Category Archives: News

I have had to replace one cloth due to it being ripped and now another in the space of just a few days of the opening of this local club.
I did not carry out the re-covering of any of the tables in this establishment , but I have found two reasons why these cloths are very easy to rip while playing snooker
first reason , the tables where re-covered around 12 months ago way before the club actually re-opened, so are due for a re-stretch of bed cloth , the table cloths will slacken off over a 12 month time period and are due to be stretched .
but the other reason is more alarming in that the fitter who carried out the re-covering of these tables have not put enough tacks in ,
the spacing down the side of the tables are 10 to 12 inch apart which is shocking work and would cause the cloth to be slack from the first few days as the cloth will have not have enough tack down places to make sure the cloth stays tight ,
I am not going to name names of which firm carried out the re-covering 12 months ago , but here are a few photo’s of why the table cloths are slack and ripping easy from cue stabbing.

A photo taken from under the table , we found only a few tacks on the side of the cloth and these where spaced out 10 to 12 inch apart , the cloth would become very slack between these tacks

As can be seen I did this to every table and found the cloth to be alarmingly very slack to the touch , so much that if you rub your fingers down the cloth it rucks up in front of them as pictured in the photo.

This photo of one of the re-placed cloths , showing my tacks are anchoring the cloth down every 5 inch at least , in this case every 4 inch .

this is what will happen if a cloth is not tight enough , I know this can happen even on very tight cloths but it is very rare , tight cloths tend to just result in a cue stab
Slack cloths almost always end up with a L shape rip like this one
I am sorry to say for this club Manager who has successfully ran another club and also played snooker for many years , that the clubs tables are in need of every table cloth re-stretching ASAP
Without the table bed cloths being tightened back up due to not fitting tight enough by putting enough tacks in and also the time scale of re-cover to opening the club of 12 months , these snooker table’s are going to all end up with torn bed cloths.

We have re-visited the Baulkline snooker club just up the A50 from Derby
This time we re-covered the other table to bring it up to a good playing standard for a competition that they are running in July.

Myself stripping the cushions of old cloth and carefully removing the cloth retaining slips.

this two table venue is something different , rather than the noisy music and loud banter you get with multi tables clubs this is run on quietness being the main object ,
A more relaxed way to play snooker or billiards , the tables are bookable on line .
Very warm in winter the club has excellent heating system

The finished table , both tables have now been re-covered in Best West of England Strachan Tournament 30 oz cloth

Not many people know this , but it is recommended that you have the bed cloth re-stretched tight after 12 months of having a new cloth fitted.
the reason is to speed the table up as a tight cloth has extra speed over one that has slackened off a bit
the other reason is cue stabs can cause a L shape rip in slack cloth , the cue tip can dig in and ruck up loose cloth , tight cloth tends to glance a cue tip off with the only damage being done is some nap removal but no rips.
here is a table we have just re-tightened the cloth on after 12 months.

Can you spot the unusual design on the end cushions of this table ?
The answer is 8 bolts instead of 6 , not many of these tables around
the manufacturer Padmore’s of Birmingham used to state you get a better bounce from 8 bolted end cushion rather than the normal 6 bolted type.

Padmore’s are now incorporated into Thurston after Clare’s of Liverpool , Padmore’s of Birmingham and Thurston of London algimated ,
today they have used the oldest name within that group to trade under which is Thurston’s

This Full size snooker table is located in a village hall near Burton on Trent Staffordshire
by having the cloth re-tightened the table is now playing faster and the level was also checked and adjusted.

I have been over to Derby county training Ground complex to re-cover and supply some balls and cues .
They have two pool tables the main one is for the players this table was having problems with the ball runs inside the table being broken
I replaced all 6 ball runs and this has now sorted the missing balls inside the table scenario.
The cloth they chose was in Club colors of Black.
The whole complex was being given a new coat of paint and the cabinet of this pool table was also painted black , it used to be light Oak finish

The black cloth is not one that is normally asked for , but we did supply the club with two packs of Black chalk , this is because if they carried on using blue or green chalk the cloth would have looked a mess.

White walls Black doors and carpet with matching black table and Black Strachan super pro speed cloth .
we could have supplied a white ram logo in the cloth from our Artscape cloth supplier but we did not have time to organize this for them due to they required re-cover in short space of time  , but maybe next time ,
Artscape cloth is not low cost though as the extra work of imprinting designs doubles the price of a re-cover .

We have just re-visited another local club that have GCL Billiards maintain their cue sports tables
it was not long ago that I was here recovering 3 other pool tables so the 4th one has been brought up to a good playing standard too.
Stapleford cue club has been trading for many years in Nottingham and Derby shire border .
they have a regular clientele and many pool teams play out of this club and they expect the best cloth and tables to play on .
There is a very good ambiance about this small /medium sized club , many large clubs just do not cut the mustard , in winter there is good heating and in summer Air conditioning
Bar meals are available too .

the finished table , re-covered in Strachan 6811 cloth all the pool tables are tournament,standard Supreme winner the choice of Professionals .

we do not do half a job , we also vac out all the dust in the cabinet under the slate

The cabinet is now also clean inside ,

We also wash down the ball rails , this stops balls sticking inside the table .

and we then check and adjust for level
I have been visiting Stapleford cue club repairing and maintaining the cue sports tables for over 30 years .

We have been called in to snag a few table repairs prior to re-opening today .
this old Riley snooker club has had a bit of a face lift and 8 Brand new Supreme pool tables installed and has been re branded the 3 counties snooker and pool sports bar.
My work was to replace 2 bed cloths which had been damaged and also one snooker cushion re-cover plus level all the pool tables and fit Racking skirts.

the match room table , this table had a L shape rip that the builders had managed to do , the manager was not impressed , and the main reason it ripped was the cloth was put on slack with tacks every 12 inch apart .

as can be seen the tack holes where 12 inch apart , slack cloths will ride up in front of a cue stab and the result is always a L shape tear

the L shape rip , the last thing our client wanted was to open today with two tables out of use , this slack clothed table had to have a new bed cloth fitted , and all my tacks had at least 4 to 5 inch apart and the cloth was put on tight .
but we managed to salvage some of this cloth for cushion cloth for the next time the tables have a re-cover .

The other table which is situated just outside the match room had water damage from a pipe burst in the ceiling , this resulted in another new bed cloth and one cushion being re-covered.

Downstairs in the main sports bar area , there are 8 Brand new supreme winner pool tables in Black pearl finish and green strachan cloth .
there is a raised darts area and a lounge area with Large screen TV’s fitted around the room .
A lift is soon to be recommissioned to get disabled members upstairs to the darts area and the snooker area where there are 11 full size snooker tables .

We are increasing our pool table rental sites within our local area .
We have just acquired a new site in Chilwell near Beeston Nottingham for a client who has a chain of pub’s where we also have pool tables sited .

we offer the best Latest edition Supreme Winner pool tables , these are the same type used for major professional and international tournaments around the UK
If you require the best tables backed up by a good time served billiards fitter for maintenance and best quality re-covering in top grade cloth .
then please contact Geoff at GCL billiards
12 month rental contracts start at just £15 per week fully maintained . WE DO NOT CHARGE VAT !
We also offer 6 monthly recover contracts at £18.50p per week  no vat to pay , please compare us with your local fruit machine operator who’s average charge is £22.50p per week plus vat

the internals of a supreme winner

Latest editions have solid chrome dicast corners and alloy cushion trim and come in the none reflective Black pearl if in stock , Black pearl is the one most people ask for , but we also do a nice oak cabinet version .

one of our Oak finish tables located in Worksop

we also maintain large snooker club’s tables such as these 4 supreme winners in Stapleford
we use Strachan and Hainsworth top quality wool  cloths , and we can also use Strachan super pro speed cloth , the choice is your’s
A club set of balls and a match set of balls plus 4 cues are supplied with the table and the coin op can be set on anything you require although the majority charge 50p per game .

Contact Geoff on 07753466064 or email c.large@btinternet.com , if we cannot answer the phone please leave a message I will get back to you , it may be that I am driving or lifting heavy snooker slates up or downstairs

The last couple of Days I have been at  a Club in Hucknall near Nottingham
My work was to dismantle down to the frame work and move the tables to one end of a long room to make space for a pool table at the other end .
My first day on site involved the actual move of the tables and re level with slates back on and the joints filled back in , at the same time the club members moved the Lighting shades and rehung them .

The start of the dismantle , you may notice that the tables are very far apart with much wasted space .

One Snooker table moved about 1 foot towards the camera and then leveled and slates back on .
The other table has had the slates removed and is about to be moved around 6 foot towards the other table .

club Members re positioning the shades , as a billiards firm we are not allowed to disconnect or connect electrical mains items , our public liability insurance also states we cannot do this
a qualified part P electrician is required by law to do this or the members can do it as was the case with this club .
To be honest I could do it as it is just the same as connecting a plug , but the law states I cannot . and to stay in line with our insurance we stick to this ruling .
but I did give advice on how to move and align the shades by the use of a center line and  a plumb bob .

the finished tables ready for play , the pool table is being located at the far end just inside the doors with good cue room all the way around , there  is a 14 foot  4 inch from the playing end of the table to the glass doors ,
enough for a 4ft wide table with 5 ft of cue room both sides .
the club is now looking forward to welcoming a pool team into the club , the snooker tables required the bed cloths re-stretching anyway so the club has saved this costing as it is in with the table move’s.