Bar Billiards Ltd Table Rental Announcements

[Chris_Sav]

Expecting a lot of action on this sad subject I have created a separate board to discuss the future.

I will keep this thread clear for announcements only.

Sav

[Chris_Sav]

A converstion with Ken Hussey.

The facts

This is a potentially terminal threat to the game nationally as we know it.

All Bar Billiards Ltd. rental will finish

To buy a table on an existing site is £850 plus vat as-is

All league subsidies finish this season

There were 2240 tables there now 128 rented

Ken needs to know by the end of April if you are interested in buying

There will be no phasing across counties.

Low income old share agreement tables will be the first to go.

Leisure Link will be making a similar announcement in a couple of months

Please do not swamp Ken with phone calls, league secretaries and above may approach him

All contact should be via email if possible to [e-mail].

Sav

[Chris_Sav]

Some thoughts to consider from my experiences if contemplating buying a table .

Things to consider if a team or individual buys a table

For

Do you want to continue playing, this is the only way.

You should not lose by it, the table can always be sold.

Income from the table goes to you (and the landlord).

Non team players will be funding you as well.

Your table will probably be in better nick as you will look after it as you own it!

Against and to consider

Recovering costs and who does it.

Clock repairs are unlikely but very difficult to repair, oil them!

Landlords dragging your precious table around the floor and breaking the legs

Public liability, someone trips over your table and cracks their skull

Manager does a runner and the pub is closed down / goes
bankrupt, how do you prove ownership?

Someone leaves the team, do you refund his share?

More important, do you charge new members to join your team? Think about this carefully!

Sav.

[Chris_Sav]

For information, received from Ken Hussey.




Chris Savill (Secretary)

Dover & Dist.B.B.L.





31 March 2008





Dear Chris

As you may have already heard the decision has been made for this company to cease operating Bar Billiards Tables. We currently have only 128 tables on site nationally, and it has been decided to give the sites / leagues the opportunity to buy the tables on site for £850 plus VAT (998.75), considerably below the current market price of £1500 plus VAT (£1762.50).

I have today spoken to Dave Alder, the A.E.B.B.A. Secretary, who I will be supplying information of the tables on site, with a view to a rescue package. I rather hope that there are enough interested parties, whether it be the Leagues, Landlords or indeed players to ensure the games future.

We would require answers as to what people intend to do by the end of April 2008. As far as any league donations / subsidies are concerned they will cease at the end of this current winter league season.

We are sorry that it has come to this but the product is now unviable and in the current difficult trading circumstances, all equipment has to be viable. I will be happy to discuss with you any points you wish to raise.



Yours sincerely









KEN HUSSEY

[Chris_Sav]

Further update.

I have phoned Dave Alder the AEBBA secretary this evening.

He has had problems logging on to the forum which hopefully I have now resolved (AOL user, see Sparkie's posts).

He will update with info from Bar Billiards Ltd. as he gets it.

Sav.

[Chris_Sav]

A call from Dave Alder as AEBBA Secretary.

He will try to get on the forum this evening now that I have hopefully sorted his AOL email problem

Dave has spoken to Charlie Wheeler and tasked him with starting a crusade with local radio stations, media, MP’s and even the sports minister. Object to try and find sponsors, raise the profile of the demise of our heritage. Also to see if any charitable status can be sought.

In the meantime he urges all counties to do likewise, even if they are not affected, to bring it to the public attention and raise funds.

Dave also suggests that the suggestion regarding Leisure Link is correct and that the deal is massive, some 50k pool tables (I heard 5k). Either way a hundred odd bar billiard tables will thus just be a nuisance best got rid of.

He will update ASAP.

[NigelS]

On the same vein as to what Charlie Wheeler plans to do regarding publicity, I plan to email BBC sport, with the World Snooker Championships coming up they may be interested in doing a piece on dying pub cue games. I think Steve Davis and Willie Thorne have both had a go at bar billiards in their time, and Pete Farrelly said he did see provisional world no 1 Shaun Murphy play bar billiards in his home town of Rushden.

A total shot in the dark, but you never know.....

[Chris_Sav]

Regarding spares etc.

Ken Hussey will still operate a recovering service, cost negotiable as to whether you take the slate there. He also has someone who will travel to sites.

He will supply clocks at £200 plus VAT and cash boxes for £20 plus VAT.

My electronic timers could fairly easily be connected to a coin mech, but it would require a secure cash box to be designed.

Sav

[Chris_Sav]

Latest update

Dave Alder has asked me to represent his interest on here.

Dave Alder is now in possession of the definitive list of Bar Billiard Ltd tables.

Bar Billiards Ltd is refusing to deal with leagues and AEBBA as a whole. Presumably this stops people negotiating bulk deals until they know what they can make out of it.

First offer is to the licensee. On refusal, BBLtd will only then talk to other interested parties.

AEBBA are looking at possible ways of saving those tables not purchased and under threat of disappearing to our former colonies etc. across the water. It is important that AEBBA thus know the exact sutuation.

To the effect, Dave Alder will email me the list of tables. I will convert it to a web spreadsheet and post a link on the forum. Can everyone then post or email me with decisions on their tables. Remember, leagues cannot buy until the licensee has turned down the offer. Those offers have not yet gone out.

It also looks to me that selling has already been going on. Visits to the BBLtd table venues in my league showed that Punch Taverns now own what was formerly a BBLtd table in my league.

Sav

[Chris_Sav]

The tables affected.

Remember non league tables in your area are also vital to the longevity of your leagues.

The more I look at this the more I see a glorious opportunity to halt the slow decline of our game.

Form one or more NON PROFIT making table cooperatives around the country and offer landlords share deals they used to have.

Grab it before it's too late and these tables are lost for ever.



GOAT, 37 SOPWELL LANE, ST ALBANS                                          AL1 1RN
WHITE SWAN, UPPER DAGNELL STREET, ST ALBANS                               AL3 5EA
ANGEL, 28 MARKET STREET, POOLE,DORSET                                     BM
SMUGGLER, 10 SHIP STREET, BRIGHTON                                        BN1 1AZ
BLACK HORSE, 65 HIGH STREET, ROTTINGDEAN                                  BN2 7HE
FIVE BELLS, 73-75 BROMLEY COMMON, BROMLEY, KENT                           BR2 9LP
FLYING PIG, 106 HILLS ROAD, CAMBRIDGE                                     CB2 1LQ
WHITE SWAN, ELSWORTH ROAD, CONINGTON                                      CB3 8LT
WHITE HORSE, 1 MARKET STREET, SWAVESEY, CAMBS                             CB4 5QG
SEVEN STARS, 249 NEWMARKET ROAD, CAMBRIDGE                                CB5 8JE
BUSHELL, MARKET STREET, NEWMARKET                                         CB8 8EE
WHITE HORSE, 25 TOWNFIELD STREET, CHELMSFORD,ESSEX                        CM1 1QJ
RAILWAY ARMS, COPPICE ROW, THEYDON BOIS                                   CM16 7EH
CHEQUERS, THE SQUARE, GOLDHANGER, MALDON, ESSEX                           CM9 8AS
PLOUGH & HARROW, DOVER RD, TILMANSTON, NR DEAL                            CT14 0HX
BRICKMAKERS, 9 PARK AVENUE, DEAL, KENT                                    CT14 9AH
CAT & CUSTARD POT, PADDLESWORTH, KENT                                     CT18 8AD
UNICORN, 61 ST DUNSTANS ST, CANTERBURY                                    CT2 8BS
MONUMENT, 37 ST DUNSTAN'S ST, CANTERBURY                                  CT2 8PZ
PLOUGH & HARROW, BRIDGE, NR CANTERBURY                                    CT4 5LA
ANGEL, LOAD STREET, BEWDLEY WORCS                                         DY12 2AW
OWL & THE PUSSY CAT, 34 REDCHURCH STREET, LONDON                          E2 7DP E2 7DP
PEMBURY, 90 AMHURST ROAD, HACKNEY,                                        E8 1JH
SQUIRREL, HURTMOOR RD,HURTMOOR, NR GODALMING                              GU7 2RN
BRICKLAYERS ARMS, HIGH ST, DOWNLEY, HIGH WYCOMBE                          HP13 5XJ
GORDON ARMS, GORDON ROAD, HIGH WYCOMBE                                    HP13 6EP
RAF ASSOCIATION, 114 TOTTERIDGE RD, HIGH WYCOMBE                          HP13 6EX
GOLDEN FLEECE, HATTERS LANE, HIGH WYCOMBE                                 HP13 7LY
ROYAL STANDARD, WIDMER END, HIGH WYCOMBE                                  HP15 6AD
QUEENS HEAD, AMERSHAM ROAD, HIGH WYCOMBE                                  HP15 7HN
MAYFLOWER, PENN ROAD, HAZELMERE, HIGH WYCOMBE                             HP15 7NE
RED LION, VICARAGE ROAD, MARSWORTH BUCKS                                  HP23 4LU
GOLDEN RULES, 22 MAIN ROAD SOUTH, DAGNALL, BUCKS                          HP4 1QX
FLINT COTTAGE, 3 AMERSHAM HILL, HIGH WYCOMBE BUCKS                        HW
BREWERY TAP, CLIFF QUAY, IPSWICH, SUFFOLK                                 IP3 0AZ
BELL,WITHEYBED CORNR, OFF WALTON STREET, WALTON O THE HIL                 KT20 7UJ
SWAN & RUSHES, 19 INFIRMARY SQUARE, LEICESTER                             LE1 5WR
RAILWAY, PRESTON STREET, FAVERSHAM                                        ME13 8PE
GOOD INTENT,THE GR'N, CHARLTON LANE, WEST FARLEIGH                        ME15 0NN
STONE HORSE, DILLYWOOD LANE, FRINDSBURY. KENT                             ME3 8EN
KING CHARLES 1ST, 55-59 NORTHDOWN ST, KING CROSS                          N1 9BL
OLD DAIRY, 127 HANLEY ROAD, LONDON                                        N4 4AP
NICHOLAS NICKLEBY, 6 FERME PARK ROAD, FINSBURY PARK                       N4 4ED
HOPE & ANCHOR, 126 TOTTENHAM LANE, HORNSEY N8 7EL                         N8 7EL
COCK, 2 HARBOROUGH ROAD, KINGSTHORPE NORTHANT                             NN
CROWN & ANCHOR, 6 VICTORIA ROAD, NORTHAMPTON                              NN1 5ED
RUSHDEN CONSERV.CLUB, 44 HIGH STREET SOUTH, RUSHDEN,NORTHANT              NN10 0
BURTON LATIMER CON C, 4 CHURCH STREET, BURTON LATIMER, NORTHANTS,         NN15 5LU
FROG & FIDDLER, HARBOROUGH ROAD, NORTHAMPTON                              NN2 8DH
HEADLANDS, LONGLAND ROAD, NORTHAMPTON                                     NN3 2NZ
MASONS ARMS, HARROW ROAD, LONDON NW10 5NU                                 NW10 5NU
HEADINGTON CONS. CB, 60 WINDMILL ROAD, HEADINGTON, OXON                   OX
WHEATSHEAF, 129 HIGH STREET, OXFORD                                       OX1 4DF
TANDEM, KENNINGTON ROAD, KENNINGTON                                       OX1 5PG
PORTCULLIS SOC. CLUB, CLUB HSE,GOLDSMITH L, WALLINGFORD                   OX10 0DU
DOLPHIN, ST MARY'S STREET, WALLINGFORD OXON                               OX10 0EL
BERINSFIELD COMM ASS, GREEN FURLONG, BERINSFIELD OXON                     OX10 7NR
FAIRMILE HOSPITAL SC, READING RD,, CHOLSEY                                OX10 9HH
DIDCOT CONS. CLUB, FOXHALL RD, DIDCOT, OXON                               OX11 7AD
DIDCOT LABOUR CLUB, 89 STATION ROAD, DIDCOT OXON                          OX11 7NN
DIDCOT MARLBOROUGH C, THE BROADWAY, DIDCOT, OXON                          OX11 8RU
CROWN, SOUTH MORETON, NR DIDCOT                                           OX11 9AG
ROSE & CROWN, MAIN STREET, CHILTON                                        OX11 ORZ
ELEPHANT & CASTLE, HUMBER ST, BLOXHAM, NR BANBURY, OXON                   OX15 4LZ
ROYAL OAK, WITNEY STREET, BURFORD OXON                                    OX18 4SN
W OXFORD DEM CLUB, 1 NORTH STREET, OXFORD                                 OX2 0AY
WATERMANS ARMS, SOUTH STREET, OSNEY                                       OX2 0BE
GARDNERS ARMS, PLANTATION ROAD, JERICHO, OXON                             OX2 6JE
MIDDLE ASTON HOUSE, MIDDLE ASTON, NR BICESTER                             OX25 5PT
RED LION, THE GREEN, CASSINGTON, OXON                                     OX29 4DN
HARCOURT ARMS, STANTON HARCOURT, NR EYNSHAM, OXON                         OX29 5RJ
RED LION, NORTHMOOR, NR WITNEY, OXON                                      OX29 5SX
LAMB & FLAG, MIDDLE TOWN, HAILEY NR WITNEY                                OX29 9UB
CAVALIER, 140-145 COPSE LANE, MARSTON,OXFORD                              OX3 0AX
CORNER HOUSE, HOLLOW WAY,SLADE PK, HEADINGTON                             OX3 7JF
MASONS ARMS, 2 QUARRY SCHOOL PLCE, HEADINGTON                             OX3 8LH
TEMPLE BAR, TEMPLE STREET, OXFORD                                         OX4 1JS
GLADIATOR CLUB, 263 IFFLEY ROAD, OXFORD                                   OX4 1SJ
NELSON, BETWEEN TOWN ROAD, COWLEY                                         OX4 3LR
BLETCHINGDON SPTS CB, OXFORD ROAD, BLETCHINGDON                           OX5 3DP
PLOUGH, THE BOTTOM,FINSTOCK, OXON                                         OX7 3BY
NELSONS HEAD, MERRYLAND, ST IVES                                          PE27 5ED
CLINKERS, 3 TRINITY STREET, FAREHAM, HANTS                                PO16 7SD
WOOLPACK, 71 FISHBOURNE ROAD, CHICHESTER                                  PO19 3JJ
PHOENIX, 51-55 TORRINGTON RD, NORTHEND,P'MOUTH                            PO2 0TN
COMPASS ROSE, SYWELL CRESCENT, HILSEA,PORTSMTH                            PO3 5UH
LANGSTON CONS. CLUB, 33 EMSWORTH ROAD, HAVANT                             PO9 2SN
READING POST OFFICE, 6 RICHFIELD AVENUE, READING, BERKS                   RG1 1ZA
HOP LEAF P.H, 163-165 S'HAMPTON ST, READING, BERKS                        RG1 2QZ
DARWIN CLOSE SOC CB, 6 DARWIN CLOSE, READING, BERKS                       RG2 0SG
HODDINGTON ARMS, UPTON GREY, BASINGSTOKE                                  RG25 2RL
PLOUGH, LITTLE LONDON, BASINGSTOKE                                        RG26 5EB
ROYAL ALBION, 642 OXFORD ROAD, READING                                    RG3 1EH
SPREADEAGLE, 117 NORFOLK ROAD, READING, BERKS                             RG30 2EG
RESTORATION, 928 OXFORD ROAD, TILEHURST                                   RG30 6TJ
PACK SADDLE, CHAZRY HEATH, MAPLEDURHAM                                    RG4 7UD
CAVERSHAM W.M. CLUB, CHURCH ST, CAVERSHAM, READING, BERKS                 RG4 8AU
ADMIRAL CUNNINGHAM, PRIESTWOOD COURT, BRACKNELL                           RG42 1TU
GORING SOCIAL CLUB, HIGH STREET, GORING ON THAMES                         RG8 9BA
JOHN BARLEYCORN, STATION ROAD, GORING                                     RG8 9DP
FLYING SCUD, 90 WOODLAND RD, EARLSWOOD REDHILL                            RH
E SURREY WATR S&S CL, E SURREY WATER CO, REDHILL                          RH1 1LJ
JOLLY BRICKMAKER, 58-60 FRENCHES ROAD, REDHILL                            RH1 2HP
MERSTHAM VILLAGE CB, STATION ROAD NORTH, NR REDHILL SURRE                 RH1 3ED
LIMES, SOUTHCOTE ROAD, SOUTH MERSTHAM                                     RH1 3LJ
CROWN, 1 HIGH STREET, NUTFIELD, SURREY                                    RH1 4HH
OLD OAK, 40 SOMERSET RD, MEAD VALE REDHIL                                 RH1 6LT
REIGATE EX-SERV CLUB, 1 CHARTFIELD ROAD, REIGATE                          RH2 7JZ
S.PARK CONSTIT'L CB, SMITH RD, SOUTH PARK, REIGATE                        RH2 8HJ
HORLEY CRICKET CLUB, HORLEY ROW, HORLEY SURREY                            RH6 8BG
HOLLAND SPORTS & SOC, MILL LANE, OXTED                                    RH8 9DQ
BRITISH OAK, OLD DOVER ROAD, BLACKHEATH  SE3                              SE3 8SU
NESTLE UK LTD, RASHLEIGHS DARLINGS-, LANE, MAIDENHEAD                     SL6 6PD
BOUNTY, RIVERSIDE, BOURNE END,BUCKS                                       SL8 5RF
JUNCTION, PRIORY ROAD, ST DENYS, SOTON                                    SO17 2JZ
FOX & HOUNDS, POUND ST, BITTERNE, SOUTHAMPTON                             SO18 6BP
KING & QUEEN, HIGH ST, HAMBLE, SOUTHAMPTON                                SO31 4HA
BRIGADIER GERARD, BOTLEY RD HORTON HTH, EASTLEIGH                         SO50 7DQ
SELKIRK, 60 SELKIRK ROAD, TOOTING SW17                                    SW17 0ES
FROG & FORGET-ME-NOT, 32 THE PAVEMENT, CLAPHAM OLD TOWN                   SW4 0JE
COMPASSES, 42 LITTLE MOUNT SION, TUNBRIDGE WELLS                          TN1 1YP
GOLDING HOP, SHEET HILL, PLAXTOL KENT                                     TN15 0PT
KING WILLIAM IV, 87 HASTINGS RD, PEMBURY,NR T WEL                         TN2 4JF
DRUM, STONE ST,STANFORD N., ASHFORD, KENT                                 TN25 6DN
ODDFELLOWS ARMS, 397 OLD LONDON ROAD, ORE, HASTINGS                       TN35 5BH
IMPERIAL, 29 LONDON ROAD, SOUTHBOROUGH                                    TN4 0PB
WHITE HART, 16 LOWER GREEN ROAD, RUSTHALL                                 TN4 8TE
GREEN MAN, GREEN MAN LANE, BEDFONT                                        TW14 0PZ

[NigelS]

Thanks for the info Sav,

I do believe if league commitees work to save their tables they will be better off in the long run, and agree that saving the tables that are not currently in a league are still important to the survival of the game.

I am actually going to the Dolphin, St Denys, Southampton on Saturday, where I am meeting Jed to play before we go to Pompey on Sunday. We are probably the only 2 people that ever play it but I would be interested to know if the landlord knows his table is on the way out.

I imagine the Unicorn will be lost to – a table I have played a couple of times when I go up to visit my mate in Canterbury

I was also surprised to see 2 in Brighton are actually bar billards ltd.

[Chris_Sav]

Update from Dave Alder.

He has been in touch with the Lotteries Commission and Sport England, both of whom were not interested as we are 'Not a sport'. He has a couple more ideas.

He would like AEBBA to lead the fight and try to take over the tables nationally, however we are not being given the time.

In fact it would seem that Bar Billiards Ltd. are not honouring their offered timescale of decisions by the end of the month as Dave says that Ken Hussey has told him they are starting to phone around for decisions this week!

Sav.