Bar Billiards at Sudbury Snooker Club

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

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.

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!

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.

Bar Billiards Rules

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

It's a neat set-up at the Golden Star

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

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.

Some lovely old design and features

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.

Emily in action

The final score

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 - 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.

League Rules

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

Related blog posts:
- Bar Billiards
- Norwich

Bar Billiards at The Smithfield Market Tavern in Manchester

Spotting a Bar Billiards table at The Smithfield Market Tavern.

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.

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.

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.

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

Table Skittles

The "Bisset" Automatic Dart Scorer by Kwiz Darts

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

You can find The Smithfield Market Tavern at 37 Swan St, Manchester M4 5JZ

Related blog posts:
- Bar Billiards
- Manchester
- Pub

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!

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

In action and en route to a win

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. 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

Bar Billiards at the Three Daws pub in Gravesend

Playing some Bar Billiards at the Three Daws in Gravesend.

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.

Seth taking advice/ignoring the local knowledge from Brad

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:

- Bar Billiards

- Pub

- Gravesend
- Pub games

Links:

- Three Daws pub website
- Three Daws on Twitter
- Three Daws on Facebook
- Bar Billiards Forum
- The All England Bar Billiards Association (AEBBA)

Bar Billiards and Darts at The Cock Inn, Luddesdowne

Playing some Darts and 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.

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

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

...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

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:

- Bar Billiards
- Darts

- Pub
- Pub games

Links:

- The Cock Inn website
- The Cock Inn on Twitter
- The Cock Inn on Facebook
- Bar Billiards Forum
- The All England Bar Billiards Association (AEBBA)

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.

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.

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:

- The Parcel Yard

- Bar Billiards Forum
- The All England Bar Billiards Association (AEBBA)

Related blog posts:

- Bar Billiards
- Darts

- Pub
- Pub games

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

On the eve of the 2014 BMGA British Masters minigolf tournament at Worthing's Splash Point Mini Golf course we'd booked into the Marine View Hotel on the seafront. This was on the back of us visiting the hotel's bar last year for an evening of Bar Billiards on the very tricky table.

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