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An old-fashioned cue game played on a table, it is almost exclusively played in pubs and clubs. The game involves potting balls into holes in the table while avoiding knocking down skittles on the table. All shots are taken from one end of the table.

Popularity
Not as popular as it once was, due to the fact that not many pubs have tables.
Bar billiards is nowadays most popularly played in the south of England and the Channel Islands.

Location
Look for a pub which has a table. It is well worth studying the rules before attempting to play, as they are complex.

Age
As a game it can be played by all ages, however If the playing venue is a public house or club licensed to sell alchol, there could be an age restriction of 18yrs.

Ability
If you can play snooker or pool, then bar billiards should present no problem. The distance to the holes is less than on a snooker/pool table, but the skill lies in not knocking over the skittles

Description
A white ball is placed on the starting spot, another ball (red if available) is placed on a spot a few inches in front of that. Players take alternate turns, known as a 'break. If a player fails to pot a ball then the break has ended and the second player takes his tern by placing another ball on the first spot. If all balls are in play, then the closest ball to the 'D' is removed and put on the spot. If a player fails to hit a ball, the break ends and all points earned in that break are lost.

Dedication
Bar billiards is played on a special table without side and corner pockets, but with 9 holes in the playing surface which are assigned certain point values (from 10 to 200).

There are 8 balls for play - seven white and one red. Potting the red ball in any hole scores double points.

On the playfield are placed three skittles, two white, one placed either side of the 100 hole, and one black placed in front of the 200 hole, these skittles must not be knocked over.

Potential
Frequent a Pub or club which has a bar billiards table, and they are likely to belong to a local league.

Closely Related Activities
Pool 471, Snooker 569, Billiards 62, Carom biliards 701, bagatelle 935.

Cost
Playing in a pub or club, usually approx 50p per game. to purchase a new table, up to £1500

Level of Demand
The table below shows the maximum levels of demand that this activity requires. NOTE: These are not entry levels or levels of requirement and has nothing to do with ability.

Energy

Arms

Legs

Sight

Hearing

Speech

Learning

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