Many people have played or at least heard of popular billiards games, such as pool or snooker. However, there is a multitude of games under the term billiards. Each with its own specific rules and sometimes its own set equipment and the table is needed to play.

One unique form of billiards is Bar Billiards. Bar billiards is a form of billiards, in which, to score balls must be potted into the holes that are on the surface of the table. This differs from pool, as a pool table has pockets on the sides and edges of the table.

We will go in-depth about the history, equipment, rules and how to play this form of billiards. At Hamilton Billiards, we restore and manufacture bar billiards tables and the equipment needed to set up and play. So, if you are looking to enhance your games room with an antique bar billiard tables, search no further. Get in touch today by calling 01462 743803.

History of Bar Billiards

The origin of bar billiards comes from the French billiard game. This was originally played by the French monarchy and other nobles as the manufacturing of these tables was expensive.

It was then later adapted to become Billiard Russe or Russian billiards in the 16^th century for Russian Tsars which was a derivative of another billiards game, Bagatelle. Bagatelle was another version played by the French.

Bar Billiards, as we know it, was only adopted in the 1930s when an Englishman David Gill witnessed a game of Billiards Russe in Belgium. Once he returned to England, he convinced Jelks the furniture and billiards manufacturer to create a British version of the billiards table that he saw. The earliest record of one of these billiards’ tables being installed was in the “Rose & Crown” in Elham, East Kent near Canterbury in 1934.

British bar billiards popularity in the UK was primarily focused in the south and has been the key demographic. However, due to American 8-ball Pool, bar billiards has lost some popularity amongst the billiards community.

Bar Billiards Equipment

The table for Bar Billiards is similar to a small billiards table which is 33.5 inches wide by 56.5 inches from the spot to the far corner. Rather than having pockets along the side and edges, there are holes sunk into the tables. There are 5 holes in a row across the end of the table and 4 holes in a diamond pattern closer to the players in the rear half of the table. Each hole has a set points.

• For the five holes in a row, the points set are 30, 20, 10, 20 and 30.
• For the four holes in the front score for higher points. The closest hole to the front scores 200 points. The two holes closer to the sides score 50 points and the final hole scores 100 points.

Placed in front of each four holes that make up a diamond shape are four skittles. There is usually one black, two white and one red skittle, however, there are games where there is one black and three red skittles. These skittles are normally either thin pins with a horizontal bar through the top to stop them from falling into the hole or mushroom-shaped pins.

Eight balls are used in game with seven white and one red ball. The white balls are used as the scoring balls. Like all billiards games, the final piece of equipment needed is the cue. At Hamilton Billiards, we stock a large selection of cues and a variety of other billiards accessories.

Rules

There are a few key rules when playing British Bar Billiards.

• The player plays from one side of the table at the base and no other sides.
• Potting the white ball scores the designated points of the hole whilst, potting the red ball will score double points.
• Knocking over the black skittle will result in the player forfeiting the score.
• Knocking over the white or red skittle will result in forfeiting the player's current break score.
• If multiple skittles are toppled only the original skittle to fall will be accounted for.
• If a ball is hit and returns behind the baulk line, then it is a foul.
• If the cue ball does not hit another ball a foul is given.
• Causing a ball to leave the table will result in a foul.
• If there is only one ball remaining on the table when the game time has been reached, then the back row of holes is guarded and the 50-point holes are also blocked with the skittles. The players will then need to pot the final ball in either the 100- or 200-point holes.

How to Play

• To start flip a coin to decide who goes first.
• The game begins with the red ball starting on the spot. The player who goes first then takes one white ball from the trough and places it wherever they want in the “D”.
• Each turn the player will aim to pot as many balls as possible and the turn ends when the player makes a non-scoring strike or a foul.
• The aim of Bar Billiards is to accumulate more points than the opposition by potting more balls or aiming for higher scoring holes.

A Bar Billiards table is normally coin-operated which limits the game time to a length between fifteen and twenty minutes. Once the time limit is reached, the baffle bars drop which prevents any more balls from returning to the trough.

If the game piques your interest, then you can pick up a bar billiards table at Hamilton Billiards. We restore antique Bar Billiards tables, such as the Oak Bar Billiard Table, and can manufacture new bar billiards tables to suit your requirements.

Want more advice? Or want to browse other billiards tables and accessories? We restore and manufacture snooker tables, pool tables and more. For more information please contact our team today. We can be reached on 01462 743803 or by email at [email protected]