Bar Billiards
Bar
billiards or Russian billiards is a fascinating traditional game first
imported into England from Belgium in the 1930s. Designed for pubs
and clubs, shots are taken from one end only which reduces the required
floor space. It also means that the bar billiards table can be pushed
into an awkward corner or niche thus turning a little-used area into a
money spinner.
The game is time-based, each coin lasting from 12 to 17 minutes, after which the internal bar drops and no more balls are returned to the front for replay. Players score points by knocking balls into the holes at the other end of the table while avoiding three "not-to-be-toppled" skittles near the high-scoring holes and the rules are such that games are frequently decided by the last ball on the table.
For pubs and clubs, the table comes with a clock timer, the drop-down
bar and a coin slot that can be modified to accept virtually any currency.
People who wish to buy bar billiards for private use can make a minor
change to the mechanism so that a coin is not necessary to start the game.
Alternatively, home users can buy the table without the coin, clock and
bar mechanism and just use an alarm clock or other timer instead.
Click on the picture to enlarge.
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Craftsmen with reconditioned slate |
A unique serial number is on each antique table |
Click on the picture to enlarge.
Masters Games procures reconditioned 1930s bar billiards tables from a manufacturer with a long tradition in the game. The standard table is 6 x 3 feet, 120 Kg with bed height 33 inches and comes with a rule card, 3 skittles (or mushrooms upon request), 8 balls (1 7/8 inch, 4.75cm) and 4 cues that store tidily on either side of the table. The slate surface is covered with quality billiard cloth and the legs are detachable and can be adjusted to ensure a horizontal playing surface.
The table also comes with a reconditioned 4 lane scoreboard with anodised brass runners & pointers. Note that often the condition of these scoreboards is imperfect although they are reconditioned to the best standard possible.
The only maintenance required is regular brushing. We also offer a set of 100 special tokens - the table can be configured to accept these, and the owner can then sell the tokens to his/her customers at whatever price suits.
Change to $  Change to  |
UK pounds (ex.VAT) |
Pounds (incl. VAT) |
Typical ETA in wkg days |
Add to basket |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bar Billiards table with Clock mechanism (incl. cues, balls, skittles, rules & scoreboard) |
£1483.40 | £1743.00 | 30 + transit time | To order, or for a quote, ring or Email with address & zip/postcode.
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Bar Billiards table without Clock mechanism (incl. cues, balls, skittles, rules & scoreboard) |
£1291.91 | £1518.00 | 30 + transit time | To order, or for a quote, ring or Email with address & zip/postcode.
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Bar Billiards tokens (100) |
£33.96 | £39.90 | 2 + transit time | ||
Billiards Table Brush |
£5.02 | £5.90 | 2 + transit time | ||
For an immediate quote and ETA, add to the basket & select your location. |
Bar Billiards Spares
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The 3 red & 1 black mushroom sets are available in 2 styles - the
flat underside style is the same as for the 1 red, 2 white and 1 black
sets pictured above. The rounded style is pictured above right.
Pictured is a reconditioned Bar Billiards scoreboard of the sort that are usually provided with a reconditioned table. The ones sold individually below are a similar style but are newly made.
| Change to $ Change to |
UK pounds (ex.VAT) |
Pounds (incl. VAT) |
Typical ETA in wkg days |
Add to basket |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Set Bar Billiards skittles (2 white, 1 black) |
£16.94 | £19.90 | 2 + transit time | ||
Set Bar Billiards mushrooms (3 red, 1 black, flat underside style) |
£21.19 | £24.90 | 2 + transit time | ||
Set Bar Billiards mushrooms (3 red, 1 black, rounded style) |
£24.60 | £28.90 | 2 + transit time | ||
Set Bar Billiards mushrooms (2 white, 1 red, 1 black, flat underside style) |
£21.19 | £24.90 | 2 + transit time | ||
Set Bar Billiards Balls (1 & 7/8 inch - 7 white, 1 red) |
£15.23 | £17.90 | 2 + transit time | ||
Spare key for Jelkes Bar Billiards table |
£10.98 | £12.90 | 2 + transit time | ||
Bar Billiards Rules (plastic coated) |
£5.87 | £6.90 | 2 + transit time | ||
Bar Billiards 4 lane scoreboard (wood with anodised brass runners and pointers) |
£85.02 | £99.90 | 10 + transit time | ||
For an immediate quote and ETA, add to the basket & select your location. |
Bar Billiards Repairs
Repairing a table can be tricky. Just because we supply spares doesn't mean you'll be able to fit them! Some people manage but the staff at our shop have no idea how to repair or make tables ourselves and so regret that we cannot offer advice for would-be DIYers. It's just that people often ask so we're just trying to help out by offering a few useful bits and bobs.
The scoring diamonds are the little plates that are stuck on the the ball tray at the front of the table and also on the backboard to indicate the scores of each hole. The set assumes 2 x "30" holes 1 x "10" hole - if you require a different combination, please contact us.
The hole lining rings are slightly tapered. The inner diameter is 55mm. The outer diameter of the larger end is 66mm. They should be glued inside each hole. They are usually slightly too big for the holes, so they need to be turned or sanded or cut down so that they fit snugly. Colours may vary (as at Jan 2008, we have white rings in stock).
| Change to $ Change to |
UK pounds (ex.VAT) |
Pounds (incl. VAT) |
Typical ETA in wkg days |
Add to basket |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Set 9 Bar Billiards hole lining rings |
£16.09 | £18.90 | 2 + transit time | ||
Bar Billiards beize (uncut & without holes - sufficient for table + cushions) |
£90.13 | £105.90 | 2 + transit time | ||
Rexine for front of Bar Billiards table and cushion strip |
£20.34 | £23.90 | 10 + transit time | ||
Length of Bar Billiards cushion rubber (sufficient for 1 Bar Billiards table, not cut to size, L shaped 12 x 13mm) |
£20.34 | £23.90 | 2 + transit time | ||
Set 18 Bar Billiards scoring diamonds |
£12.68 | £14.90 | 2 + transit time | ||
Set 4 cue brackets for Bar Billiards table |
£36.51 | £42.90 | 2 + transit time | ||
Back Board with numbers (for Jelkes table) |
£49.28 | £57.90 | 10 + transit time | ||
Set of 10 self-adhesive 12.5mm black table spots |
£1.69 | £2.00 | 2 + transit time | ||
For an immediate quote and ETA, add to the basket & select your location. |
UK Orders
Shipping within the West London area is around £25 and quotes for the rest of the UK can be quickly obtained. For ordering, shipping and payment information, please refer to the UK Large Orders page.
Overseas Orders
To reduce the chance of transit damage, exported bar billiards tables are packed in tri-wall cartons and attached to a pallette - cost £60.
For US customers only, the import/shipping cost for all US States except
Hawaii & Alaska is UK £705.
This price includes insurance, all shipping costs, all customs duties
and taxes and the packing/palette. In fact, everything!!
Non-US customers, please email for a quote giving your address including post code/zip. Please be aware that shipping and customs duties add a significant cost.
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History of Bar Billiards
The similarity of Bar Billiards with Bagatelle, the pub game that was most popular for at least a century after 1770 is so evident that it seems highly likely that Bar Billiards is a derivative of Bagatelle via some lineage but that lineage is, at present, unknown. Beyond that assumed and mysterious connection, it isn't known how Bar Billiards originated but in the early 1930s an Englishman called David Gill observed a game called Russian Billiards (Billiard Russe) being played in Belgium. A Russian link is therefore a possibility but it seems more likely that the game was named so as to sound slightly exotic to the ears of West Europeans at the time.
Gill convinced the English manufacturer Jelks to make a version of the game which he called Bar Billiards. Pubs seemed keen to buy tables and other manufacturers soon got in on the act. The first pub league was created in Oxford in 1936 and shortly afterwards leagues sprang up in Reading, Canterbury and High Wycombe. Eventually, a governing body was formed called the All-England Bar Billiards Association which supervises the game across 18 counties, mainly in the South of England.
There do not appear to be any standards to Bar Billiards rules and at least one other variation is in wide circulation that utilises 4 skittles instead of 3.
Bar Billiards is still popular in the South of England but has, unfortunately, lost a lot of its popularity due to the emergence of American 8 ball Pool.
For more information on Bar Billiards, see the Online Guide to Traditional Games.