When I was a schoolboy I was intrigued by the name of a popular music hall comedian called Nosmo King. I wondered which country could have produced a man with a name like Nosmo but it was some time before I realised his name formed the words “No Smoking”. Nosmo King made people laugh during days when, for many, laughs were few. His name I learned, was inspired by a notice on the wall of a theatre in which he appeared.
Probably the comedians who dreamed up the forthcoming no smoking in pubs,etc., legislation are more likely to cause many people to cry rather than to laugh. But remember music halls died from increasing competition from television as much as anything else. They were not killed off by Nosmo King’s stage name appearing on theatre walls so there is still some hope for indoor entertainment in buildings used by the public.
I cannot prophesy what effect the smoking ban will have on pool in pubs and clubs. I hope those who run such places will not make the mistakes made a few years ago by breweries whose accountants, watching sales figures falling because fewer people were using pubs, increased the prices of drinks in order to restore the loss thereby creating further losses.
I read in one national newspaper that some pubs were thinking of providing outdoor facilities for pub game players. To add to this I have heard that Excel Leisure has built a weatherproof table suited for outdoor use under a canopy. The Rustic is said to have decking and an external plywood finish with weather proofed slate supports and rubber coated corners as well as rainproof, non-fading cloth.. Unfortunately my information arrived on my weekend deadline date so I will endeavour to get more news from Stan McKenna in time for our June issue. I know McKenna, one of the industry’s deep thinkers, has been concerned about the effect of the smoking ban on pool.
I have neither seen nor heard of any suggestions from the British Association of Pool Table Operators as to how the ban’s effects might be eased. That is not to say none have been made. Perhaps a return to the old style BAPTO annual finals with preliminary area contests on operators’ sites might be considered.
Company name change for Sam tables
The relationship between Sam Leisure, the Great Britain and Ireland distributors of the Sam pool tables range, and SLP Properties has, I hear, been discontinued with the latter company ceasing to trade.
However Sam tables, air hockey tables and accessories will continue to be available from the new company, GD Sports and Leisure, which will operate from the same premises as the former Sam Leisure company whose managing director, Gary Drage, assumes a similar position with the new company.
Quality has always borne a relationship to price and the Spanish made Sam pool tables have reflected this in both areas. Drage has no fear of the new company failing to match the same standards in the future.
I have always favoured the use of well known and good quality pool tables at major tournaments and, for a number of years, Sam 8-ball tables have been used at the BAPTO annual pool finals by courtesy of the distributors. When they were first used they were chosen by the association as a top of the range pool table to succeed the Hazel Grove Superleague tables which had ended production. Rileys bought the Hazel Grove company. but ceased to use the Superleague name because, they said, theirs was the more popular name in cue sports. (The Superleague name was acquired eventually by Master Billiard Supplies who have made every effort to maintain a similar quality to the HGM range.)
The price of Sam tables prevented them from producing large sales figures among BAPTO members. Sam tables do tend to look more at home in quality sites such as modern pool clubs rather than humble, back street pubs.
GD Sports and Leisure will, I hear, continue to use the Sam Leisure name in some of its sales literature. It did so recently when the new Magno American Pool table was present at the prestigious Publican Awards 2007 ceremony held in London’s Grosvenor House Hotel on March 27.
Simply a solution
The Scottish based International Sports Promotions company, run by top pool- professional Ross McInnes and his wife, Michaela, herself a top championship snooker referee, is currently enjoying a two year agreement with Simply Pool Ltd., the Oldham based Tournament pool table manufacturers. Under the agreement ISP will use the Simply Pool tables at all its major Scottish contests.
Like some other professional players McInnes has been a supporter of the Simply Pool range of tables since they were first used in the EUKPF Championships in Bridlington a few years ago. His company’s agreement with the manufacturers continues until October next year.
Will you be visiting the InterGame Expo?
- 30 September - 02 October, 2008
BEGE 2008 - Bulgaria
