Best pool tables?

[cookmanchef]

Normal rate here is zero, long may it stay that way.

[Wanderlust]

I think as it is a dedicated pool bar and has spent good money on buying and maintaining the equipment they are entitled to charge; it is the norm in Bangkok and I was surprised when i first came to Hua Hin that it was free in most places; however I soon realised that the majority of the bars would have a cheek to charge when the standard of the tables and equipment was not that great. Also you only pay if you lose in Lucky Shot so it is a great incentive!

[cookmanchef]

Let's hope that everything that's the norm in Bkk doesn't become the norm here! Especially price wise!

I believe that when you make the investment in something like good pool tables, your return comes in the way of increased custom and therefore more revenue through your core business, in this case selling booze. If you buy a big widescreen TV for your establishment you don't charge people to watch it, if you buy a comfortable sofa you don't charge people to sit on it.

[Wanderlust]

cookmanchef,
So would you go to a snooker club and expect to play for free? The principle is the same, and the tables (well 2 of the 4 they have) are VERY expensive; the only way they could recoup this money otherwise would be on drinks prices, but if they did that no one would drink there. They don't serve food so the whole point of the place is to play pool. Everywhere else in the world charges for good pool tables. Incidentally the two cheaper tables are free to play on but you have to wait for the other cheapskates to get a game

[sid2827]

same here, i rather pay and play on a good table with good felt, and sticks the arent warped.

[johnnyk]

A Tv set is cheap. A good pool/snooker table is not.
And while watching TV is passive, playing pool isn't.
Who pays for the felt when a drunken bozo rips it the first time he ever puts a cue in his hand?

[cookmanchef]

I accept your argument about a snooker club, but if I go to a snooker club I will not always have a drink, can you go and play pool all day without buying a drink? Always seems to me like a bar with a good pool table rather than a pool club that sells drinks. Never seen many Thais playing in there so are they all cheapskates?

A 50inch LCD TV doesn't seem cheap to me! Someone could rip the cloth whether their paying 20 baht a game or not.

[Wanderlust]

I've seen plenty of Thais play there but more will tend to go to snooker clubs. To be honest I have never asked or looked to see who has and who hasn't bought a drink, but I would imagine you could go in there and play without doing so, particularly during the day; however it would be an odd thing to do either there or in a snooker club as well I think, especially if you were there for a couple of hours, even if it were only a coffee.
My gripe with the overall standard of pool tables in Hua Hin is that the fact that very few people charge for games actually means that the standard of tables and equipment is very poor - this is fine if you are a tourist who just wants to have the odd game with a bar girl or whatever, but if you want to play some good pool the choice is limited, whereas in Bangkok most places charge and have good tables. The difference is very noticeable to decent players.

[Super Joe]

Charging or not, surely the bars with the real bad tables should feel obligated to get a new one/make repairs from the extra income from pool nights. Many bars are in two leagues now (I think) so get a home game every week.

Things are only going to get worse in the coming years of global financial problems.

SJ

PS: Staying up for the game tonight ? I don't have a good feeling about it

[cookmanchef]

That's the way I would look at it, that there are quite a lot of bars being somewhat lazy and cheap by not replacing/maintaining their tables.

And yes, by "buying a drink", I was referring to an alcoholic version, Have spent many long sessions in snooker halls sustained by a few cups of tea and the odd Red Bull. I'll probably never know if that's acceptable in LS as I don't go in there anymore.

[JW]

We were the second to get a Sovereign table in town after Bamboo Grove, we charged for a while but it became obvious that the table was the draw, its still playing well now -gets re clothed every year it was a good investment.

[changman]

Monday Nights at JWs - Pool knockout night - starts at 8pm, winner takes the pot, killer follows! Always good fun.

Is it american style tables? and where is the bar ? thanx in advance....

[Big Boy]

Changman,

There's a bar map here http://www.huahinafterdark.com/map.htm

[jimflan]

dunno about American v British tables but I've played all over HH (and won the majority of games on both) and the Moonlight has as good a table as any and some pretty good players (I've been beaten there more than anywhere else) to make it a good night - and it's free ! (Jungle Juice had a well kept table and balls in good condition as well I think but it might have had a bit of a slope - or maybe that was the Chang kicking in ...)

[Bella]

dunno about American v British tables but I've played all over HH (and won the majority of games on both) and the Moonlight has as good a table as any and some pretty good players (I've been beaten there more than anywhere else) to make it a good night - and it's free ! (Jungle Juice had a well kept table and balls in good condition as well I think but it might have had a bit of a slope - or maybe that was the Chang kicking in ...)

Moonlight can hold their own, best table is probably Rung Bar although a snooker type, no roll,which is rare, but not that rare on slate.

Lucky Shot Bar has 2 comp table's which are cheap copy's of a Brunswick, a formica covering, both have a roll, you also have to keep ducking under the beams. The German fella keeps interferring also.

The majority of tables are in poor condition as are the cue's