The viciously competitive internet market has driven prices so low that many tables are being imported from the Far East instead of supplied by UK manufacturers. Low prices have also destroyed the home sales market for second-hand tables.

The popularity of sales to homes might have destroyed the amount of pool played in pubs and reduced the number of pub rental sites, leaving a lot of off-site tables in operators’ stores throughout the country. This has affected the second-hand market, said Barrett. There would probably be a continuation of the low table-rental trends, with managed estates shrinking in numbers and more tenanted and lease pubs appearing.

As a result, he said, pub estates had started to look at what pool could offer and some spoke of investing more in it. Sam liked to hear that because it supplied stylish, durable and reliable innovative tables, but could not do that without asking customers to pay a proper price for them.

But if there had been a general shrinkage in the home market, Sam Leisure found an increase in the contemporary bar sector where modern design, quick games and lots of fun were required. Printed cloth confirmed that putting fun and style into pool was needed. Barrett thought no serious UK pool player would want a cloth that distracted the eye but the rise of American pool would continue, where flashy fun was built into tables designed with a modern look.

More people were perhaps playing pool in the UK, he thought, although possibly not so seriously. They were enjoying club environments in venues offering varied entertainment, or even at home. Manufacturers and operators needed to offer better products that brought a better playing experience, he said.

If Sam Leisure provides quality coupled with expense, then Heywood Pool and Snooker, with its range of Supreme pool tables, provides value for money at a comparatively low cost. The range has long been popular with the smaller operator, especially those dealing with free trade. It has proved its worth over the years as the table upon which the annual World 8-Ball Pool Federation Championships are played and its popularity has, from time to time, caused problems for its management as it attempted to deal with full order books.

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