Michaela Tabb, former snooker referee and co-founder of the UK-based pool table manufacturer Blackball Tables, said that French operators have become its best customers.
This marks a recent surge in sale for the tables internationally. New Zealand has traditionally favoured American-style pool, but Tabb said blackball is growing there as well. “New Zealand will have a team at the World Blackball Championships in Australia this year for the first time.”
The company is also seeing increased sales in Malaysia “and that certainly wasn’t the case a year ago.”
Sales of pool tables have been on the decline in UK sites. “But the ‘man-cave’ market is exploding. We sell more tables to out-of-home sites because when they buy they are getting 10-20 units at a time but the number of individual buys is growing rapidly,” she said.
Silver Oak is one of the most popular tables for the home market at the moment “because everyone is really into their silvers and their greys for decor at the moment.”
The company will once again host its amateur pool tournament in Carlisle in September with a total of £50,000 being awarded and £7,500 going to the first place winner.
“The whole idea is we are rewarding our customers and driving our business forward with the competition. We will also accept someone nominated by a customer. So, if a pub with one of our tables wants, they can hold qualifiers at their site and the winner can take part in the tournament,” she said.
