sad that craftmanship was not enough to ensure success. Do you know the seat height on your chairs?
 
NewFloridian said:
We're new pool table owners (a beautiful 12-year-old Connelly!) so please forgive the newbie question... From what I can tell, the seat height for purpose-built pool spectator chairs is 25-33". A standard bar-height stool has a 30" seat height. Instead of paying $450-900 for a "spectator chair", why not get some bar stools for a lot less? The upside of the bar stools is that they usually swivel, which would make it easier to follow the action. The downside of the bar stools is that they don't include cupholders or a notch for a cue stick (but if it is truly just a notch in the wood, maybe that could be added to a non-swivel bar stool and is a simple notch in the wood secure enough for a valuable cue stick? Would you leave a Dennis Searing cue in a spectator chair notch?)

If the answer is "You have to have spectator chairs", what is the best seat height to select? And what are some good brands/sources? We live in South Florida (Jupiter).

Thanks in advance for any advice!
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If you're playing better folks, get a spectator chair. Solid built, large arms to get comfy and work out kinks if you have pains. Ergo comfort. All while learning and waiting for your turn.

If you're running the table on your competition, make them stand or sit on a thumb tack. ;) 🤣

In all seriousness, they are very comfy/ergonomic and a nice thing to set in while getting serious about pool. Super strong construction, a place to sit your diet Dr. Pepper and your cue. You get a good view of the action. More enjoyable than guessing what the hell they are up to at rail level from 8 feet away.

Spectator chairs are for all people who find pool entertaining and beautiful.
 
buckshotshoey said:
How handy are you? I've seen some home built chairs out of pine that look pretty damn good. Functional too.
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Imagine the sloppiest factory worker in China. Then subtract 20 IQ points and 80 percent of that worker's skill. The result would be me! (Separately, the pool table is in our living room and is the first thing that people will see when they come into the house. So the stools or official spectator chairs have to look at least reasonable.)
 
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Don’t get anything too soft, when you play long sessions soft chairs can wear you out. Like padded carpet. Comfortable but kinda firm is best.

Stickley brand are old school pool chairs from 100 years ago. There are lots of styles, other brands too. I have some Diamond chairs that are good. Brunswick are garbage(bad wood-Chinese trash)

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Stickley spectator chairs

45DC1A52-DF24-466E-9320-D6EA592B258E.jpeg


Gives you a general idea of good sweater and player chairs. The height isn’t much of a issue. A couple inches either way isn’t a big deal. Standing up from something too soft is a issue for playing. For spectators only then it don’t matter.
 
NewFloridian said:
We're new pool table owners (a beautiful 12-year-old Connelly!) so please forgive the newbie question... From what I can tell, the seat height for purpose-built pool spectator chairs is 25-33". A standard bar-height stool has a 30" seat height. Instead of paying $450-900 for a "spectator chair", why not get some bar stools for a lot less? The upside of the bar stools is that they usually swivel, which would make it easier to follow the action. The downside of the bar stools is that they don't include cupholders or a notch for a cue stick (but if it is truly just a notch in the wood, maybe that could be added to a non-swivel bar stool and is a simple notch in the wood secure enough for a valuable cue stick? Would you leave a Dennis Searing cue in a spectator chair notch?)

If the answer is "You have to have spectator chairs", what is the best seat height to select? And what are some good brands/sources? We live in South Florida (Jupiter).

Thanks in advance for any advice!
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I have the diamond chair set. They are well built for sure and have a cue holder integrated in the side of each chair which is convenient. I like the center shelf for my speaker. You do sit up tall and straight. If I was to do it over again I have seen some old barber style chairs that are recovered and look awesome. They look like they have tons of padding. These would be a lot more comfortable imho. Current chairs I have do help complete the "diamond look" with the table and light though. Shop around for different styles. If you can find something local that will be a lot cheaper than shipping something.
 

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I have a couple cheaper spectator chairs and some old barber chairs. The barber chairs are nice because you can adjust the height, and they're quite comfortable
 
Spectator chairs have a wide built in foot rest, so it feels like you are sitting in a regular chair, rather than a bar stool. This is much more comfortable when sitting for long periods. You get the best of both worlds, a comfortable seat, but also a birds eye vantage point for watching the table. I don't use spectator chairs. I have tall bar height arm chairs with appropriate height foot stools in front of them, to make them more comfortable.
 
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