Category: Bar Billiards

I have been inundated with messages asking about how I’m getting on at bar billiards and my team the Serengeti. I say inundated, but one person asked, but that’s enough for a blog post in my opinion. This might be mostly about the food, as I feel a breakdown of the game might be just a little excessive.

Well, this isn’t too bad. It’s the sixth win in a row for me, and it’s against the Manes this time. At the beginning of the season, the Manes captain made clear he only wanted people who weren’t as good as him at the game, hence why I joined the Serengeti    🙂    Typical that I then draw Nathan in both games, I can do without all this sporting rivalry. But, I concentrated on the food as that’s the important thing.

But, of course, I don’t get overly involved in these sporting matters, I just do what I’m told. It was a very close contest, 3-3 at the end of the singles match. This is a cup game and since the Serengeti have won both their games so far, I’m hopeful that we get to go further in the cup. All very enjoyable and close matches are always exciting. I’m not sure that my gameplay is the most interesting to watch at the moment, heavily based on keep scoring 10 points a lot, but maybe one day I’ll be able to do shots that my near namesake Jimmy White would be proud of.

But, as mentioned, the main reason that I take part is the food and I think I’ve made that clear on several occasions. The food provided by the White Lion and the curry was absolutely delicious. It’s a joy to play for a White Lion team, as we’re always surprised and delighted by the food that Oscar and his kitchen team provide. Apologies that I didn’t take a photo of the food before I dumped it on a plate, I’m not doing justice to the White Lion’s food in terms of the presentation. I only had two portions of the food which is low for me, but us Serengeti team members are held to high standards by the team captain Roy, we mustn’t be distracted. Our motto is “fun, food and victory” and that’s important to us. I say our motto, although I’ve just made that up, but maybe it could be. Back to the main matter though, I would like to mention here that the White Lion is the best pub in Norwich and should be visited at every opportunity.

And here’s a photo of Oscar and the Leopard’s dog. I have to say, and not just because I want something, but Oscar was in formidable form in his match. Anyway, back to the match which was closely fought and all very exciting. Well done to Emma, Wes and Julian on winning both their matches, they were all very brave. Especially me of course   🙂

The league and cup results and tables are at https://www.norwichbarbilliards.co.uk/.

Well, this is the stuff of dreams, my team the Serengeti beat the White Lion Manes 6-3. For me, this was particularly exciting as I was transferred from the Manes to the Serengeti at the beginning of the season, which meant I was a bit nervous about playing them.

The draw, and there’s Keir (or Nathan, the captain of the Manes, as I briefly referred to him in a previous post) from the Manes. I was, to be honest, disappointed to be randomly drawn sixth, but there we go.

Here we are, and it was mentioned by me team that I was sitting with the “opposition”, but there was a reason for that.

The reason was that I knew in advance where Dylan, one of the talented White Lion staff, was placing the food. Now, I accept that the food and drink isn’t the only factor for bar billiards players, but, for me, it was the most important if I’m being honest. And the chips and chilli were excellent, thanks to Oscar and the White Lion team.

I was nervous, everyone was pretty aware of that, but I’m always determined even though things might seem stressful at first. I was pleased to win against Oscar, the landlord of the White Lion (fortunately, I wasn’t barred from the pub) and then win doubles as well. Thanks to David who mentioned that he’d never seen me look so serious, but I didn’t want to let my captain Roy down! We were losing 3-2 when I took to the table, but I made it 3-3, then we won all of the doubles matches.

What Julian, just back from Cardiff, treated me to as “a celebration feast” after the victory. What a time to be alive! Some of our victorious team also went to the King’s Head afterwards, how really rather lovely! The Serengeti are on a roll! Although my next post will likely be how I’ve lost two games and broken a cue or something….

Here’s a photo of me from last year (NB, that isn’t a fashion item around my wrist, it was my face covering which I wasn’t sure where to put, although perhaps over my face would have been sensible) when I put myself in charge of refereeing a Legstretchers bar billiards tournament, although I probably remembered half the rules incorrectly. Anyway, I’ve joined a team this year, the White Lion Manes, although I’m more engaged with the food than the bar billiards bit. The league, slightly oddly referring to us as the White Lions Manes which poses me some grammatical issues, is at https://www.norwichbarbilliards.co.uk/League and I might get away with gossiping our team until someone happens to read up about what I’ve been writing and I’ll have to calm myself.

Anyway, our captain, who I shall refer to as Keir, is pretending that it isn’t something that should be taken seriously, although it’s clear to me that it is absolutely in his mind something that is more important than the essence of life itself. I will update this riveting blog on how many games I lose and when Keir orders me out of his team, but until that happens I shall merrily post even more photos of food which is why I’m doing this.

My home pub will be the White Lion, which is moderately annoying as it’s half way across the city from where I live, but I suppose I could pop into the King’s Head for a rest on the way there and back. I also don’t have a cue and I don’t want one, I’m not traipsing that around the city and it won’t make any difference to me anyway. I’m not sure that I know the rules either, which will cause a scene when Keir realises and mutters and moans that my fancy shot is actually in fact illegal. I understand that I have to referee some matches, which I shall be doing as infrequently as I can get away with as I’ll get muddled up and I don’t like adding up (Keir got an A at GCSE Maths so he’s alright).

Anyway, there’s food and beer involved, so hopefully the bar billiards bit won’t ruin those two key elements.