Pool club must find new venue

A POPULAR Ipswich pool and snooker venue which has played host to some international stars is preparing for closure today.

The site of the Premier Pool Club on Duke Street has been sold to developers so tomorrow, after 22 years in the town, it will be closing its doors for the last time.

The club's owner, Robert Williams, said: “There is a lot of history here and it will be sad to close down.

“We've had 15 junior international pool players including the youngest ever world professional player and the junior European champion.

“And we had a ladies European champion and someone who captained Ireland.

“I suppose it is progress that the building will be redeveloped but I'd rather stay here.”

Mr Williams, a pool-lover himself, said he got confirmation around a month ago that the club, which has eight pool tables and five snooker tables, would have to move as the land had been sold.

Last year developers James Aldridge Chartered Surveyors submitted a planning application to demolish the existing building and replace it with a new four-storey building with the ground floor used for commercial space and 14 residential units above.

But that application to Ipswich Borough Council has since been withdrawn.

Mr Williams added: “Us having to close has been on the cards for about a year. It's a shame but I hope to be able to reopen somewhere else in town soon.

“Hopefully we'll still be able to host county teams in a new place.

“It is the friendly people and great players that make the club so it shouldn't matter if we move location.”

To mark the end of an era a party is being held at the club tomorrow evening from 7pm. Everyone is welcome and entrance is free.

Will you be sad to see the Premier Pool Club close? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.