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Rileys in administration today |
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BigDave
Forum User
Joined: 13-Mar-2006
Posts: 11008
From: England
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Posted: 2012-11-20 17:41
It's been on the cards for a week or so, but some Rileys clubs are definitely closed today - rumour has it between 40 or even 50 are closing - the ones with Fan Zones and Darts Zones are staying. Among the confirmed closures are Darren Appleton's old club in Barnsley. Very sad news for the staff who've lost their jobs and some players who have virtually grown up in their local club. It remains to be seen what happens to the released properties - in the past, some have been purchased by private owners and turned around quite successfully. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rileys cues up pre-pack takeover
12 November, 2012
Snooker hall chain Rileys is to be taken over by investment firm Greybull Capital in a pre-pack administration arrangement, the Sunday Times reports.
Rileys, which runs about 120 UK clubs, will be put into administration to wipe its debt slate clean, before returning as a new company. That firm is to be taken on by Greybull, which is the group behind electrical retailer Comet, which itself fell into administration last week. Rileys will close around 40 clubs as part of the move.
It is the second time in three years that Rileys has been put into a pre-pack administration, having been picked up by private equity firms Greenhill and JO Hambro in 2009 after ditching £18m of debt.
As the Sunday Times points out, little is known about Greybull, though it understands it is run by two brothers who raise money on a deal by deal basis. It says Rileys has been hit by rising rents and declining sales, particularly from its slot machine operations following a tightening of gambling laws.
Source: http://www.peach-report.com
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Is your local open or closed? -----------------  Authorised Pro9 forum advertiser/sponsor [ This message was edited by: BigDave on 2012-11-20 17:48 ]
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BigDave
Forum User
Joined: 13-Mar-2006
Posts: 11008
From: England
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Posted: 2012-11-20 17:43
It's not just Rileys - a fair few independent clubs have closed in my home town over the last year or two as well - is it the economic recession, or are young people playing less cuesports in favour of computers for instance? [ This message was edited by: BigDave on 2012-11-20 17:48 ]
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wildman147
Home away from home
Joined: 13-Mar-2009
Posts: 2764
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Posted: 2012-11-20 18:08
Feel very bad for George at Barnsley, he has made that the best Rileys club I have ever been to massive shame and also it effects the 2013 T9B National Series, when all details are confirmed T9B will make an announcement.
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tigger147
Home away from home
Joined: 19-Jun-2007
Posts: 2605
From: liverpool
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Posted: 2012-11-20 18:28
also affects the BWPPA tour, and we only held our last event of the year last weekend in Barnsley, so sad for all those who have lost jobs, lets hope some of these clubs have good people buy them out.
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Cueboy88
Home away from home
Joined: 13-Nov-2007
Posts: 588
From: Doncaster.
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Posted: 2012-11-20 20:25
I'm gutted about Barnsley. Myself, Daz, Shane Appleton, Ben Finch, Elliott Sanderson all practised there. I would say it was the best Rileys in the UK for pool players. Fitting really that I reached the semi-final there at the weekend. It had a family feel to it, everyone got on and helped each other out. I know when I started playing in the summer Shane really helped me out, and I had a few sessions with Daz. Great club, great memories, it was my second home for most of the last 5 years.
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Matt Lester
www.matthew-lester.com
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BigDave
Forum User
Joined: 13-Mar-2006
Posts: 11008
From: England
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Posted: 2012-11-21 03:30
I've seen this list of closed clubs touted on Facebook, I'm not sure if it's 100% but probably fairly accurate - just 23 clubs listed here... DARLINGTON, BARNSLEY, BOLTON, CARDIFF CITY RD, DERBY MANSFIELD RD, DONCASTER, FFORESTFACH, FOLKSTONE, GLASGOW LEDARD RD, GLOUSTER , HULL BEVERLEY RD,INVERNESS, LOUGHBROUGH, MANSFIELD, PERTH, PETERBOROUGH (COURT CLUB), SHEFFIELD MANSFIELD RD, SHEFFIELD RICHMOND RD, STAFFORD, STOCKPORT, SUTTON, TAUNTON AND WHITEFIELD. [ This message was edited by: BigDave on 2012-11-21 04:09 ]
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Danny
Home away from home
Joined: 14-Mar-2006
Posts: 909
From: Manchester UK
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Posted: 2012-11-21 08:57
I was shocked to find Rileys Manchester Deansgate had closed down to make way for a classy strip club within 80 yards of a Cathedral. Nice and appropriate.
Shame about Whitefield closing down. It's not in the nicest of areas but they had a match table with decent cloth that got looked after.
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Riggers
Home away from home
Joined: 30-Mar-2006
Posts: 4454
From: Barnsley (centre of the universe)
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Posted: 2012-11-21 09:50
I heard it was 27 clubs had closed. I'm not sure why there are rumours all over facebook about it being double that. All the same its very sad news for UK Cuesports.
On the positive side you do sense some of these clubs would do much better in private hands. What little money Rileys did invest in these clubs was invested in the wrong way IMO. There was very little care and attention given to playing conditions. In Barnsley for example we had a lot of english pool talent (always been good players there) yet the local players (who drink beer like crazy I might add) drove 20 miles to Andy Appleton's club due to the superior playing conditions. Rileys would not even allow them to maintain a couple of tables themselves for the team players only. This was just one example of many where club owners hands were tied by the lunacy of their bosses.
Ralph Winfield (Rotherham) has proved an old Rileys can be bought up and turned into a great club in the right hands.
Fingers crossed Barnsley will reopen in the hands of someone who understands how to run a cuesports venue.
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Slasher
Just popping in
Joined: 11-Jul-2008
Posts: 12
From: Vancouver BC Canada
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Posted: 2012-11-21 17:11
Any idea on who to contact in regards to the Barnsley property. Is it the upper floor of that building? Do you believe this club well run club could be profitable? thanks [ This message was edited by: Slasher on 2012-11-21 17:33 ]
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rc
Home away from home
Joined: 22-Jul-2009
Posts: 262
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Posted: 2012-11-21 21:57
only really played in a couple rileys clubs, but barnsley is probably the best pool club i've played in, such a shame it has closed. George made me feel so welcome when i came up for the last mmtv so i hope someone takes over the running of the club.
if not what will happen to the Diamond table? i'm interested if it goes up for sale
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mal_clarke
Home away from home
Joined: 16-Nov-2006
Posts: 286
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Posted: 2012-11-22 16:21
Gutted on Donny and Darlo clubs going, happy memories playing out of both. I'm pleased Sunderland survived although it's always quiet in there so I'm enjoying it while it lasts.
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billiardbloke
Home away from home
Joined: 28-Sep-2010
Posts: 316
From: The Black Country
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Posted: 2012-11-22 16:55
American tables in Wolverhampton rarely used. Blackball and darts really busy every time I go in.
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unique
Home away from home
Joined: 06-Sep-2009
Posts: 1917
From: South elmsall
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Posted: 2012-11-22 18:51
On 2012-11-21 21:57 , rc Wrote:!!! QUOTE !!! only really played in a couple rileys clubs, but barnsley is probably the best pool club i've played in, such a shame it has closed. George made me feel so welcome when i came up for the last mmtv so i hope someone takes over the running of the club.
if not what will happen to the Diamond table? i'm interested if it goes up for sale daz apps owns that mate,after see him about it ----------------- Mr Dockerty to you boys
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geo123
Just can't stay away
Joined: 26-Apr-2010
Posts: 125
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Posted: 2012-11-22 20:28
guys just to let you know the club at barnsley is reopening soon under new management deal is already done
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InsideEnglish
Home away from home
Joined: 05-Nov-2008
Posts: 421
From: Cloud Cuckoo Land
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Posted: 2012-11-23 00:04
thats good news George
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tigger147
Home away from home
Joined: 19-Jun-2007
Posts: 2605
From: liverpool
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Posted: 2012-11-23 00:06
Great news George
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finisher
Home away from home
Joined: 03-Jan-2010
Posts: 411
From: west yorkshire
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Posted: 2012-11-23 00:59
Guwan Georgie Vetters  ))
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wildman147
Home away from home
Joined: 13-Mar-2009
Posts: 2764
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Posted: 2012-11-23 12:01
Great news George
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Riggers
Home away from home
Joined: 30-Mar-2006
Posts: 4454
From: Barnsley (centre of the universe)
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Posted: 2012-11-23 12:20
I can't believe we got to suffer that fat baldy for another few years
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BigDave
Forum User
Joined: 13-Mar-2006
Posts: 11008
From: England
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Posted: 2012-11-23 12:28
On 2012-11-23 12:20 , Riggers Wrote:!!! QUOTE !!! I can't believe we got to suffer that fat baldy for another few years hahahahahaaaaaaaaaa! 
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