He thought the economic uncertainty and the weak pound could mean a good year for stay at home tourism which in turn could bring business to the seaside, to places like bowling alleys, family entertainment centres, seaside arcades and other coastal amusements. Many establishments were refurbishing, he said, with new equipment, mainly air hockey and refurbished pool tables. "Any business we can get is good business at the present time," said Barratt.

 Pool in general continued to be depressed, he thought, with an over supply of new tables and a glut of secondhand tables. But there had been a glimmer of better news for Sam Leisure.

 At this year's Dublin Show the company had introduced its Infinity English pool table to what proved to be a successful show. He described the new table was a no frills mechanical table. It had Sam Leisure's pro-active cushions and the build quality was up to the standard associated with the company's products. "But the straight six mech and a plain cabinet make it our cheapest table yet," he said, adding that it would be even cheaper if ordered (presumably beforehand) for purchase after the BACTA Finals in Blackpool in November.

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