Save Our Snooker Heritage: Why Our Golf equipment Matter Extra Than Ever…
There’s one thing particular about strolling right into a snooker membership. The mild clink of balls, the hush of focus, the odor of freshly brushed material. But past the tables and cues, snooker golf equipment are locations crammed with tales, friendships, and a way of group that’s turning into more and more uncommon nowadays.
Sadly, these group treasures are disappearing — and quick.
Snooker in Numbers
- China boasts over 300,000 snooker golf equipment, whereas the UK has only a few hundred. The UK shouldn’t be China although and the mindset of the UK inhabitants has modified, as individuals on this nation simply need to play sport for enjoyable and delight, to not get on a tour or be an expert or prime prime novice.
- Rileys — as soon as working 165 golf equipment — entered administration twice (2009, 2025) and not too long ago closed 25 venues, costing 146 jobs .
- League play displays the decline: one Reddit consumer shared their city had 12 closed golf equipment, leaving simply 10 lively, and native divisions shrank from six to 2 .
- For instance, the Oxshott League in Surrey, the place Chris Gaynor performs had properly over 15 groups in it at one stage in its over 100 12 months historical past and in 2025, has solely had six groups. Golf equipment have to retain gamers. No gamers, no golf equipment. No snooker.
Why This Issues…
A Cultural and Social Anchor
- Golf equipment are important assembly factors — internet hosting everybody from teenagers to pensioners and fostering group bonds. A closure in Brighton in 2022 noticed gamers describe themselves as “gutted” when their native tables had been changed by a library.
- League secretary Mark Poole who’s performed in numerous leagues, has additionally written stories of league matches for newspapers and has been Assistant Secretary for Staffordshire and West Midlands Snooker Affiliation — regardless of some progress – the sport continues to be in deep decline as reported on BBC feeds.
This web site has championed the reason for placing snooker within the information on-line and off. From the tournaments, the gamers, the individuals behind the scenes, and, after all, documenting SnookerZone’s Chris Gaynor’s personal success within the sport and, additionally, having the ability to assist learners who discover the location – begin to perceive what golf equipment, what individuals – and what gear is on the market.
Our mission is to proceed that – to assist the sport so far as doable inside purpose, and to make sure that snooker will get a voice in the neighborhood of sports activities!
Regardless of all of the hype of the 900, which is a good occasion, however does it actually frequently push snooker within the public eye exterior of a really closed off clique of golf equipment? And. the hype of golf equipment – the sport within the UK, significantly within the UK shouldn’t be in a terrific state = significantly in Surrey and the encompassing areas. Solely this weekend, somebody on Fb talked about that the shortage of golf equipment in Essex was an issue. It’s a widespread drawback that the sport doesn’t have sufficient services. It’s important that snooker is for all and never only for a choose few.
My go to to a Sports activities Store…
I not too long ago went into an area sports activities store and requested them if they’d any name for snooker or pool merchandise, they stated they did used to promote pool cues at one stage, however they didn’t find yourself promoting lots of the inventory. I discussed that one of many causes was in all probability as a result of there may be not sufficient open promoting of the sport offline and that folks merely don’t know there are golf equipment on the market as a result of they’re not within the public area. At the moment, persons are not going to go to you, the golf equipment should go to them. Many pubs nowadays as properly wouldn’t have pool tables both. One other disgrace.
In a world crammed with distractions, new and up and coming sports activities like Padel Tennis or Pickleball, the snooker world has to get with the instances within the UK and adapt its picture, promoting type and basic welcoming in of recent gamers. Leagues have to man up and get themselves on the market and promote the rattling hell out of the factor. They should transfer with the instances, or, they may find yourself consigned to the historical past books! It’s harsh however true actuality.
The opposite drawback is the truth that a whole lot of golf equipment would be the first in line to be knocked down by the bulldozers as a result of the necessity for housing now, particularly with the migrant disaster as pressing as ever, and snooker would be the ones to undergo if there may be planning purposes for brand spanking new housing and social lodging.
Financial Influence
- Snooker venues provide native jobs, help suppliers, and attract gamers who additionally spend on meals and facilities close by.
- Closure of golf equipment like Regency Membership in Sheffield removes areas for socializing and competitors .
While there are new golf equipment opening, this isn’t nearly creating the subsequent era of gamers. It’s about creating a spot to retain present gamers, and likewise serving to ALL who benefit from the sport discover a place to go and revel in not simply the snooker but in addition the social interplay.
Many golf equipment are dying out due to the necessity for housing, however what occurs to the communities the place individuals wouldn’t have different retailers to do? Not each group has tennis courts, and never many communities have good services for sport. How do these individuals handle to maintain each their psychological and bodily well being in fine condition if there aren’t the services to make use of to do this?
Future Expertise Pipeline at Danger
- WPBSA chair Jason Ferguson has emphasised grassroots shrinkage for the reason that Eighties — and warns that actual property pressures and lack of facility safety are squeezing the game as highlighted on Stephen Hendry’s Youtube channel .
- With out native venues, the UK dangers lacking the subsequent era of champions – but in addition dangers inflicting a brand new wave of younger individuals not noted on the streets with nothing to do. Though there’s boxing services, snooker is one other exercise that everybody can do and revel in.
- It’s not about discovering the subsequent Ronnie O’Sullivan, it’s about maintaining the game that also entertains on TV alive at grassroots stage. That’s why I don’t agree with having academies in all places. There must be a mixture of academies and group golf equipment – and why snooker ought to by no means go down the route of serving a number of elitist teams of people that aren’t excited by rising the game for ALL.
- Surrey within the UK, solely has one or two large golf equipment and the remainder of them are social golf equipment which simply so occur to have billiard tables in them. However, if planning purposes go forward in these communities, the social cum snooker golf equipment are more likely to be the primary in line to undergo.
- In truth, don’t be shocked if even the larger snooker golf equipment are in danger. No-one is immune from the bulldozers in offline enterprise.
- You see it on the bottom with outlets shutting their doorways on the Excessive Avenue on daily basis!
You by no means know, your snooker membership, nonetheless large or small may very well be subsequent! The risk to snooker may be very actual, and people who maintain their head within the clouds, are simply delaying the inevitable…BE READY…
The Problem: Why Golf equipment Are Closing…
- Rising prices: Hire, utilities, and enterprise charges make profitability powerful. Golf equipment like Annunciation in Brighton noticed lease quadruple earlier than closing .
- Smoking ban: No-smoking insurance policies drained atmospheres and clientele — Ronnie O’Sullivan even stated “the smoking ban killed off the golf equipment” .
- Altering life: Trendy distractions, busy lives, and excessive desk charges make it laborious to draw youthful gamers. On the flip aspect, some social golf equipment have cheaper charges for tables.
- As stated already, council planning purposes and purchasers utilizing property to lease are actual risks as snooker golf equipment in some areas have all kinds of land that may be constructed on.
How We Can Save Them
✅ Go to and play: Deliver a pal/household, be a part of occasions, and help your native membership financially. Supplied they’re pleasant sufficient to tackle new individuals and never conceited of their attitudes of individuals!
✅ Share tales: Weblog posts, social media, and letters to native newspaper press to assist shine a lightweight on these venues.
✅ Golf equipment ought to diversify: Internet hosting social nights, providing newbie periods, and advertising and marketing to colleges and households can refresh attraction. Get communities in just like the disabled – or, certainly, teaching taster periods for ALL sorts of gamers. Host interleagues the place completely different gamers from completely different leagues can go and play at completely different golf equipment.
✅ Search public help: Councils may grant enterprise aid or again group buy-outs — just like the one proposed for Edinburgh’s Manse Membership .
Take Motion — Desk by Desk
Snooker golf equipment are greater than sporting venues; they’re group lifelines. They launch careers, foster friendships, and protect native heritage. However, except we act, the group click on of the balls could fall silent — without end.
🧩 Get entangled: Go to your native membership, inform your story, and ask your council to recognise these areas as important group property – they’re not simply sporting golf equipment, they’re for you, me, and everybody! #snookerforall
