Delhi’s young working brigade is an avid follower of cricket, tennis and football, but the gruelling nine-to-five routine of a corporate job leaves them with little time or energy to be a part of an outdoor match.
Pool tables have emerged as a popular alternative. “I have always taken pleasure in outdoor games but since I started working, I rarely get the time to even hang out with friends,” says Deepak Gulati, an architect. The 24-year-old adds, “Now when we meet, we prefer not to sit in cafes like old uncles. Rather, it is a great stress buster to couple the chit-chatting with a game of pool.”
Equipped with snacking and drinking facilities, clubs offering pool tables are aplenty in Delhi. “There is a place in Amar Colony popularly known as Panditji’s, which we friends visit regularly. They have a few pool tables and we also purchase snacks and cold drinks from them,” says Debashish, a pool regular. “Of course, the table quality is not great but at least they’re easy on the pocket.”
There are numerous malls, clubs and sports facilities in the city that now have pool tables and are witnessing an increase in demand. “A game of pool is very popular among people between 20 to 35 years. It is a good indoor game, [and] more popular than the basketball hoop,” says Kamal Arora, entertainment head, The Sports Bar.
A trip to the pool table in a club, sports complex or mall might cost between Rs 60 to Rs 100 for a frame — one game that could last just 10 minutes. The cheaper options — from Rs 60 to Rs 100 per hour — are available, though you’ll have to compromise on the table’s quality.
Here are some joints you can visit:
1. DDA Sports Complex, Khel Gaon, Siri Fort Road.
2. CK 27 Club, N-14, Sec-18, Noida.
3. Chilla Sports Complex, Vasundhara.
4. The Great India Place Mall, Noida.
5. Major Dyan Chand Sports Complex, Ashok Vihar.
6. Billiards and Snooker Academy, Pitampura.
7. Buddies Pool and Snooker Centre, Vikaspuri.