To all our clients

Happy Christmas and a happy new year from Geoff and Carol at GCL billiards
we are back open for business on the 4th of January , we only have 3 days left in January spare !
We have become a very busy Firm thank you for your custom in 2015 and we hope to have repeat business from you in 2016 or beyond .

We have been over to Long Clawson near Melton Mowbray this week
We dismantled this table around July 2015 time
We found that it had missing centre cross member structural wood and also the adjustable slate muntins that support the slate we reported this on our site on July 9th 2015
https://gclbilliards.com/who-set-this-table-up-with-missing-parts/
I am glad to say our client agreed for us to make a new cross member bearer and also fit adjustable muntins and new thicker slate tack linings .

as you can see the centre cross member and slate supports have now been fitted

this was how we found the frame on dismantle on July 9th 2015 , no inner frame work at all !

the slate supports are adjustable with a spanner , and tighten up against the slate to stop slate sagging
these should have been on from New , the table is a Titan oak 9ft supplied from a Liverpool fitting firm .
although there are a few main billiard firms in that area that are 100% trustworthy as in any area there are those that can let you down .
there are many fitters around Liverpool and Manchester and Leeds and Sheffield ,  Some are good ,  some work on their own and fit badly ,
these fitters who fitted this table were hit and run merchants , they took my clients money and left him with a badly fitted table which was shocking work .
He was not to know as what client gets under a table and checks or knows what is supposed to be under there , they knew this and fitted this table knowing those parts where missing .
The cushions where not bolted up tight and had bad bounce the slate lings where thin bits of cladding and the cloth was stapled on and not tacked on like a proper Time served Billiards fitter would do .
the frame was loose and rocking because it had major structural parts missing .

we replace the thin cladding that was screwed around the edge of the slate for cloth tacking
with proper tack lings we can now fit with proper bed cloth tacks .
the photo shows the new linings on the slate and the old thin cladding that we took off for comparison

a close up photo of the completed table
you may notice that there is a swimming pool in the back ground , we did notice that the slate cushions bolts had  abit of rust on them
we coated all these in wax to stop the thread biting and cross threading in the future
the pool is another room away from the table but is has archways into the room allowing any condensation or damp air to enter towards our snooker table
it is not ideal for a table to be located like this , as the cloth acts like a sponge ands will soak up any damp conditions in the air .

the completed table , set up correct , with all correct missing parts fitted , leveled and brushed and ironed ready for play  the table above is now playing 100% correct ,
if you are worried about where to find a suitable fitter who will not rip you off like these did , then contact Geoff at GCL Billiards for a quote or a firm to buy a table from .
, even if you do not have GCL Billiards he will point you in the direction of good firms who care about their reputation .
there are still a few of us around .

We have been into Lincolnshire on our run up to christmas
this table was bought from our for sale section from another selling client for just £500 What a Bargain .
https://gclbilliards.com/very-nice-oak-birmingham-billiards-full-size-snooker-table-for-sale-in-lincolnshire-500-bargain/

The table has Steel block cushions and is made from solid oak ,
it did require a re-cover though but only due to sun damaged faded cloth ,
due to our selling clients not putting the cover over it and leaving the curtains open.
the old cloth was very badly bleached but has plenty of nap left on it , our buying client wanted to have it re-clothed in Strachan 6811 tournament 30 oz cloth .

the table frame has been erected into a room that is at the bottom of our clients garden that used to have a full size snooker table in it some years before .

This table was made to look like a Riley Aristocrat , we think supplied by Birmingham Billiards but we also think it was an imported table from china , but it is very well made .
they have incorporated adjustable slate bearers , we call them adjustable Muntins in the trade .
these will stop any slate sagging across the middle unsupported section that you find on most modern 1980s onwards tables .
so is a very important feature to have on a table as it lets you adjust the slate sagging out .

Our buying clients are trying the table out
The owner was beaming with delight as he came through the door to see this very nice oak table erected in his room
he is very satisfied with how GCL billiards where able to pick this table up for him from just down the road , and install it into his room at the bottom of his garden without any hassle .
He says if we need any feedback to people who require references for GCL billiards then tell them to contact him for a glowing report .
and we will do this along with few ore people who also are willing to give GCL billiards a reference for the way we carry out our work .

another photo of our happy client taking a shot , looked on by his son .
I am sure this Table will be getting some good use over the Christmas period and beyond as our client is a keen snooker player .
If you are after a snooker table then please look in our for sale section , these are private adverts direct from the seller with no middle men fees
our client above did this , then contacted GCL Billiards to have the table picked up and delivered plus re-covered ,
we gave a quote for this before we did the work and our client was over the moon with the service he received , and with the Bargain of a table he had found on GCL Billiards for sale section .

Today we have been re-covering seven supreme pool tables at hunters Bar in Grantham Lincolnshire
The very spacious ground floor UK and American pool table area .
there is also a large Lounge and darts area with 60 inch TV , and a long well stocked Bar

This club is well used by local pool players .

If we where not busy re-covering the Supreme winner tables they would also be in use , and this is a Tuesday mid Afternoon
If you live local to Grantham then hunters Bar is a really good venue for cue sports fans
Food served / good ales and a selection of spirits / Warm well heated / also 6 full size snooker tables upstairs .

We have just increased our rental sites for pool table hire
the latest and last install of pool table hire in 2015 was to Collingham Football club
Many thanks to Jez Jones and Jules Goodyear for recommending GCL billiards as the local choice for pool table hire .
it is recommendations that are the best form of advertising for GCL billiards it proves we are providing a service and business that people like .

A brand new Extension to Collingham football club
and a Brand new 7ft by 4ft Supreme Winner coin operated pool table
This table will be re-covered every 6 months for the new Pool team that kicks off the new year at the start of a new season
They are hoping to attract a second team .

this is the latest Green Badged  Supreme winner as used in most major competitions and finals on the professional circuit
This table is finished in the New Black Pearl Cabinet , the older supreme had the Black ash woodgrain finish which when cleaned up used to shine and reflect the above lighting and distract the players .
The Supreme Winner in Black pearl is the most sought after table on the market because of it’s fine anti glare crinkle matt finish .
This table now compliments Newark area community of pubs and clubs who also have the Supreme winner tables installed .
With many Pub and club Players now demanding that this table is the type for them , it makes sense to have a fully maintained GCL billiards Pool table on Contract
The two recovers a year option is very good value where some amusement chains charge upto £25 per week for a table or 50/50 split of takings
GCL Billiards charge alow set rate of £15 per week for one recover a year , or £18.50p per week for two recovers a year ,
and we use Strachan 6811 tournament cloth as used by the top class tables in Newark cue club .

we even supply a good UK made cover , with cues and two sets of balls one for general play and a higher grade set for match play
We do not hire out fruit machines , we are a Cue sports table specialists  , with a fully time served Billiards fitter
over 40 years personal service to the cue sports industry fitting Snooker / Billiard /American pool / UK Pool / Bar billiards / and European carom tables
We maintain and re-cover to a high standard , we do not rush a job and your table will be set level before we leave .

Contact Geoff at GCL Billiards , we have two 7ft Black pearl tables that will be ready for install in January 2016 on contract hire basis .
These pool tables are that popular that the manufacturer cannot keep pace with demand , and an 8 week waiting list is not unusual ,
we have two in stock READY FOR CONTRACT HIRE NOW.

I have been over to a small village near Melton Mowbray today to re-cover an 8ft snooker table
The client bought this table in australia and had it shipped back with other furniture when they returned to the uk

I have come across this type of table manufacture before , and even full size snooker tables have been manufactured this way back in the 1980s
when every man and his dog had a go at making snooker tables , this is one of the worst ways of table manufacture
you can compare it to those wood bed Argos tables that are just throw away tables as the cost of re-cover is greater than replacing .
as you can see from the photo above you simply prise the cushion off the wood surround, and find they have been air gun nailed on !
a simple rebate and cloth slip is all that is required at the manufacture to make this cushion a more easy way to re-cover .
this procedure would have been one pass down a spindle moulder of each rubber block .

they even made them short , just look at this centre pocket , the ball would be hitting the wood ,
this is not the correct way to cover cushions and the block should reach the end of the woodwork.

I manged to realign the cushion block and recovered like this , the end of the cushion has cloth all the way down

the finished table re-covered in Strachan 6811 Tournament 30 oz all wool cloth
my client was delighted with the re-cover , and took note of the bad workmanship that I had showed her
the table is for a christmas get together , and the old cloth was looking really shoddy and worn out .
We prefer to work on proper made tables , but where not put off by this badly made table
it took a little longer to re-cover , and I think they will enjoy playing on it over christmas .