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Post by Q on Jul 18, 2007 16:10:50 GMT
A couple of tables in London that I've just found on the 'net. Bar billiards - The Glasshouse Stores, Soho Stonch and his pals like a game of bar billiards. Forget pool or snooker - I've got the hand-to-eye coordination of a blind chimp, and my uselessness on the sports field applies equally on the green baize. I never thought I'd find a game I'd be able to play in the pub without hopelessly embarassing myself, but find it I did.stonch.blogspot.com/2007/02/bar-billiards-glasshouse-stores-soho.htmlThere isn't a pub in London that can hold a better beer festival than The Pembury Tavern. First off, the place is enormous, with 16 handpumps and plenty of room for stillage. Second, the beer choices are always spot on - you don't just see a list of award winners from other festivals, nor do they waste space on beers from larger brewers. Last but not least, they've got a bar billiards table.stonch.blogspot.com/2007/07/pembury-taverns-3rd-beer-festival.html
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Post by Deleted on Jul 18, 2007 16:39:44 GMT
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Post by Q on Jul 18, 2007 20:58:43 GMT
Oh well Clive, just goes to prove that I dont read them all :-*
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Post by marksenior (R.I.P.) on Apr 13, 2006 23:20:36 GMT
A couple of years ago I found a pub just round the corner from Paddington Station with a Bar Billiard table. www.Beerintheevening.com site is a good one but there are a couple of other similar sites .
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vinny
Full Forum Member
Posts: 363
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Post by vinny on Apr 16, 2006 14:11:24 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 29, 2007 12:16:17 GMT
From doing a bit of research, here is a list of London pubs that still have a bar billiards table: -The Pembury, 90 Amhurst Road, London, E8 1JH, 020 8986 8597 Glad you've heard about it! It took me two months to get my table, and I'm told it came out of a pub near Oxford. (It's hired from Bar Billiards Ltd.) The table is very popular in the pub, and I think the locals would be interested in participating in a league or in inter-area tournaments. Just chanced upon this : www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/s/14/1407/Selkirk/TootingThey mention a regular Monday night tournament. Perhaps one day an Inter-London challenge could get off the ground ?
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Josie
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Post by Josie on May 30, 2007 20:47:58 GMT
I got barred from this pub many years ago - do you think they'll let me in again!!!! LOL ;) It's not far from where I used to live. Next time I'm up there I might pop in on the Monday night tournament and see what it's like. Might have some real talent waiting to be found!!!! 8-)
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Post by Deleted on May 30, 2007 22:23:39 GMT
Well we plan to look in there lunchtime on Saturday the 14th July. AFC W'don are playing Tooting and Mitcham Utd in a friendly, and the pub is at Tooting Broadway, just a few hundred yards away from the ground. So I can kill two birds with one stone (if that doesn't sound too cruel :o )
We'll be careful not to mention your name in case the ban is still in force. What did you do to get yourself banned anyway ? ;D
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Josie
Full Forum Member
Posts: 365
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Post by Josie on May 31, 2007 13:03:28 GMT
Oh well - you'll probably get there first then. Let us know what it's like. We'll be careful not to mention your name in case the ban is still in force. What did you do to get yourself banned anyway ? ;D I was much younger and wilder then Tommo - don't ask! I will admit that Vodka was involved (obviously when it comes to me!!!!) - about 6 girls (maybe more!) and I can't remember if it was shaving foam or squirty cream - the rest is up to you!!!! ;) 8-)
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Post by Deleted on May 31, 2007 13:28:50 GMT
about 6 girls (maybe more!) and I can't remember if it was shaving foam or squirty cream Oooh no don't ! You'll get the Reaper going again ! ;D
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Post by Deleted on Jul 14, 2007 21:01:59 GMT
Well we plan to look in there lunchtime on Saturday the 14th July. AFC W'don are playing Tooting and Mitcham Utd in a friendly, and the pub is at Tooting Broadway, just a few hundred yards away from the ground. Well we kept to our plan and visited the Selkirk in Tooting prior to the friendly match. A beautiful sunny day, comfortably seated, all our new signings on show, including Marcus Gayle who scored one of the goals in our 4-1 win.Anyway, the pub. Drinks were expensive - £3-18 for two halves. Nice atmosphere though, there's a huge conservatory leading out into the beer garden. Parking a nightmare though. The table. One of Ken Hussey's, post-war Jelkes with thrupenny bit legs. The muckiest surface I've ever seen, couldn't have seen a brush for about 5 years. Rolled left about a half ball all over, once I was able to suss it, got the break and the split going at the end and got a 3k break on it. All things being equal, a very nice table and have seen a hell of a lot worse. As with many non-league tables, they're never in the right place, this one has a leather settee alongside the entire left flank of the table. backing on to it. I had to laugh when margo had to do a shot by walking round the other side, kneeling on the settee and playing the shot with the cue leaning over the back of it. ;D 8-) I've seen everything now. :o
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Post by Deleted on Jul 16, 2007 9:25:28 GMT
I seem to recall a table in the pub on the corner of Shaftsbury Ave. (Can't remember the name of it I'm afraid.) I played on it for a couple of games. Come to think of it, I cant really remember much about that evening. It must have been good!!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 3, 2008 23:04:59 GMT
From doing a bit of research, London pub that still have a bar billiards table: -The Dog and Bell, 116, Prince St, London, SE8 3JD, 020 8692 5664 Went out of my way to visit this one (in Deptford) on my way to the gig tonight. www.flickr.com/photos/55935853@N00/2920148246/Yes, the table is still there. It's in a nice little side room that reminded me of the one at the Star and Tipsy Toad in Jersey. www.flickr.com/photos/londonmatt/5998242557/It's a Bar Billiards Ltd one, so I wouldn't imagine it will be there for much longer. (I was pushed for time so did not engage the landlord in a discussion on it). Shamefully downhill (wasn't anywhere near to getting the break as everything raced onto the pegs) but nothing radically wrong with it that a bit of levelling and TLC wouldn't cure. Probably one of the last bastions in London of a dying game. Which you'll all agree with me is a great pity.
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Post by Chris_Sav on May 24, 2009 21:20:08 GMT
Pelton Arms in Greenwich has one of my ex competition tables.
Sav
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Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2009 19:10:56 GMT
I seem to recall a table in the pub on the corner of Shaftsbury Ave. (Can't remember the name of it I'm afraid.) I played on it for a couple of games. Come to think of it, I cant really remember much about that evening. It must have been good!! Last night on the way to the Little Boots gig in Shepherd's Bush, Margo and I fitted in our investigation no.3 of London bar billiards pubs, and I think The Glasshouse Stores (Brewer Street, Soho) and the pub mentioned above by Elsie are probably one and the same: stonch.blogspot.com/2007/02/bar-billiards-glasshouse-stores-soho.htmlInterestingly, we couldn't get a game on the table, as it happened to have a competition being played on it amongst 13 men in suits - the annual London Inter-Insurance Company Executives challenge ! :D I must say the pub had a surprisingly good atmosphere and the 'locals' were exceedingly friendly. Tempting as it was to reposition the pegs in the right place for them, and offer to raise the right hand side of the table to counteract the massive right hand drift, I managed to resist as, basically, they were making the best of the bad conditions - and a huge cheer went up when the youngest lad there 'banana'd the red ball back into the 200 hole ! ;D Pub and table are exactly as shown in the link, apart from the table having 'mushrooms' :o - the pegs got stolen apparently. I would think that bar billiards here has sufficient interest to be there to stay for some while. 8-) Next one on our list to investigate will be the Pembury Tavern in Hackney - probably in February. :-/
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Post by Deleted on Feb 1, 2010 22:26:29 GMT
Okay, was up in London yesterday for the Peter Hammill concert at the Cadogan Hall (Sloane Street), so maintained my promise to investigate one pub per gig. london.randomness.org.uk/wiki.cgi?action=index;format=map;index_type=category;index_value=Bar%20BilliardsHave reported already on Selkirk, Dog&Bell, Glasshouse Stores and this time it was the turn of the Pembury Hotel in Hackney. Not the easiest place to get to in London is Hackney (without a Carriage ;D ) - I took the Victoria Line tube from Victoria to Highbury and Islington, and planned to take the overground train (headed for Stratford) as far as Hackney Central. No overground train running, so I had to wait at Highbury Corner for a number 30 bus. Number 30s were supposed to run 'every 7 or 8 minutes' but annoyingly there was one parked in the bus lane without its driver - who eventually arrived armed with sandwiches, magazines and a bottle of lucozade, and who steadfastly refused to let anyone onto his bus ! A queue of people increasing in both size and frustration were obliged to wait a full 30 minutes while we watched him scoff his lunch, read his mags cover to cover and take big swigs out of his bottle before another bus eventually came along, which we gratefully boarded, but progress to Hackney was excrutiatingly slow and involved quite a hefty detour. The Pembury Tavern is easy enough to find, it's sandwiched on a five-way junction between Dalston Lane and Amhurst Road. It's huge and seems decidedly bare inside (lack of furnishings other than tables and chairs) but it had a red baized pool table in one corner - and low and behold a smart-looking Jelkes bar billiards table in another corner. Pegs were in the correct place (unusual for a London pub) but on trying the break shot the object ball made a direct line for the 50 but then deviated away sharply at the last moment. Farbeit from me to try and alter it, but with the table rolling alarmingly to the right, obviously the two left legs are set too high and it shouldn't take a genius to level it up - it's what the leg adjusters are for - yes ? Anyway, I played it as I saw it for a bit of fun and almost managed a thousand break making some ridiculous allowances on shots. Apart from a D with more craters than Mars, the cloth and cushions seemed in very reasonable condition. No sign of landlord Steve, just one dolly bird doing the bar, who served me with a half of vile, cloudy cider, of which I could only manage a couple of sips before having to make tracks for my concert. Bar billiards somehow seems right here, and is no doubt popular with the locals, but scores on it are going to resemble 4-pin all the time it's so out of level, with no hope of nurturing any local prowess. Having said that, Nigel would probably still get 20k on it ! ;D
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2010 22:01:39 GMT
Have found recent mention on the web of these London pubs as still having tables: 1. The Pelton Arms in Greenwich has a bar billiards table (Sav's table as per his note above)
2. The Owl and the Pussycat, Shoreditch - tommo's next visit ?
21 December 2009 10:28 Larry David said... 3. The Hope and Anchor on Tottenham Lane has a Bar Billiards table.
1 January 2010 14:35 Michelle said... 4. There is one at the King Charles I near Kings Cross Station, also a lovely pub with decent music.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 14, 2010 22:52:49 GMT
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Post by Colemanator on Jun 15, 2010 8:55:04 GMT
There is one at the King Charles I near Kings Cross Station, also a lovely pub with decent music. I might check this one out, as it's the end of the line kings cross is for us, 8-)
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Post by Deleted on Jun 15, 2010 10:46:59 GMT
I might check this one out, as it's the end of the line kings cross is for us, 8-) Great Ian, We need more people taking on the role of 'missionary' if our game is to survive. 8-)
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Post by Colemanator on Jun 15, 2010 14:17:40 GMT
I might check this one out, as it's the end of the line kings cross is for us, 8-) Great Ian, We need more people taking on the role of 'missionary' if our game is to survive. 8-) Sure Clive, i don't mind at all being in the missionary postion 8-)
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Post by Deleted on Mar 28, 2011 10:43:32 GMT
Margo and I are going to a show in London this weekend for our anniversary, and will investigate a couple more then. A completely fruitless search in our quest for London Bar Billiards on this occasion................... Fortunately we did not try to take in the Owl and Pussycat (Shoreditch) which has lost its table: www.fancyapint.com/pubs/pub87.phpOur plan was to have a drink at the King Charles I at Kings Cross and then a meal at the Horseshoe in Clerkenwell before going on to our evening entertainment. When it came to it, we found the King Charles I was boarded up (debatable whether for refurbishment or simple closure). Having waded back through the hordes of Brazilian and Scottish football supporters (the long tanned legs of the Brazilian females providing a marked contrast to the Scottish men, all kilts and see-you-Jimmy wigs) we re-boarded the tube for Farringdon. A short walk across Clerkenwell Green brought us to the Horseshoe, a tiny pub, but again the doors were closed to the hungry tourist. Could just be their chosen hours of business, though, not all pubs having to be open all hours - not even in London. So by this time Plan B came into effect, forget bar billiards and find somewhere to eat at reasonable cost. After shunning a plethora of Italian restaurants offering main meal pasta at upwards of £11, we eventually found a charming little pub at the doorstep of the Barbican, called the Shakespeare's Head. Here we had an excellent Sunday roast served on huge platters, and with individual gravy boats, for £7.95each. Really nice decor and some cool background music (Zero 7) playing. Definitely will be seeking out again if ever revisiting the area. www.shakespearebarbican.com/
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Post by Deleted on Jul 17, 2011 10:23:01 GMT
There are no Leagues in London as such (nor have there ever been to our knowledge) but a smattering of tables of differing type and quality exist throughout the Capital.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 11, 2011 19:17:24 GMT
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curtd
Distinguished Member
Posts: 616
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Post by curtd on Dec 11, 2011 19:52:26 GMT
Hi
Was in the Pelton arms tonight in Greenwich .Very nice pub with a good atmos.
The table.........well......it was awful : (.It had no markings, no spots.the D looked like someone had been using a sand wedge on it.I rolled a ball up towards the left 50 and the ball hit the cushion about 8 inches from the hole.it was like this all over.I managed to get the break a couple of times by trying to put the red through the left peg with bags of right.I say bags but that was with a cue that had a leather tip......and no chalk : ). The landlord seems friendly .....tried to help me put the white pegs in the right place.............about 3 inches from the cushions ???? I politely thanked him and moved them : )
Curt
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Post by Deleted on Dec 11, 2011 20:05:03 GMT
Thanks for your report, Curt.
I am transferring your post to the thread we have going called "Table Investigations in London".
A swift look back reveals that this is one of Sav's ex-competition tables. Shocking that it has been allowed to deteriorate in such a way, but it's really par for the course in London as you will see from some of our other reports. :'(
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2012 22:03:24 GMT
A completely fruitless search in our quest for London Bar Billiards on this occasion................... A short walk across Clerkenwell Green brought us to the Horseshoe, a tiny pub, but again the doors were closed to the hungry tourist. Could just be their chosen hours of business, though, not all pubs having to be open all hours - not even in London. Table up for sale on eBay as we speak: Another Supreme: This one looks like it's coming out of the Horseshoe at Clerkenwell.
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Post by squirerichard on Feb 28, 2012 15:49:31 GMT
I was down in London yesterday and tried to find a few tables to play. The Electricity Showrooms, Hoxton Square, does have a table. But no cues or pegs!? A barman said 'it should work if I put a pound in'!!! The Fiddler's Elbow didn't have a table. The King Charles I does have a table and was a great little pub indeed. We had four games there. There was also a notice on a board about the 'Table Record' holder and they had a chalkboard with their own 'House Rules'. A report and some photos here - hamandeggerfiles.blogspot.com/2012/02/bar-billiards-and-little-bit-of-mini.html
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Post by Deleted on Feb 28, 2012 16:50:15 GMT
What a wonderful report contained in your Blog, SquireRichard !
As you can see on an earlier part of this thread, I had a similar experience to yours in turning up at the King Charles I only to find it closed in the afternoon. Mine was a Sunday though. I will now be motivated to pay it another visit.
Sorry that the Fiddlers Elbow proved to be a 'dud' - we will get that one removed from the map following your report. And I'm amazed at the Electricity Showrooms table being 'just for show' with no cues to play with - and they advised you to put a pound in - how cheeky!
Both the 'Leccie' and the 'King Chas' tables are 'the real McCoy' traditional Jelkes tables - in good condition judging by your photos. Unlike the one which the Horseshoe Clerkenwell has just got rid off, which was one of the modern 'Supreme' types.
Finally, your report on your visit to the King charles I is not only informative but entertaining as well, and I found myself chuckling at the blackboard displaying the house rules.........Heckling, Barracking, Gloating, Sledging and Swearing are commonplace during oft-cutthroat League matches down south - but "Goosing" seems to have been overlooked completely ! Any ladies reading this had better be wary of this in the future. ;D ;D ;D
Thanks once again,
tommo
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Post by squirerichard on Feb 28, 2012 18:26:08 GMT
No problem. Glad you enjoyed the write-up. It was a fun afternoon and evening. It's great to revisit parts of London looking for new things to do. The Fiddler's Elbow was an odd one - I think it's much more of a music venue at weekends, than a drinking pub during the week now. I really liked the King Charles I pub and i'll be heading back in the future. May play the Shove Ha'penny next time too. It's a shame the Electricity Showroom one isn't being fully utilised :-( The 'Goosing' rule is a very 'On The Buses' type of rule isn't it! I saw that you've visited The Selkirk in Tooting. We went there in 2010 and noticed they sold 'Pints o' Sausage Rolls'! twitpic.com/3da49m I'll remember to pop back in if I'm down that way again.
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