Topic ID 418
Does anyone know whether either of the snooker places in Hertford (one above 0's in Parliament Square or the one next to Intersport) have pool tables? Also, anyone know whether they're any good?
Reply ID 3232
Hello there! The last time I visited the Castle Snooker Club (next to intersport), it only had snooker tables - no bar - but a friendly atmosphere. It does have a refreshments "bar" (hot and cold drinks & food). Shades (above Zeros) is a pool hall. They mostly have pool tales, although there were snooker tables on the top floor the last time I went. Shades has a full bar...YAY! The next best one (if you have the transport) would be Pockets in Ware town. Next to the Saracens pub (other side of the river). Good luck.[8]
Reply ID 3233
As pjmck points out, Shades is a pool hall. Is it any good? Well, let’s see… it's frequented by school kids, ‘long term sick’, benefit fraudsters whiling away the hours, violent thugs and other assorted low life stopping off between the bookies and the pub. Smoking is compulsory throughout; it’s the law. Laughably, ‘Shades’ offers chess as one of the available games. If you visit, Joby, I’d be interested to know if you observe anyone making imaginative use of Queen’s Gambit in their defensive chess strategy in between rolling another fag and admiring their latest tattoo.
Reply ID 3234
quote:Funny, that's exactly what I imagined Shades would be like. Perhaps I'll persuade my friend to try something else. Never liked chess anyway.
Originally posted by Rachel
As pjmck points out, Shades is a pool hall. Is it any good? Well, let’s see… it's frequented by school kids, ‘long term sick’, benefit fraudsters whiling away the hours, violent thugs and other assorted low life stopping off between the bookies and the pub. Smoking is compulsory throughout; it’s the law. Laughably, ‘Shades’ offers chess as one of the available games. If you visit, Joby, I’d be interested to know if you observe anyone making imaginative use of Queen’s Gambit in their defensive chess strategy in between rolling another fag and admiring their latest tattoo.
Reply ID 3235
Rachel - your comments really made me laugh. I will print them off and show them to my husband who occasionally visits Shades with friends and is nothing like the people you describe (but maybe weekday patrons are a bit different)....
Reply ID 3237
Obviously you have never set foot inside shades, Rachel! so where has all this bigoted clap-trap come from? I have been a regular customer at shades for twenty odd years now, and i can assure you it is nothing like your imagination describes..... quote [it's frequented by school kids, ‘long term sick’, benefit fraudsters whiling away the hours, violent thugs and other assorted low life stopping off between the bookies and the pub.] I do not know how many potential new members you have put off from joining already, but i will bring to the attention of the proprietor your derogatory remarks. Let us hope he does'nt see fit to sue your butt off![:(!][:(!]
Reply ID 3242
quote:20 years? Wow, that really is 'long term sick' [;)]
Originally posted by sprocket
I have been a regular customer at shades for twenty odd years now
Reply ID 3247
Twenty years of experienced enjoyment at the venue, and have never been unemployed, or claimed any of your hard earned tax by the way! You should try the place for your self 'joby' and ignore Rachels ignorant remarks, there is a very welcoming & friendly atmosphere up here, please let me know how you get on.[:)][8D]
Reply ID 3254
Sprocket, can I just ask how does shades work? do you need to be a member? or just pay for table time? I clearly have not investigated Hertford enough! Would love somewhere that meets your description to go to now and again, didn't expect to find much round here. In slight but not total defence of Rachel, people who are not themselves interested in snooker/pool and have not personally checked out these places, do tend to listen to what they hear. In my experience some pool halls/snooker clubs can be a bit shady, some can also be full of 16 year olds. But then so can some cinemas/shops/pubs/parks/streets.... need I go on! I have been to a couple of very good Pool halls I esp like the american ones with the huge tables! Never had the patience for snooker!
Reply ID 3266
quote:Will do, assuming I get out in one piece.[:D]
Originally posted by sprocket
You should try the place for your self 'joby' and ignore Rachels ignorant remarks, there is a very welcoming & friendly atmosphere up here, please let me know how you get on.[:)][8D]
Reply ID 3275
Hi there Mike, I have put information about Shades on this forum before but it has probably been buried deep in the archives, anyhow, Shades consists of 6 pool tables on the first floor and 5 pool & 3 snooker tables on the second. Membership is just 5 pounds a year (you have to be over 16) although you can get a family membership if the wife and kids fancy a game-as mine do! You can pay game by game, or if you play to a reasonable standard its worth paying the four pound an hour rate. There is a fully stocked bar, sky tv, fruit machines, juke box, you can play darts, and chess boards are available...although 'Rachel' as the 'queens gambit' is an attacking strategy, you would be better off using the 'kings indian' in which the bishop is fianchettoed on the kingside, in a defensive situation[B)][:D] Hope this will be of use Mike[8]
Reply ID 3341
I keep meaning to go there, sprocket, remind me about it next time we meet up (probably Hertford vs Ware the way it's currently looking). My mate who used to live in Hertford used to to be a member and always rated the place - my one visit was enjoyable enough (several years ago, that was though). We didn't play chess that night though, so there's some basis to the rumour... [:D]
Reply ID 3514
rachel what are you on about! its nothing like u say it is. i am also a regular at the club and hav been for 5 years and i can assure you what you say is totally wrong!
Reply ID 3597
quote:Well, I did get out in one piece, although I have since developed a slight cough - man is it smoky in that place! All in all, had a great night - nearly two hours of pool for £8.45 - we had about 10 games, so that's pretty good value. As for the atmosphere, I get the impression that everyone in there knows each other, we were clearly outsiders. Although we were made to feel welcome by the bar staff (very friendly, explained how the whole place worked etc.) we were largely ignored and left alone by everyone else. We had a table by the front window, and it seemed that all the violent thugs and lowlifes, rather than playing pool in Shades, were actually queueing across the road to get into the Blackbirds. As a fully paid up member, I shall certainly be going again - anywhere that sees fit to play 6 back-to-back Guns 'n' Roses tracks is a fine establishment in my opinion. Oh, and I didn't witness any chess, so am unable to report any use of Queen's Gambit or King's Indian, defensive or otherwise. [:D]
Originally posted by Jobyquote:Will do, assuming I get out in one piece.[:D]
Originally posted by sprocket
You should try the place for your self 'joby' and ignore Rachels ignorant remarks, there is a very welcoming & friendly atmosphere up here, please let me know how you get on.[:)][8D]
Reply ID 3598
quote:Well, I did get out in one piece, although I have since developed a slight cough - man is it smoky in that place! All in all, had a great night - nearly two hours of pool for £8.45 - we had about 10 games, so that's pretty good value. As for the atmosphere, I get the impression that everyone in there knows each other, we were clearly outsiders. Although we were made to feel welcome by the bar staff (very friendly, explained how the whole place worked etc.) we were largely ignored and left alone by everyone else. We had a table by the front window, and it seemed that all the violent thugs and lowlifes, rather than playing pool in Shades, were actually queueing across the road to get into the Blackbirds. As a fully paid up member, I shall certainly be going again - anywhere that sees fit to play 6 back-to-back Guns 'n' Roses tracks is a fine establishment in my opinion. Oh, and I didn't witness any chess, so am unable to report any use of Queen's Gambit or King's Indian, defensive or otherwise. [:D]
Originally posted by Jobyquote:Will do, assuming I get out in one piece.[:D]
Originally posted by sprocket
You should try the place for your self 'joby' and ignore Rachels ignorant remarks, there is a very welcoming & friendly atmosphere up here, please let me know how you get on.[:)][8D]
Reply ID 3636
RE: The post from Rachel. Nevermind how the owner of Shades feels, I took offence at your post! [B)] I feel kinda bad for not slating the place like you. But, having not been up there for a number of months - I thought it best not to be concocting an opinion just for the sake of it. Ill-informed sweeping statements generate bad karma. Just typical of a person called Rachel..!? [^]
Reply ID 3674
Thanks Sprocket very helpfull will be sure to check it out some time soon.