| Author |
empty tables??? |
|
stuthecue
Just popping in
Joined: 18-Mar-2006
Posts: 13
|
Posted: 2008-01-25 16:50
I noticed a few comments last week about how many empty tables there were in the clubs when the Forum guys were practicing, both snooker and pool. This is a trend I have noticed myself over the last couple of years.
Do the rest of you guys have any comments?
|
|
TonyDavid
Home away from home
Joined: 17-Apr-2006
Posts: 565
From: Cambridgeshire
|
Posted: 2008-01-25 17:51
I agree Stu. i started playing snooker in a club where it was hard enough to get a table in the day time, let alone at night when they were all booked. its probably down to the quality of home entertainment these days, people dont wanna go out. Mind you I would rather have a free day in with my Playstation 3 than pay money to practice pool (oops! I just gave away the real reason I never practice lol!)
I also looked into buying a snooker club but the books showed how business had dropped. I am sure others have noticed too.
|
|
Pool-Ace
Home away from home
Joined: 04-May-2006
Posts: 174
|
Posted: 2008-01-25 21:35
I think that pool and snooker clubs in general need to look at what they're charging for the tables. Surely it's better to get the punters through the door with cheap prices and have a full club that's buzzing rather than an empty one that has no atmosphere and looks like it's going down the pan.
|
|
craig
Home away from home
Joined: 08-Sep-2006
Posts: 247
|
Posted: 2008-01-25 23:37
In sheffield its kinda different. We've got 2 Rileys and 1 independant club. Both Rileys clubs are usually fairly busy but have really,really bad tables. The other club has great tables but is packed pretty much all of the time (they have 12 tables and you can be waiting in the afternoon to get on). Probably the best option for me is to get on the train and go to Barnsley!
|
|
andystoke
Home away from home
Joined: 21-Apr-2006
Posts: 226
|
Posted: 2008-01-26 09:06
Poker is taking over the world.....
|
|
mal_clarke
Home away from home
Joined: 16-Nov-2006
Posts: 286
|
Posted: 2008-01-26 09:41
Snooker clubs don't mind whether its buzzing or not as long as the monies coming in. That's the name of the game. The bar is where they make the money so perhaps slightly better value for money on the tables against getting regular punters in will do the trick.
|
|
stuthecue
Just popping in
Joined: 18-Mar-2006
Posts: 13
|
Posted: 2008-01-26 18:10
Hi guys. Thanks for the response regarding the empty tables and the downturn in club business. To be honest the reason for making this post is because like you Tony, I’m also considering buying a club, but I too have seen the club accounts and they say “Keep Away…..”. My accountant says forget it, but like Craig I just can’t stay away.
You are right Tony. The biggest competitor that snooker clubs have is the Micro chip. What with surfing the net and play stations, the youngsters never go out to meet the game. I am hoping that the GB 9 Tour will breathe some life into the game; I’m sure it will. Let’s hope we will soon be watching GB9 on the telly.
|
|
TonyDavid
Home away from home
Joined: 17-Apr-2006
Posts: 565
From: Cambridgeshire
|
Posted: 2008-01-26 18:23
I hope so too Stu, are you playing on GB9? Its a shame the snooker club business is not what it was. I am on the GB9 and never practice, due to there being no clubs near me and also laziness. I would rather stay in and be entertained for free. Sad but true. Hopefully GB9 will push pool forward to the next level in UK.
|
|
stuthecue
Just popping in
Joined: 18-Mar-2006
Posts: 13
|
Posted: 2008-01-26 19:46
Craig you said there are two Riley Clubs and one independent club in Sheffield and that the independent club has 12 tables and is usually packed all the time. Are you talking of 9ball tables or snooker tables, and where is this club that is always packed. I would like to check it out.
|
|
stuthecue
Just popping in
Joined: 18-Mar-2006
Posts: 13
|
Posted: 2008-01-26 19:59
Tony, you ask if I am on the GB9 Tour; No. The truth is I haven’t played a game in six years. In fact I have played very little at all but I love the game and any other cue game you can mention. After not touching a cue for six years due to personal circumstances, I began popping into different clubs hoping I might get a game, but not only did I never find an opponent, I never even found anyone playing 9ball. I got so frustrated I thought of buying a club for myself, but when I found one for sale there wasn’t a single 9ball table in the joint.
I am sorry to hear you would rather be at home than out clearing the tables. These play stations must be good if they can beat the feeling when you run out from the break.
You say there are no clubs near where you live. Is this some place in England? It might be a good place to start a club.
|
|
TonyDavid
Home away from home
Joined: 17-Apr-2006
Posts: 565
From: Cambridgeshire
|
Posted: 2008-01-26 21:29
Ha ha. You are right there mate. Thats what a friend and I are looking into. Canterbury in Kent is just up the road from me, massive cathedral city, full of students, with nothing to spend there money on. Good potential I think. As for me clearing the tables, I wish I could, I mainly dont practice cos I get too frustrated. You should start in a small way by playing in some of the 9 ball competitions advertised on here. Some are great fun. Be good to see you at one.
|
|
craig
Home away from home
Joined: 08-Sep-2006
Posts: 247
|
Posted: 2008-01-27 00:14
On 2008-01-26 19:46 , stuthecue Wrote:!!! QUOTE !!! Craig you said there are two Riley Clubs and one independent club in Sheffield and that the independent club has 12 tables and is usually packed all the time. Are you talking of 9ball tables or snooker tables, and where is this club that is always packed. I would like to check it out. 9-ball tabels, its more of a bar with pool tables that a true pool hall. if yourwanting to come down to check it out drop me a pm.
|
|
Riggers
Home away from home
Joined: 30-Mar-2006
Posts: 4454
From: Barnsley (centre of the universe)
|
Posted: 2008-01-27 08:30
I presume you mean the common rooms Craig? Nice venue indeed, especially for a night out over a friendly game, but certainly not a true pool hall cos' theirs no action to be had, it's full of students who haven't got the first idea about pool beyond 2 shots carry and as usual there are no decent ball sets. Having said that I still really like the place and it's well worth a visit.
To my knowledge the UK does not have a 'true pool hall' and the nearest you'll get to it is Mickeys, though even that is really more about the loud music and beer drinking (rightly so from a business perspective) than action on the pool tables.
|
|
indiana
Home away from home
Joined: 08-May-2006
Posts: 645
|
Posted: 2008-01-27 11:53
On 2008-01-27 08:30 , Riggers Wrote:!!! QUOTE !!! I presume you mean the common rooms Craig? Nice venue indeed, especially for a night out over a friendly game, but certainly not a true pool hall cos' theirs no action to be had, it's full of students who haven't got the first idea about pool beyond 2 shots carry and as usual there are no decent ball sets. Having said that I still really like the place and it's well worth a visit.
To my knowledge the UK does not have a 'true pool hall' and the nearest you'll get to it is Mickeys, though even that is really more about the loud music and beer drinking (rightly so from a business perspective) than action on the pool tables. you are spot on lee, even though our tables are on all the time in the evening when it comes to organising tournaments no-one seems to want to play. most poeple that come in the club like to play amongst themselves, unless american pool has more coverage im afraid its goin to struggle to gain interest and the youngsters to get involved in the game. especially on a serious level. [ This message was edited by: indiana on 2008-01-27 11:54 ]
|
|
Ads
Home away from home
Joined: 07-Sep-2007
Posts: 1894
From: Essex, England
|
Posted: 2008-01-27 21:11
At the moment we get a few down for our local Junior event. there were 20 yesterday, a few with possible potential too. Its the other way around to your club Indy
The club is not normally very busy unless either my friend Dean or myself are running a comp.
Hopefully some of the youngsters will "blossom" and maybe take the game a little more seriously, there is 1 14 year old that i practice with and we have refused to let him play on the youth league, because he would run off with it.
I was thinking of opening up a pool hall but i really wouldn't know where to start.
|
|
craig
Home away from home
Joined: 08-Sep-2006
Posts: 247
|
Posted: 2008-01-28 00:31
On 2008-01-27 08:30 , Riggers Wrote:!!! QUOTE !!! I presume you mean the common rooms Craig? Nice venue indeed, especially for a night out over a friendly game, but certainly not a true pool hall cos' theirs no action to be had, it's full of students who haven't got the first idea about pool beyond 2 shots carry and as usual there are no decent ball sets. Having said that I still really like the place and it's well worth a visit.
To my knowledge the UK does not have a 'true pool hall' and the nearest you'll get to it is Mickeys, though even that is really more about the loud music and beer drinking (rightly so from a business perspective) than action on the pool tables. Yes thats were i mean Lee. I totally agree with what your saying mate. I'd say the closest place i've come to finding a real pool hall is victoria but londons quite a way to go to play some pool. If only i could win the lotto..................
|
|
BPotter
Home away from home
Joined: 24-Mar-2007
Posts: 370
From: London
|
Posted: 2008-01-28 08:09
Rileys Victoria is the action club, There is always action to be had there till late in the night and for all speeds.
Although sadly the new manager there is trying her upmost to change it into a corporate party drinking spot and get rid of all the locals.
And im not just having a go, it just dose not make sence. The famous saturday night handycap tournament (that got as much as 45 runners at £20 a man) was stopped, now if you go in there on a saturday night there might be 3 people in the whole club. Before it was packed.
|
|
stuthecue
Just popping in
Joined: 18-Mar-2006
Posts: 13
|
Posted: 2008-01-28 19:49
Craig, thanks for the offer to check out the common room. I have actually been there but have never played there because I never saw any players. I thnk Lee has summed it up. It is more social than Pool Club. A club needs pool atmosphere before you can get serious. I am in the middle of a chaotic spell at the moment, but I would like to meet up and have a game when I can. When I get organized I will post you. Cheers.
|
