Category Archives: News

Posted in News

Very busy month for November, but we are still taking bookings for work


Looks like we are about to get very busy for the month of November.  Some of the work booked in:

  • 3 re-rubber + re-cover snooker tables.
  • 6 american pool table dismantles, then put back up plus re-cover all 6.
  • 3 local full size snooker re-covers + another re-rubber to match size.
  • 1 total renovation of 10ft snooker table re-polish and re-rubber, nets leathers
  • 3 tables dismantle and load.
  • 1 table move from Nottinghamshire to Lincolnshire.
  • 1 re-cover and one stretch.
  • 1 pool table sold and deliver local.

Plus loading various snooker tables around the UK for their slates to use on a kitchen floor.  It’s a shame but the slate is now worth more in scrap value than trying to sell the table as an item for use on ebay.

Add to this list our special offer of pool table re-cover and re-rubber work which is bringing in regular work now the winter pool leagues have started.  Looks like it’s a 7 day week for the whole of November and thats good news for GCL Billiards and Double8pooltables.

I did say all the work would come at the same time and it always happens just before Christmas.

Many thanks to our clients for entrusting the work to GCL BILLIARDS

Posted in News

special offers on pool table re-covers from just £165 for Higher quality Branded Strachan cloth POOL TABLE RECOVERING SPECIAL OFFERS FROM £145 in Nottingham , Lincoln ,Newark , Derby , Leicester . and all East midlands Area.

We are haveing a special offers run upto Christmas for all UK 6FT AND 7FT sized Pool table recovers ,
We will Recover youre UK 6FT OR 7FT sized Pool table in Quality Strachan West of England cloth

**** THIS OFFER EXPIRED ON DECEMBER 22nd 2012 **** but please enquire if we have any more offers on by phoning Geoff on 07753466064 please try and phone between 9am and 6pm , we stop answering the phone after this business opening time but you can always email Geoff at c.large@btinternet.com
 cloth starting at £165 .
Also we have in a range of three colours of Burgandy red , Royal blue , or Standard Green all at £165

allthough we do the red and the blue we always recommend the Green cloth as it is the most restfull colour for the eye’s , it is a natural colour and that is why most UK cue sports tables have used the colour of Green for many years , red and blue is an american thing . there are other colours that we can use for example Purple but these are extra charge and are POA .also Strachan speed cloth at extra charge POA.

and it gets better , we will also knock off a further £10 for every other 6ft or 7ft uk Pool table you have at the premises if recovered at the same time .

to qualify for the above offers please quote ( 88pool offer 165 OR 185 or £10 off for two in same premises  ) to c.large@btinternet.com or phone 07753466064 or 01159725355 , this offer expires on Dec 22nd 2012.

all pool table recovers are being done inbetween the main jobs that we have allready booked in , the recovering of the pool tables is to take up any slack days we have on our run upto the busy christmas period . ensuring we have continuous work for each week . we will do some Recovering work in the evening and on Saturdays if Possible

Please note ,when booking a UK pool table recover , check youre cushion bounce , you may require a re-rubber or new cushions and fixing bolts, which we can supply at extra cost . if you know the make of youre pool table please state it with the size 6ft or 7ft , all tables above this size are charged a higher rate
if you do not know the make , please send us a photo , as all Pool tables are not the same , and rubber are differant types and shapes .
If you require extra cues or more chalk or even a spare set of balls we can also add this to youre order . Pockets and ball rails charged extra if required, but are fitted free at same time as a re-cover.

We always clean the inside of youre table removing years of grease and sweat build up . making sure youre table looks as good inside as the new re-cover outside . we then re-level useing an engineers level and a digital electronic level . leaving youre table for match play . and as good as new .

We have many satisfied testimonials of our work , we have personal experience in the cue sports industry as fitters for many years , we value our reputation and value youre custom and repeated custom , that is why we strive to do every job to perfection .
we are an NBSA approved firm , youre guarentee of professional workmanship, not all firms carry this recommendation .

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Three Snooker tables maintained by GCL Billiards in the Nottingham , Derby , Lincoln , Leicester area

Three snooker tables maintained by GCL BILLIARDS in the East midlands area
these tables have constant use and require regular recovers , and maintenance , they are looked after by the staff of the establishment and the nice new Black table covers are always placed on the Tables between play .

Today I have re-covered one of the tables and serviced the other two , checked for level , and then checked all equipment for missing tips and rest feet .
If you have  a table or two or more , then we are always looking to increase our client base , rest assured we are no hit and run firm , and any work will be carried out to our own strict code of practice. We are also recommended by the NBSA for youre peace of mind .

Posted in News

GCL BILLIARDS for Pool table recovering in the Nottingham, Derby, Lincoln, Newark & Leicester area

Two more Supreme Prince Pool tables get the full monty treatment of brand new cushion rubber in quality black rubber and new re-clothing with strachan best quality wool cloth.  We also vacuumed the tables out, de-greased around 3 years of muck from the ball rails and centre ramp, cleaned the side chute and flip out tray, checked battery power and that the electronic coin mechs were working fine.

One thing the Landlord expressed concern with was that the tables have never played level in all the years he has been there, so the slate was re-levelled by strip packing to take out the natural bow of the cabinet which over time had become worse.  We also removed many recovers of spray on glue from the top of the slate which was affecting the ball run down the side of the table.  The ball now runs true and the table was levelled by engineers level as well as digital levelled to an accuracy of 0.1 per square metre, that’s the thickness of a £20 note throughout the level of the table slate area.  Only a time served billiards fitter would go to these lengths of making sure a pub pool table was good for play and the good news is we do not charge more for this expertise.  So why choose a quick fit pool table recoverer over someone who takes their time and does the job right.

PLEASE BE AWARE THAT SOME FIRMS COME WITH CUSHIONS ALREADY COVERED AND JUST CHANGE THEM OVER TAKING YOUR CUSHIONS AWAY.  This can be a big mistake if you allow this to happen as good cushions could be swapped over with bad hard rubber cushions and this is what had happened to the above two tables including slate swap over.  At GCL Billiards we will only change over worn out sets of cushions and never just one or two cushions always the whole set.  If one cushion has gone hard the others are not far behind in doing the same, so best to replace the whole set.  All other good sets of cushions are recovered on site and refitted to their original tables, ensuring that if you have got decent cushions they are put back on your table.

To round things off we fitted our smart new green www.88pooltables.com bubble badge to the cabinet side.  This displays who maintains the table and contact numbers etc.

We know we are second to none in the refurbishment of Pool tables, so if your local pub or club is ready for a revamp of its pool tables please recommend www.gclbilliards.com the professional cue sports people.

The Landlord was highly delighted with the work we have carried out and the attention to detail of the cleaning of the inside of the tables to stop ball jams etc. and how we got the tables level.  Not all firms do this, but GCL Billiards and Double Eight Pool Tables always do it.

Phone us today to book your table in on 07753466064 or 01159725355.  Leave a message if we are busy we always get back to you.

Posted in News

Another snooker table to pick up, transport and re-rubber etc.

The week is starting off very well for us.  A local removals firm has been in touch to book our services in the dismantle of a full size snooker table for this Thursday.  As we dismantle the removal firm’s crew will wrap each part and load onto the van for transport to the new owners house.  We may yet also get the job of installing the table at the other end.

A square leg Karnhem and Hillman table

Also a client who had been in touch looking for a 10ft table has secured one that I had spotted on ebay, a very nice 10ft Karnhem and Hillman table with square legs for that contemporary look.  I have to travel up to Glasgow to pick this table up, bring back to the workshop, re-rubber, re-cover, maybe new nets and leathers, fit new modification of adjustable muntins (slate supports) and then deliver to Dagenham near london to set up in the client’s brand new games room.

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New install of Pool table Rental in Nottingham

Where once stood a 3/4 sized snooker table (9ft by 4ft 6 inch ) , This club comittee has now decided due to almost none use of the Snooker table to move over to a BRAND NEW winner supreme pool table in a nice light oak cabinet finnish as their choice of cue sports table. with 6811 Tournament cloth .

Today we dismantled the Snooker table and set up a BRAND NEW Winner supreme 7ftx4ft Championship play Pool table on a hire basis contract.

The club chose our Deluxe package of two Cloth re-covers every 6 months and a free set of Aramith Premier match balls for the pool team every year , this table will be maintained every 3 months with a service visit , a recover every 6 months , the table will also be cleaned inside as well as outside and the level rechecked and adjusted, what other Table hire firm promises that level of maintenace at a competitive price structure for a Hire of pool table ?

We are able to offer this high level of service because not only do we care about the tales we service and own , but we only work on cuesports tables NOTHING ELSE , it is what we are good at .

When was the last time youre pool table got a good service from your pool table hire provider ? when was it last recovered? , was it covered in good quality cloth ?
are the balls your are playing with Premier Aramith or Chinese ? our reputation is built upon provideing not only a good service and skilled work but useing quality Materials and accessories. includeing our main choice of table to operate the winner supreme which is endorced by the World eight ball pool federation , the IPA , the World tour , Strachan , and Aramith . and just about every pool table operator sales and hire firm in the UK .

New Pool table stock is being ordered on a regular basis , as fast as we get them in they are back out the door , sometimes never reaching the door but delivered direct from picking them up from the factory to youre premises.
order youre new Supreme Winner pool table today, You will not be disapointed with our service and attention to detail .

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SNOOKER TABLE RECOVERING BY TIME SERVED BILLIARDS FITTER , is snooker on the Decline ?

I have been guilty of pushing our work towards the Pool table market recentley , but rest assured I have not forgotten or neglected the importance of Snooker Table work .
In todays Cue Sports clubs and pubs etc , the preferance over the years is towards the quick game of Pool , it is important in my profession as a billiards fitter to balance the work between the two cue sports in order to have continuity of work  , and many of you know that pool is slowly if not allready taken over the national cue sports game in the UK , a quick easy game with more turnover for the table owner and useing far less space than a full sized snooker table , many clubs have had their Snooker table’s removed and two Pool table’s put in the same space . where once stood a table taking £4 per hour , now stands two pool,table’s taking 50p ( per 7 min game each ) thats around 9 games per hour = £4.50p each table = £9 an hour , over 100% more takings than the one large full size snooker table . (some charge £1 per game )
As you can see because of this quick easy game of pool  the snooker side in the uk is on the decline , that is why more and more countries outside the uk especialy China are more into snooker than the UK .

But I know there are a lot of die hard fans of Snooker out there , firstly let me say I am proud to have been trained by previous time served fitters who have passed down the art of billiard fitting from master fitter to trainee , sadly this practice is slowly drying up , no more time served fitters are being trained up in the UK , and the table’s have to be kept to an acceptable playing condition , at GCL BILLIARDS we point out that we are Time served Billiards fitters first and foremost., trained in the art of maintaining any billiard or snooker table from a simple service to a full revamp of the table includeing polishing , re-rubbering , Reclothing , nets leathers , leveling , and logistics .

so if you are thinking of having youre table re-covered or re-rubbered , then please do not hesitate to get in touch with Geoff Large a time served billiards fitter at GCL BILLIARDS , just pick up the phone , Geoff will discuss any work you may require and give sound advice .
we are NBSA approved .

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Are We No1 for Pool and Snooker Table Recovering in Nottingham , Derby , Lincoln , Newark , and Leicester ?

Pool table division of GCL BILLIARDS

We are getting many enquiries and confirmed work from our advertising efforts for the East midlands area for Pool table Recovering and replaceing worn out rubber cushions .
Our aim is to be no 1 within this area for youre automatic choice to call us first for any work you may require on Pool or Snooker tables , rest assured that with over 37 years PERSONAL ( not bought ) fitting experience , youre table will receive the professional work that it desrves , no cowboy hit and run job’s , no cloth falling off the slate with inferior glue that has been used or the fitter was in too much of a rush to get as many tables done in a day as possible .
I take my time to get youre table playing right . Recovered , internal rails cleaned and level , re- rubber or replacement cushons if required.  new balls and cue’s and chalk are available too.
I will with youre permission affix our smart custom made DOUBLE EIGHT POOL  bubble badge to youre pool table which has our contact telephone number and web site details .you will then be able to have our contact details at hand for any work you may require for your pool table for the future.

We also work outside our normal working area of Nottinghamshire , Lincolnshire , Leicestershire , and Derbyshire.
Northampton and South Yorkshire are also within easy reach of GCL BILLIARDS as we are centraly based in the East Midlands at Junction 25 of the MI in the town of Long Eaton , We do not overcharge for our services and use only Branded Strachan cloth as used by Professionals on Snooker and Supreme pool tables .