UK Pool Tables Size

What size are English Pool Tables?

We often get asked, 'What size is an English pub pool table'?
Well, the answer is quite simple. There are two official full-size league pool tables that are used in pubs, clubs, and tournaments throughout Britain.

Official league tables are either 6ft or 7ft in size. The 6ft x 3'6 and the 7ft x 4ft tables are found in bars throughout Britain.

But which table is most popular? Which model should I buy? Which provides the best game? Here, we answer all the essential questions.

So which table size is best?

When the game of English pool was first invented in the early 1970s, there was only one size of pool table: the 7ft x 4ft pool table, developed for the UK pub market.

Before the advent of English pool tables, the only viable option for players in the UK was the larger American tables. However, the issue was clear-in a country where space is a luxury, most pubs couldn't accommodate these larger tables.

Also, the American pool tables use the more significant 2-¼ inch balls and have more oversized pockets. UK cue sports fans had always enjoyed the skill element of Snooker, which meant the American game wasn't as popular with players.

The 7ft English pool tables were designed with a ball-to-pocket ratio similar to Snooker, a feature that appealed to UK cue sports fans. They also used the same woollen-napped cloth found on snooker tables, enhancing the skill level of the game and solving the space issue for most pubs.

Suddenly, the game of UK pool was born, and the demand could not have been higher.

The Superleague pool tables produced by Hazel Grove in Stockport were the table of choice and could not be made quickly enough. The game of pool boomed, and every pub in the country wanted a table. 

Although the 7ft UK-made table solved the space problem for most pubs, the table was still too big for many venues. This is when the 6ft x 3’6 table came into production. It still had a large enough playing surface to provide an enjoyable game.

To this day, the majority of pubs still have a 7-foot table, but the 6-foot table is growing in popularity. It is difficult to put an exact figure on the split of tables in bars. These days, so many pubs are closing or becoming food-led that the pool tables are disappearing at an alarming rate. At the time of writing, around 70% of UK bars have 7-foot tables, and 30% have 6-foot tables.

In terms of which is best, both pool tables really provide an excellent game. The 7ft has a slightly higher skill level, but both table sizes provide great entertainment.

Is the playing surface 6ft or 7ft?

A common mistake made with UK pool table size often regards the actual playing surface of the table.

When discussing a UK table, we discuss the overall table size rather than the playing area. For example, a 7-foot UK table means the overall cabinet dimensions are 7ft x 4ft, not the playing surface.

Again, the confusion comes from the original American game of pool. American tables are usually 7ft, 8ft, or 9ft in size. The American table size relates to the actual playing surface and not the cabinet size. So, a 7ft American table has a playing area of 7ft, not the overall cabinet size, which would be bigger still.

So, when talking about the size of a UK pool table, always bear in mind that you are talking about the overall table size and not the playing area size.

The UK Game.

The UK pool game is not a worldwide game. The smaller ball tables were developed for a nation that enjoyed going to the pubs but where space was at a premium.

Only some other nations enjoyed the bar culture as Britain did. Also overseas Taverns or Café bars were generally larger than UK pubs and not as condensed.

Therefore, the smaller pool table was never necessary as it was in Britain.

Hazel Grove Music pioneered the English pool table game with the Superleague table and had tremendous success selling tables to mainland Europe. They opened factories in France and Spain and created a thriving English pool scene in these countries. To this day, the game flourishes in France, Spain, and some other countries, such as Morocco.

However, most of the world still plays the American game of pool on the larger tables.

Home Pool Tables

In the 80s, table manufacturers responded to the changing market by producing non-coin versions (domestic tables) of pub tables for home use. This shift was particularly significant in the UK, where the smaller size of houses and the perennial issue of space made home pool tables a practical and popular choice.

The smaller tables really opened up a new market, allowing UK homeowners to replicate the game they played in the bars at home.

Over the past two decades, the market for home pool tables has thrived. This growth can be attributed to the decline of traditional pubs and the rising cost of a night out. As a result, staying in has become the new going out. Homeowners are increasingly investing in home entertainment, with the pool table playing a central role in this trend.

Another significant development for the home market was the pool dining table. This meant that suddenly, you did not require a dining room and a games room. These dual-purpose tables kept everyone happy and remain, to this day, probably our best-selling table models.

What Size Table Should I Buy?

The first thing to be aware of when deciding what table size

to buy is that both 6-foot and 7-foot tables provide an excellent and enjoyable game. You get an entertaining and skilful game on both table sizes.

We recommend the 7-foot table if you have the space, but we would not advise trying to squeeze a 7-foot table into a room just for the sake of it. However, if you are adamant about the 7-foot table, as that is what you are used to playing on, we can provide shorter cues, which may help.

Sometimes, people prefer the 6ft tables as they tend to avoid dominating a room as much. If this concerns you, look for a slimline-bodied table, which is not as imposing as the pub-style tables.

The smallest size UK slate tables produced are 6ft. Anything smaller would be a wood bed pool table and not an official league size, so we would not advise looking at anything smaller than 6ft.

Ultimately, the decision is yours. We always recommend doing your homework before making a decision. Measure the room, consider the space, and even create a mock-up of the table size on the floor. These steps will all contribute to making the right table choice for you.

If you are still unsure of what size is best for you, please give us a call or email, and we will be happy to help. We hope this provides a slightly more precise idea of the size of pool tables in Britain. To see a range of pool tables we supply, please click HERE.