


In the mid 1990s, Roger Halstead, a semi-retired Naval Architect and Yacht builder, started restoring old Dining/Billiard/Snooker/Pool tables. What started as a labour of love has become a rewarding vocation. The tables are now offered for sale. The majority of sales of these restored tables result from referrals from satisfied customers. Tables have been shipped and installed in Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Europe, the Middle East, and North America.
Most of the tables are made of mahogany, but a few are made of English oak. The table designs include legs of various kinds depending on when they were manufactured and who the maker was. Some are from as early as 1840 but the majority were made early in the twentieth century. The newer tables all have slate beds and all tables have new baize (cloth), rubber cushions and pockets fitted. All the timber work is hand French-polished to a better standard than the original finish. (The polishers, who do the finishing, have worked for the House of Lords and Buckingham Palace.)
All the tables are adjustable. They need to be lowered about 3” for dining. The mechanisms vary from table to table but all are restored to a full operational state. The dining tops come in 1, 4 or 5 pieces. Tables are supplied with a complete complement of balls, 2 cues, 1 rest, 1 spider, scoring board (some original), triangle and chalk.
If necessary the finish can be coloured to match the client's requirements. Transportation and installation can be undertaken as needed.