Everything You Needed To Know About Pub Style Pool Tables

By Author: Sam McMillan
Total Articles: 1
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Although it remains second to snooker when it comes to both popularity and media attention in the UK, pool is nonetheless still a game that many enjoy playing. It is steadily increasing in popularity, too; the game is simple to play and very enjoyable. One of the places where many people enjoy playing the game in the UK is in the pub. For this reason, pool tables are a common feature of many of these establishments: publicans find that patrons will often visit just to use the pool table and will support their business by ordering drinks and food while they’re playing.

Due to its popularity, it is now possible for home players to purchase pub style pool tables. These tables mirror the design of those found in pubs, but also usually feature some important differences reflecting the fact that they are intended for non-commercial use.

One of the differences between free-play and coin-operated tables are that the vast majority of UK non-commercial tables are free play. Pool tables in pubs or other drinking establishments are generally coin operated. Obviously, tables which are sold purely for home use are free-play ...
... models because most customers want the look of a pub table - a stylistic replica - but do not want to have to pay every time they play a game!

Pub style pool tables are also of better quality than other tables made for home use. They have typically thicker legs and sides than most tables made for people to use at home; to put it simply, they are solidly built. Buying this kind of table will give you excellent value for money as you won’t need to replace it because one of the legs has started to wobble.

The majority of pub style pool tables that you will find in the UK are English tables. This means that the tables each measure between 6ft and 7ft in length. American tables are considerably bigger, with a full-size one usually being 9ft long. It would be unusual to find a full-length American pool table in a pub in the UK, as most pubs find the size of these tables prohibitive. American tables are usually only found in the UK in halls specifically dedicated to the game.

Most pool tables in the UK are made of slate bed. Those designed for use in the home, including pub style pool tables, utilise thinner slabs of slate for the main body than tables intended for commercial use in a pub or a playing hall. Similarly, while both commercial-use tables and home-use ones are covered with cloth, those tables designed to be played on at home are typically covered with a blend of wool and nylon known as ‘baize’. Cloths covering tables used in pubs or halls are often covered in a thicker cloth, which slows down the pool balls as they move across the surface. This material is better able to withstand frequent usage. The cloths used for both home- and commercial-use tables are available in a number of colours – with green, blue and red being the three most popular.

Sam is an avid pool player and occasional snooker player and writes for Custom Snooker at www.customsnooker.co.uk. Sam is also an expert at setting up pub style pool tables.