Sat 16th Dec, 8:47pm. Steamboat Inn, Trent Lock.
I first wrote about the Steamboat on its relaunch in 2005, and then again later last April, but hadn't visited it since March 2003. Just before this Christmas I finally dropped in, and was delerious to find that it now has bar billiards. Wow! This traditional pub game of the 20thC has almost died out. Publican John Deaks says he is keen to get traditional pub games popular again.
He bought this table via eBay, and had it refurbished. He's also bought a second and is going to offer it to another local pub, in an effort to get a local pub league going.
What's even better, they don't charge you for playing it. In fact, it works off old-fashioned sixpences, and you simply ask for them at the bar - they'll just hand them to you for free. (Don't lose them, they have to be recycled for the next session; and no, they aren't really worth collecting)
The gentlemen in the picture were playing the balls from anywhere on the black baulk, behind the baize, which technically is against the rules. In bar billiards you are actually supposed to strike the cue ball from the black 'D' at the line of the baulk every time. But the Steamboat's D must need restoring, because the ball almost always rolls off it, so perhaps they were just being practical. Rules are here.
Bar billiards is such a practical game for pubs because it's played against a wall, always striking the cue ball from the same place. So it doesn't eat up the space of a modern pool table.
I can't wait for John to roll out his next game, table skittles. And to cap it all, he's got free wi-fi! So if push-penny comes to shove-ha'penny you can always play computer games instead.
I think it's great what John Deaks is doing at the Steamboat Inn. I was so happy with the games that, why, I quite forgot to think about what I was drinking. But it tasted jolly good.
