Category Archives: News

We will now be stocking the new Black ball Limited Edition Hainsworth match cloth .

Hainsworth only supply Black ball with this cloth .
and is Exclusive to Black ball only , but Black ball are now supply the trade so you can have this limited edition cloth fitted to any make of table .

So it does not matter if you have supreme , DPT , IPA , old Hazel Grove in fact any make of table we will be able to source and re-cloth in this Exclusive cloth colour and grade .
contact Geoff Large at GCL billiards to reserve your slot for you next pool table re-cloth .
but if you should also wish to upgrade to a Black ball table , I am sure we will be able to accommodate that as well .
and offer you competitive pricing on par with any other retailer .
I will be contacting Micheala and Ross at Black ball to see what could be offered for retail by GCL billiards .

Fed up of noisy cushion rattle on your pool table , less bounce to some cushions more to others ?

I may have found the solution for you a nice easy conversion you could DIY yourself for little money
( You will require a large hole cutter for the underside of the table down the hinge side to gain 3 access holes identical to other side on free play tables )
or jig saw the hole’s out ?

LESS NOISE

EQUAL BOUNCE TO EVERY CUSHION

TIGHT NO HINGED TOP SURROUND

After listening to players about rattles and loose tops on Supreme pool tables and the hinge rattles on one side

A VERY COMMON PROBLEM THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT RECTIFIED .

I have come up with a plan to eliminate most of the problems a loose top lid can cause for cushion bounce and noise .
although the top loop is all wrong on these adjustable clamps they may fit existing hook tabs on underside of lid .

We are almost full for January .
and are now taking orders for work for February .
I have an Hospital operation that will need two weeks recovery time from the 20th of January
nothing to worry about straight forward OP …. and I will be OK from February onward .

and looking to start back on or around February the 4th .

We are fully booked out for our run up to Christmas .

no more work can be added to our schedule before Christmas , we are now taking work bookings from 6th of January
with some days in January and February all ready booked out .

we get some unusual table re-cloths … GCL billiards do re-cloth Bar billiards , we are only one of a handful of firms that do these tables .
It takes a special skill to insert those rings with out due force , and we have seen a  few with cracked slates in our time from DIY attempts .
and it is normally a two man job to do these tables so we do ask for a hand now and again to swivel slate over a couple of times if you wish to keep costs down .

we do american pool re-cloth and rubber plus installations and relocation .

also relocation and install  of full size snooker tables …or any size table !

Fitting and shaping of angles on new Re-rubbers .

To Match template size if required , or larger more easier pockets if you prefer .
**** Some old Billiard tables will not be possible to use Templates , due to wood at back end of pocket not being wide enough and pocket plates in the way .

Fitting of new UK made Peredon Quality nets and leathers give a new re-cloth an even better look .

we stock a few colours for pool tables in the strachan 6811 .
and we can also special order in custom colours in Strachan and Hainsworth cloths .

We can arrange for custom printed cloth …but be fully aware a very costly option .
which can double or in some cases triple the cost from using a normal one colour cloth .
again we can use Strachan or Hainsworth cloths for custom printing .
*** Please note if you are using someones logo such as Liverpool FC for instance you will need an email from the holder of that logo
Giving permission to reproduce it for you …I’m afraid it is you the buyer who has to seek permission , normally Football clubs will not charge anything if it is for Private Home use .
but a firm Like GCL Billiards would be charged , hence why you have to ask permission and get it in writing so our cloth printer could carry this printing out for you .

And we also Rent tables out  ( LOCALLY )  on a 12 months contract , then renew every 6 months , we re-cloth every 6 months on our 12 month rentals .
above our latest site in Langley Mill on the Nottingham / Derby Border.

We have a client based on the Wirrel , who would like to sell their 8ft by 4ft Titan snooker table .
A modern table built around the 1990s /2000s .
Titan tables are  very good tables .

This one is 4 leg version so could be used if you got a hard wood 3 sectional top made as a dining table .
***Tall chairs would be required if you did this around 4 inch higher than normal seating .

And yes I know the seller has set the balls up wrong in the triangle and at D end , pink and blue , only balls correct is the black and white ..
.but hey it serves a purpose for display and all balls are there .
just shows this owner does not play on it much …. who ever buys will be buying an almost unused in as new condition , but it is second hand .
as you can see cloth is almost unused and this table was just a room filler rather than an enthusiasts players table .

this three china mans hat lighting shade is included as are the balls cues and rests or rest .

Matching Scoreboard is also included
anyone wishing to purchase I will put you in direct contact with the seller .
If you would like a price for collection deliver and set up , this table is I have been informed a three section slate bed , it will have to be fully dismantled to load onto a van .
You should only undertake  Qualified billiard fitters for this work .
GCL billiards  in Geoff Large has over 42 years in the trade PERSONAL years not made up of adding all employers experience together like other firms do .

Geoff refitting a table back together in Wales .

GCL billiards have the van and soft and hard tyre piano wheels to move a sectional slate bed table safely .
If you require a quote for dismantle loading delivery and set back up , then please contact GCL billiards at our email address for a quote .
please say if on ground floor or if stairs are involved , also Post code is required for an exact quote  for the distance .

Email is     c.large@btinternet.com

I moved an identical table to this one two years ago , that one had a table top for Table tennis .
They are very good tables to work on .

We are again at Butlins Green Baize Club our third visit this year working on the maintenance of the cue sports tables .
we have three American pool tables to re-cloth in Strachan super pro speed cloth in Butlins Red

and various work on full size snooker tables within the club .

we visit around three times a year now , the structure of the green baize has changed over the years and now it demands that the tables get more care and attention than we used to do  .
there is a charge for table time now at Butlins , in the past it has been free , with charging for table time , Butlin’s Management have realised the need to keep the tables in as good condition as they can .
we use top quality Strachan cloth for both the snooker and the pool tables .
and we keep the nets and leathers and ball rails in top order too .
GCL billiards thank Butlin’s Skegness for the regular return work , we like to feel we have proved our good ethics in the work we carry out and value Bultins as a client .
GCL Billiards  use of top materials , top workmanship ethics ,
and carrying out the work to the tight timescale demanded by Butlins and meeting their terms and conditions as an approved  contractor .
We have built up a trust with the management that they know they can rely on GCL billiards to maintain their cue Sports tables .
We always look at what is best for Butlins rather than what is best for GCL billiards .
this is a principle that was instilled into me by my old boss John Hopkin many years ago , when I first started work for Elston & Hopkin Billiards of Nottingham  .
John Hopkin  is still alive and is in his 90’s now .

Just re-clothed three pool tables in Northampton club .
The special ordered three IPA rated 861 speed cloths by Strachan in powder blue .

The Strachan 861 is a non-directional worsted (speed) cloth to assure constant speed in all directions. It has a smooth, precise surface which has been specially developed by Simonis in Belgium for the IPA professional tournaments.
861 is known for its durability and speed but also needs no ironing. The Strachan 861 Cloth gives you a flat, flawless playing surface. Available in powder blue.

Close up of this very popular cloth , but we must warn you it is more expensive than your normal wool napped cloth .

but we will special order this cloth in for clubs and private houses , if we get a good response from orders we may carry it in stock .
but for now special order only .

We are a Snooker and billiards firm based in the East Midlands .
We like to keep local if we can but do travel if the work returns the effort of that Travelling .
Snooker table re-clothing to a high standard by Geoff Large who has over 42 years personal experience as a billiards fitter.

Please do not mistake the difference to a time served Billiards fitter to a pool table renovation engineer  .
A billiards fitter has to undergo years of learning and crafting his experience to deliver an acceptable grade of work .
Some Pool table engineers do not know how to re-cloth a full size table or install one properly .
so always look for a time served billiards fitter to work on your cue sports table .

For example just bolting a table frame together and slinging the slate son is not acceptable .
The frame had to undergo some time spent getting it level before the slates even go near the frame .

Only then should the slates be placed on the frame and positioned .

then the fine levelling can be made of the slates before the joints are set and the cloth can be fixed to the slate bed .

then you can fit the bed cloth , on this table it was the original bed cloth re-stretched back on
If your cloth is in good order it can be re-stretched back on .

And stretched tightly as a drum skin .
loose cloth you run the risk of tears , and a slow table .

Once back together it is time for Play .

we also re-cloth american pool using high grade speed cloths .

we re-cloth UK pool tables such as this Supreme winner

We even clean the ball rails and inside the table .

we can use Strachan 6811

Strachan super pro speed cloth

Hainsworth Match
just three of the cloths we could use , but we can also order special cloths such as Precision Hainsworth ,

We stock the odd Supreme  pool table for Rental contracts or for sale too
there is a 6 week waiting time from the factory so we always try and keep two in stock at anyone time .

We also relocate and transport tables for our clients .

for quality work and craftsmanship talk to Geoff at GCL billiards for your Cue sports needs .
when it comes to re-clothing or new re-rubber or table moving and pool table rentals .
You can be assured you are dealing with the right firm .