With memberships in decline, once-busy clubs are closing as owners struggle to break even.

But the clubs are not as crowded as you might expect. In fact, if you can find one still open, you should be able to breeze in for a frame pretty much any time.

Club owners warned this week that traditional snooker and pool halls across the country are shutting up shop after a downturn in trade. Many believe the decline is an unforeseen by-product of the smoking ban, now nearly one year old.

Kentish Town Snooker in Holmes Road – once thriving with 18 tables across two floors – closed last year, and next to disappear of the map is the Camden Snooker Club in Delancey Street, Camden Town.

It faces demolition this summer after its regulars were unable to convince a planning inspector – despite a 500-strong petition – that there was enough interest to save it from the bulldozer.

“We have just found out that 50 clubs have closed in the past two years.”

“The whole snooker scene is quieter these days. It is definitely much quieter since the smoking ban. There are fewer young people too.

Source: Camden New Journal. Lin

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