Showing posts with label Bar Billiards. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bar Billiards. Show all posts

Wednesday, September 29, 2021

Bar Billiards at Sudbury Snooker Club

We spotted a sign for Bar Billiards while in Sudbury, Suffolk last month.


Bar Billiards at Sudbury Snooker Club

We really enjoy playing the game, unfortunately Sudbury Snooker Club was closed at the time we were there. We've noted it for a future visit though.

Sudbury Snooker Club

Sudbury Snooker Club

Monday, June 17, 2019

Bar Billiards at The Railway pub in Stockport

Finding a Bar Billiards table at The Railway pub in Stockport.


We're big fans of the old pub game of Bar Billiards so were very pleased to find a table at The Railway pub in Stockport on Saturday!


The Bar Billiards table at The Railway pub in Stockport

Unfortunately we didn't get a chance to play it as the pub had problems with its water supply and had to close while the emergency works were completed.


The Rules of Bar Billiards
Bar Billiards Rules

We're looking forward to returning for a game or two in the future.

The Railway Pub in Stockport
The Railway Pub in Stockport - you can see the table if you look in through this window

In 2017 we played the Bar Billiards table at The Blossoms pub on the A6. Like The Blossoms, the table at The Railway uses the four peg arrangement.

Bar Billiards at The Railway pub in Stockport
The table looks to be popular!

Coming from down south we're more used to seeing three pegs. We haven't seen too many four-peg tables on our Barmy Bar Billiards Trail. The ones at The Cheshire Cheese pub in London and The Chequers Inn at Knebworth spring to mind.

Bar Billiards at The Railway pub in Stockport
The nice and 'easy' 50-point holes are guarded by the white mushrooms in the four peg game

Related blog posts:
- Bar Billiards
Pub Games
- Stockport
- Pubs

Sunday, March 04, 2018

Bar Billiards at the Golden Star pub in Norwich

We had a brilliant time in Norwich last weekend and it was a nice surprise to find a Bar Billiards table to have a game on too.

We're big fans of the traditional pub sport and the tables can often take some hunting out.

Bar Billiards at the Golden Star pub in Norwich
The four-pin layout of the pegs is a tough variation on the three-pin game

The table at the Golden Star pub used the four-pin set-up, a variation on the rules that makes the game trickier to play as two of the pegs/mushrooms partially block the 'easy route' into the 50-pockets.

Bar Billiards at the Golden Star pub in Norwich
It's a neat set-up at the Golden Star

The table had some nice features, including the cue holders at the baulk end.

Bar Billiards at the Golden Star pub in Norwich
I really like the cue holders built into the end of the table

It was a very old table owned by Alfred Sams & Sons of Hoddesdon, Herts. We hadn't seen that particular badge on other tables we've played on our travels.

Bar Billiards at the Golden Star pub in Norwich
Some lovely old design and features

Bar Billiards at the Golden Star pub in Norwich
An old National Bar Billiards Association badge

In our game (played using three-pins) I won with a score of 980 to Emily's 0. Emily had knocked down the black peg with her shot at the 200-hole to wipeout her tally of 510.

Bar Billiards at the Golden Star pub in Norwich
Emily in action

Bar Billiards at the Golden Star pub in Norwich
The final score

Bar Billiards at the Golden Star pub in Norwich
Emily going for it on the final black mushroom shot

The Golden Star is worth a visit and the Bar Billiards table there is well worth a play. It's only 50p a game too.

The Golden Star pub in Norwich
The Golden Star pub - you'll find the Bar Billiards table at the back of the pub, by the blue door on the left hand side of the photo

It's great to know that the pub plays host to competitive events as part of the Norwich Bar Billiards League too. Check out the links below for more info.

Bar Billiards rules at the Golden Star pub in Norwich
League Rules

Links:
- Golden Star, Norwich
- Norwich Bar Billiards League

Related blog posts:
- Bar Billiards
- Norwich

Sunday, January 28, 2018

Bar Billiards at The Smithfield Market Tavern in Manchester

Spotting a Bar Billiards table at The Smithfield Market Tavern.


Bar Billiards at The Smithfield Market Tavern in Manchester

While having a day out in Manchester we were wandering along Swan Street in the Northern Quarter and noticed a sign in a pub that said 'Bar Billiards'! We had to go in for a further look.

Bar Billiards at The Smithfield Market Tavern in Manchester
The pub has a nice Bar Billiards area

Unfortunately the barman told us the Bar Billiards table was out of order as somebody had poured beer down the 200-points-hole so the mechanism was broken.

Bar Billiards at The Smithfield Market Tavern in Manchester
Never a good sign

As the game is only getting rarer it's more difficult to find people to repair them, although he did say he hoped it would be fixed soon. We're looking forward to revisiting The Smithfield Market Tavern for a game or two in the future.

Bar Billiards Rules at The Smithfield Market Tavern in Manchester
Always nice to see The Rules of Bar Billiards on display - it can be a mysterious game to play without them

As well as Bar Billiards The Smithfield Market Tavern also has Table Skittles, Shove Ha'penny and Darts. The darts area also has a brilliant scoring machine!

Shove Ha'penny at The Smithfield Market Tavern in Manchester
Shove Ha'penny

Table Skittles at The Smithfield Market Tavern in Manchester
Table Skittles

The "Bisset" Automatic Dart Scorer by Kwiz Darts
The "Bisset" Automatic Dart Scorer by Kwiz Darts

Check out The Smithfield Market Tavern on Twitter for more info.

The Smithfield Market Tavern in Manchester's Northern Quarter
You can find The Smithfield Market Tavern at 37 Swan St, Manchester M4 5JZ

Related blog posts:

- Bar Billiards
- Manchester
- Pub

Saturday, December 02, 2017

Bar Billiards at The Blossoms pub in Stockport

Finding our first Bar Billiards table in Stockport.


On our walk back from a visit to the wonderful Christmas Tree Festival at St George's Church in Heaviley we stopped off at The Blossoms pub on the A6. We went in the main entrance and were very surprised to see a Bar Billiards table in the room to the right!

Bar Billiards at The Blossoms pub in Stockport
The Bar Billiards table at The Blossoms pub in Heaviley, Stockport

We're big fans of the old game and had searched online to see if there were any tables in the area when we moved here last year. It's brilliant to know there's a table just up the road from us.

Bar Billiards at The Blossoms pub in Stockport
We didn't play the finest game of Bar Billiards using the four-peg arrangement

We had three matches - the first using all four pegs and then two using the three peg rules we are more accustomed to.

Bar Billiards at The Blossoms pub in Stockport
Emily in action

We haven't seen too many four-peg tables on our Barmy Bar Billiards Trail. The ones at The Cheshire Cheese pub in London and The Chequers Inn at Knebworth spring to mind.

Bar Billiards at The Blossoms pub in Stockport
A great game in a nice pub

Game 1 - Richard 790, Emily 200 (had wiped out a score of 110, but then potted the last ball in the 200 hole).

Game 2 - Richard 880, Emily 450 (potted the last ball in the 200 hole).

Game 3 - Richard 1,060, Emily 720 (potted the red ball in the 200 hole).

You can find The Blossoms at 2 Buxton Road, Heaviley, Stockport.

Last year we played Bagatelle, another old cue game, at the Union Vaults pub in Chester.

Related blog posts:
- Bar Billiards
- Stockport
- Pub Games
- Pub

Link:
- The Blossoms

Wednesday, June 21, 2017

Bar Billiards at The Goose in Jersey

Spotting a Bar Billiards table at The Goose in Beaumont.


I haven't blogged about Bar Billiards for a while so it was nice that Emily sent over a snap of the table at The Goose in Beaumont in Jersey. Unfortunately she was unable to play it though as it was broken.

Bar Billiards table at The Goose in Beaumont

Jersey is a hotbed for Bar Billiards and the venue for World Championship tournaments. Although we struggled to find any tables there during our holiday last summer!?

Related blog posts:
- Bar Billiards in Jersey
- Bar Billiards
- Jersey

Saturday, May 28, 2016

Bar Billiards in Jersey

Back in 2013 I was playing Bar Billiards against Brad 'The Fist' Shepherd at the Charles II in London when a pub character told us about a table at the Dog & Sausage pub in St Helier, Jersey.

On our holiday earlier this week we popped into the pub hoping for a game. Only to find that the table had been removed.

You can't play Bar Billiards at the Dog & Sausage in St Helier any more

We also had a look in the Merton hotel - venue for the 2014 World Championships - but there was no sign of a table there either.

Before leaving the island we really wanted to get a game in and when we spotted the words 'Bar billiards' on a pub chalkboard sign we thought we were in luck. Sadly the table at The Caesarea had also gone.

What's a more permanent way of advertising something than a chalkboard. Unfortunately the 'Bar billiards' listing on the sign at The Caesarea must of been on there quite some time

The landlady there was friendly though and managed to find out there were still tables at The Devonshire and The Mont Felard. Unfortunately we didn't have time to visit either pub before our flight left.

Bar Billiards is a great pub game, it's a real shame there aren't more tables around.

Check out the All England Bar Billiards Association (AEBBA) website for more details of the game and where to play.

Related blog posts:
- Bar Billiards
- Jersey

Links:
All England Bar Billiards Association (AEBBA) website
- Bar Billiards Forum

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Bar Billiards in York

Playing Bar Billiards at The Golden Ball pub in York.

On our walk back to the city centre following the York International Postcard Show at the racecourse we stopped off for a Gin & Tonic and a game of Bar Billiards at The Golden Ball pub.

Bar Billiards at The Golden Ball pub in York
Emily playing the Bar Billiards table at The Golden Ball pub in York

Bar Billiards at The Golden Ball pub in York
In action and en route to a win

In our Bar Billiards match-up I defeated Emily 1,980 to 0 after Emily wiped-out a score of 770
In our match-up I scored 1,980 to Emily's 0 after she wiped-out a score of 770

Along with The Phoenix, The Golden Ball set-up the York Bar Billiards league in 2013. For more information, teams and fixtures check out the York Bar Billiards website. The Golden Ball pub website also has a Bar Billiards section on it. It's brilliant to see the pub game thriving in the city. We're looking forward to returning and checking out the tables at the other pubs.

The York Bar Billiards League Fixture list
The York Bar Billiards League Fixture list. Check out the league's website and Facebook page for information on the coming season

On a postcard-related note, The Golden Ball has its own postcard available to purchase at the bar.

Links:
- York Bar Billiards
- The Golden Ball
- Bar Billiards Forum
- The All England Bar Billiards Association (AEBBA)

Related blog posts:
- Bar Billiards
- Pub games

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Bar Billiards at the Three Daws pub in Gravesend

Playing some Bar Billiards at the Three Daws in Gravesend.

Bar Billiards at the Three Daws pub in Gravesend, Kent
Playing some Bar Billiards in Gravesend

I added another Bar Billiards table played and pub visited while in Gravesend, Kent as Brad, Seth and I headed to the Three Daws pub.

Bar Billiards at the Three Daws pub in Gravesend, Kent
Seth taking advice/ignoring the local knowledge from Brad

Bar Billiards at the Three Daws pub in Gravesend, Kent
The table was a bit on the wobbly side. And a bit wonky! It certainly made for an interesting three-player match. I won with a score of 780. Seth was second on 400, while hometown player Brad scored 330

Related blog posts:
Pub
Gravesend
Pub games

Links:

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Bar Billiards and Darts at The Cock Inn, Luddesdowne

Playing some Darts and Bar Billiards at The Cock Inn, Luddesdowne.

Bar Billiards at The Cock Inn, Luddesdowne
Brad Shepherd playing some Bar Billiards at The Cock Inn at Luddesdowne

I do enjoy playing pub games, and ever since my mate Brad Shepherd introduced me to the sport of Bar Billiards, via the Indoor League, I've looked to play as many tables as I can find.

On a recent trip to Gravesend we made the short journey to the village of Luddesdowne - between Meopham and Cobham - to visit The Cock Inn to see the traditional pub games there.

Bar Billiards at The Cock Inn, Luddesdowne
Brad and I had a cracking game of Bar Billiards. Having not played in a while we got off to a bit of a slow start, but Brad then took the lead, only for me to mount a comeback (curtailed by a break wipeout), followed by another fightback to eventually win 990 to 810

Darts at The Cock Inn, Luddesdowne
There's also a 'standard' dartboard at The Cock Inn...

Darts at The Cock Inn, Luddesdowne
...as well as three examples of variant dartboards! This was the first time I'd seen a London Fives, Yorkshire Board or a Manchester Log-End Board in the flesh. Brilliant to see

Shove Ha'penny at The Cock Inn, Luddesdowne, Kent
There was also a Shove Ha'penny slate at the pub. I've played on a wooden board, but never seen the game on a slate before

Check out the Patrick Chaplin (aka Dr Darts) website for more on the history of the dartboard.

Related blog posts:

Links:

Friday, February 06, 2015

Bar Billiards and Darts in King's Cross

A look inside the Games Room at The Parcel Yard pub in London.

My fellow pub games enthusiast John Moore recently told me that a friend of his had informed him that The Parcel Yard pub at London's King's Cross train station has a Bar Billiards table! John relayed this information to me, so I had to go and take a look.

On my visit to the pub I couldn't see the Bar Billiards table, but did enjoy having a look inside as I'd never been there before. It's well worth popping in.

Having a look on the pub's website I noticed that the table is in the Games Room, so on my second visit I knew where to look. One of the pub's staff members was happy to show me the Games Room and I must say I was impressed with the setting.

Bar Billiards table in the Games Room at The Parcel Yard pub in King's Cross station
The Bar Billiards table at The Parcel Yard

Unfortunately the room and the games inside are not open for everyday casual play, as the room is often booked out for functions. However, I made an enquiry online and found out that the room can be reserved for events - both corporate and private meetings or parties. For more information drop The Parcel Yard team a line via the website.

As big fans of darts it was great to see there's a board in the Games Room too.

Darts in the Games Room at The Parcel Yard pub in King's Cross station
The dart board and oche at The Parcel Yard

If Bar Billiards or darts aren't your thing, then the Games Room also has a Pinball Machine and other traditional games.

I'm looking forward to getting the chance to play the Bar Billiards at The Parcel Yard for a bit of a 'do'. A group of us had a brilliant time on our London Bar Billiards Pub Crawl a couple of years ago and we do enjoy a pub sport meet-up.

Links:

Related blog posts:

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Bar Billiards in Newcastle, Littlehampton and Worthing

Update from our increasingly erratic Barmy Bar Billiards Trail.

Last summer we had a grand day out in London visiting a number of pubs to play some Bar Billiards, but since then we've not found so many tables to play on our travels. However that's changed in the last month, with visits to Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Littlehampton, and a re-visit to Worthing.

A Bar Billiards table in Newcastle-upon-Tyne

Unfortunately when our friend and fellow minigolfer John 'The Legionnaire' Moore took us to the Hustler Pool & Snooker Club in Newcastle-upon-Tyne we found the table to be out of order. John has previously played the table and hoepfully it'll be back in working order soon.

No Bar Billiards played in Newcastle

The Hustler Pool & Snooker Club was a nice spot for an evening of cue-sports, with plenty of pool and snooker tables on offer at reasonable rates, as well as a number of dartboards. It's well worth a visit.

Quite unexpectedly we fared better on our mini-break to Littlehampton, as on our arrival at the Seaview Hotel (in East Preston) we found there was a Bar Billiards table in the pub!

Playing the very well maintained Bar Billiards table in the pub of the Seaview Hotel in East Preston, near Littlehampton

In our games I won 950 to Emily's 610, followed by a 580 to 300 win.

While in Littlehampton we also spotted that The White Hart pub in the town centre has a table.

The White Hart pub in Littlehampton, West Sussex has plenty on offer to customers, including Bar Billiards


John 'Big Al' Moore scores while Richard shoots

Alongside John 'Johnny Waffles' Moore, Emily and I had a number of games, with the results as follows:
- John beat Emily 960 to 50
- Richard beat John 1,570 to 670
- Richard beat Emily and John 1,090 to 780 to 360

John has also developed a very handy Bar Billiards Scorecard Mobile App which added another dimension to our games!

On our recent trip to Nottingham we ran out of time to find and play the Bar Billiards tables that our friend and Minigolf rival Jam Trubridge had told us about, but we're sure to be back at some point for a game or two.

Links:
- Bar Billiards-related blog posts on The Ham & Egger Files
- The All England Bar Billiards Association (AEBBA)
- AEBBA map of Bar Billiards tables in the UK
- Bar Billiards Forum