Thanks for sharing. Never seen one in person, but my dad often talked about this game. He was born in 1926 in Glasgow, but moved to England after joining the RAF.
Well done Michael. I have a bar billiard table which my parents acquired any years ago. It came with the house they had purchased. It is just being recovered and renovated and will be used my myself, my children and grandchildren. reminding us of the rules is really helpful
This is a really helpful - and charming - video. I was quite down in the dumps yesterday when I realised that my barn is nothing like as big as it seemed and I don’t have room for a billiard table or even a pool table. But it occurred to me that bar billiards is a different matter and I cheered up! I’m doing some research now and your videos will be very informative and encouraging. Thank you.
I enjoyed this video. 50 years ago in faraway Australia, these tables were not rare, but never dominated 8 ball in popularity. I used to frequent a pub where we were involved in quite a skillful school at playing this game, and I always enjoyed this far more. I recall that it was called 'back-pool' when I played....heathens. Great memories...thanks mate.
Thank you for your comment. They used to be common in the UK too but Pool took over I am guessing because Pool takes less skill and therefore appeals to more folk. I went to "Far away Auralia" in 1958/9 when I was a Cadet Deck Officer and again in 2006 on a holiday. Great place. Regards Michael
I used to drink in a the Royal hotel in Walsall. The first time me and my wife went in I noticed this table in the corner of the lounge the likes of which I had only seen on a 1970`s program called The Indoor League with Fred Truman (I`l see thee). Before I met my wife I was a keen snooker player so I was up for giving it a go. We both had many a good time playing this game. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for the comment Mike. I'm pleased to hear you enjoyed the game. My Father was a good snooker/billiard player and had a 3 quarter sized table at home. I learned to play on that but have never had a room large enough to own one. Hence the Bar Billiard table answered my problem. Take care, stay safe and regards Michael
Great video Michael. Bar billiards is still played by a fair few people, there was a 3 pin tournament a month or so back my dad went to. I'm from Suffolk and we still have a pub league round this way although we play 4 pin bar billiards on a narrow table.
@@michaelchartres no problem Michael, 4 pin bar billiards would have mushrooms or pins in front of both 50 holes as well as the 100 and 200 holes and the playing area on a narrow table is only about 700mm (28 inches) wide
They had this at my local sports centre upstairs in the early 80's. Me and my dad would have a game after we'd had a game of badminton the court below.. Good memories. It's good to watch you play on it, i never seen them anymore.
I played this for the first time when visiting Devon. Really enjoyed the game and am hoping to play more when I get back home to the Midlands. Thanks for the informative video. Hope you keep playing and enjoying the game for years to come.
Thank you for clarifying these rules Michael . I recently encountered this game for the very first time whilst attending a birthday celebration at a bar in York. It prompted me to pick up a cue for the first time in over 10 years and I have to say that I am hooked. In my first game I was daft enough to knock the black pin down and lost 500 points but I did n't make the same mistake again and went on to remain unbeaten for 3 hours after that first game . I LIKE THOSE STATS .
Many thanks for watching and your comment. I'm pleased you are hooked on what is, in my opinion a great game which requires skill to play well but does not preclude beginners. When I play with someone who is just starting I give them a few hundred start (handicap) and them reduce it as they improve. Good luck with it in the future. Regards Michael
Lovely video, Michael. I first noticed this game in the 1971 film, 'Wake in Fright' set in the Australian outback. I was always wondering just what was that odd-looking game they were playing in that old pub in the Australian Desert!
Really enjoyed watching this, I’ve only seen this played a few times. I used to play english billiards years ago in a local league and working men’s club, also played crazy billiards where the balls were weighted and we had the snooker colours from yellow to pink on their spots. Loved it
Michael Chartres I started playing it in a local Teesside boys billiard league and the crazy version was played in the working men’s club around Christmas time as a bit of fun between members and the boys team. I still play but only for recreation now. Keep playing and have fun
Thank you ever so much for the video, it was excellent! I have never played the game since about 1973 in my local Youth Club and your video has made me really happy remembering all those years ago, cheers to you!
The first time I played this game was in Woking with my uncle. Then I saw it again after playing Sheffield Eagles U19s. As their ground was the Don Valley Stadium, we had after match speeches/meal/drink in a pub around the corner. It had one of these tables... non of the Salford lads knew what it was, so I showed them how to play... we had such a laugh playing it! I'd love to have one in my house because I know my wife would love it!
Hi Martin thanks for watching and your comment. I'm pleased to hear you enjoy the game. I would like to see it make a come back. It takes up far less space than pool. There would be room for 2 of these tables for one of pool. Regards and take care Michael
@@michaelchartres Totally agree and like you said Michael... unlike pool you've got to be more accurate and careful because of those mushrooms! Miles better game and a proper pub game.
Great video. I'm buying a bar billiards table as soon as my newly built games room is finished. I can remember playing it in the pubs in the 1990's but, rarely seen if at all nowadays.
Thank you so much michael - me and my boyfriend’s minds have been refreshed so we’re now going to enjoy a good game of bar billiards at the local pub! 🍺
@@michaelchartres Hello! This is strange, I wrote an answer to you the same evening, but now it is gone. Maybe I broke some rule, since I included a web-link (so that you could see my home bar). Anyway, I live in the south of Sweden i Helsingborg, just across from Hamlets castle Elsinore in Denmark. So glad to hear that you have enjoyed Sweden!
Hey again Mattias. Shame about the link you tried to send but if you go to my RU-vid channel, Click on "About" and scroll down to Reveal Email address you could send it to me that way. I know Helsingborg quite well because before the bridge was built I used the ferry between Helsingborg and Helsingor many times from 1963 (when you still drove on the Left !!). I was married to a Swedish Lady who died of cancer in 2010 after 31 years of marriage. I am still in contact with her family who all live in and around Stockholm and for my 75th birthday they gave me a helicopter ride over Stockholm. I made a video of it "Ride over Stockholm". Good to chat, regards Michael
we have a table i bought in Brittany, was the best €300 ever spent. used to play this in my local in the 70's and never dreamt i would own one. had the intention of bringing it back to the UK but its not a cheapo lightweight pub style, i'm sure its a Sams brothers one and very similar to yours. it's in the garage of our cottage and we have now had several competitions on it with friends and locals. all thats missing is the timer but then theres no hurry to find one. so...... if you need a challenge some time, feel free to pop over (there is a free camper parking with all the services required just up the end of our road)
Hello "sawnoff2" (I love the handle). Thanks for your comment and if I am ever in Brittany I should love to take up the challenge. Likewise if you are ever in South Wales it would be good to have a game/match. Regards, until we meet, Michael
Thank you Bill. It used to be in many, many pubs in the UK but was replaced by pool. It is a fun game which can be enjoyed by the unskilled as well as the experts. Thanks for watching. Regards Michael
Many thanks for that comment Ryan. I hope he enjoys the game for many years. However there is a saying "Being good at billiards is a sign of a misspent youth." Never mind, if he enjoys it that is great. Regards Michael
well I learnt something new today, I feel like my generation of British pub goers have missed a simple yet cool game to play over a pint. Thanks for sharing Michael!
Wow. Thanks for showing us all the rules. I have seen it still in two local pubs. I always thought that once the timer kicks in, you place the pegs in the adjacent holes then, and play with the remaining balls - at least that’s what I saw with two people playing it one time ; hey, maybe they got it wrong.
I do remember a Bar Billiards table in the Sgt's Mess at RAF Kinloss and in the Cpl's Club at Raf Marham (in the Bar), they had Snooker tables as well (in other rooms) and a Pool Table for the unrefined visitors or junior members (also in the Rough Bar). :-)
Thanks for the explanation. I stumbled across this game in a London pub last night, I'm a keen 8ball/9ball player but had no idea how to play the game and had not seen one in person before and trying to read the rules online was a bit confusing. Next time I'll know the proper rules of play. Thank you
@@BasherBrookes The Montague Arms at Nunhead. bar billiards, shuffleboard, arcade games are free. beers arent that cheap and the arcades are half broken but still cool to see bar billiards table
I don't think I've ever come across that game before Michael. It was very interesting but I'd probably be sending those pins flying around the room like leathal weapons. David.
Nice tutorial video, you certainly haven't lost your touch. It's such a shame that pool has made bar billiards pretty much obsolete. I can't find a table anywhere in any of the boozers I frequent
Thanks for your comment Ash. From many of th comments I have had on this video I think it is making something of a comeback in some parts of the country. Cheers Michael
I haven’t played this for at least 27 years ago, if not longer. I’ve only ever seen it once, in a backstreet pub in Norwich where I used to occasionally drink. Shame, as it’s actually a fun game to play
Thank you "gardenshed" for watching and your comment. I shall take your word for the age of my table but wonder how you got that information. By the way, I have looked at your channel and Subscribed. I look forward to listening to your music. Regards Micjael
@@michaelchartres Hi Michael, I own a pre war Jelkes with round legs. I looked up the history of Bar Billiards and found the information then. I can't remember exactly where. I have a couple of videos on my channel of me playing my son on my table. He thrashes me more often than not ;o) Mark. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-761f9UzV8DM.html
My father and I recently picked one of these up for free! It belonged to a man who I think had a pub on the island we live on, and the table was in there. He moved to a barn and put the table upstairs in a farm house. When he moved out, he didn’t take the table with him so it was there when new people moved in. It has sat up there for years covered up with stuff on it. The owners recently decided to give it away so someone can enjoy it so my father and I picked it up. The wood needs some treating and it needs to be re-baized. Plus the timer and bar are missing (I’m assuming it was removed ages ago as the game was a coin-op so the mechanics were probably all removed to try and make it free to play). My dad and I are going to have fun doing it up and playing it! If anyone knows where we can source a bar and timer I would be extremely grateful!
Great story and I'm pleased for you both. If you can't find the bar and mechanism just play to a winning score. As I said in my video we play to 1000. Thanks for watching and your comment and "Many Happy Hours of Bar Billiards". Michael
Hi Mike, great video. I just purchased a very used French 8 hole table in the US and it's missing the baulk line. I'd like to mark it as accurately as possible, would you mind measuring how far the baulk line extends down the cushion, it appears to be approximately 4 inches, but I'd like to be sure. Thank you!
Hey John boy, just wanted to say you have a great grip on the shaft. Is that how everybody plays billiards can you do a more transition shaft grip / anti John boy grip?
This may please you to know we have a proper league around where I’m from in the East Anglia where myself plays for a team along with a group of mates and we’re fairly young so you never know. There’s a chance for a comeback although where I’m from it’s a tiny bit different as we have 4 pins rather than 3. The two end holes at the back are 10 instead of 30 and the tables are a lot more narrow. Defiantly worth checking out I’d say
Thanks for your comment Joe and good luck with your league. I would be interested to see the table you play on. Any chance of sending some photos? My email address can be found in the "About" section of my channel. I do know that the game was invented by a man who had seen the continental version of billiards where there are no pockets or holes, just pins in the centre. He had the idea of sort of combing that game with the British billiards game. Regards Michael
I'd love to try this game. One question - if the ball used as the cue ball on a shot goes straight into a hole without touching the object ball, is that classed as a foul and is there any specific penalty for doing so?
Hello and thanks for your interest. Yes, that would be a foul shot and you would lose your score mad on that break if any. The next player continues. Regards Michael
I think the Bar Billiards firm in Ascot ceased trading a few years ago . Their premises were just off the High St and quite close to Ascot racecourse. I used to play in a weekly bar billiards league . Happy days , 50 years ago now. I wasn’t very good !
That is a shame because I do believe the game is going to enjoy a rebirth. I remember well going to their premises to collect the table I have which first went to my home in Staffordshire and is now in my home in South Wales. Thanks for your comment. Regards Michael
@@michaelchartres your video was the second one i had watched, the other was not informative about the game at all, in fact they didnt give any info on the game. so i was pleased with what i learnt from your video. we dont have the game in my area but i would certainly have a go if i ever go anywhere that has it. thank you again
Hello A Aa and thanks for watching. I can sincerely inform you that the game can and may be played wearing any form of apparel although I must admit wearing woman's knickers might add a bit of a thrill especially for a 25 stone man with a large beer belly. Regards Michael
Thanks for watching Andy. In the old days the Gents, after dinner, would retire to the billiard room with a brandy and the Ladies would gossip in the lounge sipping sherry (or the like) but that was in the days when the houses were big enough to walk all around the billiard table. Now we can only afford small houses this game works well. !!!!! And it's fun. Regards Michael
Michael Chartres thank u kindly it’s a shame a lot of games like these have died off over the years like billiards which was played before snooker etc shove ha penny and bar skittles all these games I would love to try and play but you don’t see them very often and bar billiards is probably the rarest of all I ve mentioned I have only ever seen this table once in my entire life but never played this game but would love to very much
Michael Chartres that’s a very kind guesture I don’t live over in Wales however if I ever go over there sometimes I would love to try as never played on one I have only ever seen one of these tables once in my entire life when I was young teenager and it was in a pub somewhere in central London but cannot remember but it was right at the door entrance I only stumbled upon it walking around London back then and didn’t even know what it was let alone how it is played and it looks like a fantastic game to play I love to play snooker and billiards too and this game has simliarities to billiards rules really looks great thanks for the offer I may take u up on that someday as I doubt there’s many places that have one
@@michaelchartres I live in South Wales, used to love playing this game in the old Miners Institute in Fleur de Lys in my late teens, 58 this year, a great game to play
The only pub near me that had a bar billiards machine closed down last year when the owner died. I wish I'd asked his wife if she'd be up for selling the machine.
Great shame. The tables, if in good condition and with a slate bed, are worth a fair price. There were some on ebay and either Gumtree or Preloved. Thanks for watching and your comment. Michael
@@michaelchartres today in an italian billiard chat somebody talked about "bar billiards", so I immediatley search some information :) If cue ball is potted the shot is good or bad ?
@@biliardopiccino If the Q ball is potted it is a good shot. The score is what is on the baord for a white ball and if the RED was the Q ball the score is double the score marked on the board. I hope that I have explained well enough and thanks for your interest.
