In an effort to continue to improve the quality of our website we will be making a number of changes in the coming weeks.

 We are constantly looking at how we can incorporate more content into our site and also offer a range of services to customers that are distinct from any of our competitors. We feel we have found a solution that will improve content and yet be a very attractive offer to customers old and new.

The alterations we are to make will have a definite benefit to both private and commercial customers. We will truly be offering a range of services that are unavailable currently from an operating company.

Additionally we have some exciting news re an acquisition that should be completed within the next 7 days. We intend to look at further ways to improve the synergy in our cuesports business. More as we have it !

Elston and Hopkin are pleased to announce that we are about to install 2 x 7Ft American Pool Tables into a new bowling venue in Glasgow for a major operator.

We continue to source some amazing bargains for our customers. One thing that does not alter is the quality of the products and the reliability of the installation. If you are looking for a 7 or 9Ft American Pool table please get in touch.

We are pleased to announce that we have just taken a formal order for the installation of 5 Snooker Tables , 2  American Pool Tables and 2 English Pool Tables in a new Cuesports venue which is due to open in October in the East Midlands.

Elston and Hopkin continues to offer its customers a broad base of services. We look forward to delivering these products to our latest customer. If you wish to ask any questions about an installation or our Terms of Business , please do not hesitate to get in contact.

In the normal course of our work we travel extensively throughout the UK and on occasions abroad.

The quality of accomodation is really important after a hard day’s work or after travelling a long distance. We have always formed the view that we all work that bit better if we are well fed and watered and can stay in a nice place.

We are members of the Federation for Small Business and have decided that the days of us staying in Hotels provided by big companies is at an end - we would far rather give the business to good local operators.

Therefore on an infrequent basis we are going to provide yoiu with details of excellent establishments where we were made to feel very welcome and the standard of accomodation was first class.

Our favourites to date :-

HARTFELL HOUSE - Autumn 2005

First of all to Moffatt in the Scottish Borders. We were fortunate to stay at Hartfell House , Hartfell Crescent Moffatt. The hosts were incredibly welcoming even though we were late. The Rooms were terrific , large and really well appointed , and the owner Rob even managed to organise us a meal in town at a local hotel the Buccleuch Arms (Aberdeen Angus Steaks). The price for such superb hospitality £35 per head. This is an AA 4 Star establishment and a Scottish Tourist Board 4 Star establishment.

www.dalbeattie.com/moffat/hartfellhouse/index.htm

Dilston Mill - Corbridge Winter 2006

We were up in Newcastle working for a few days and found some lovely accomodation out of town in Corbridge. You stay in a converted watermill on the edge of “Devils Water”. We had an excellent stay here and at £45 a night it was superb value too. I must just mention the “Passage to India” Curry house that was excellent.

www.dilstonmill.com

Parr Hall Farm - Eccleston , Lancashire Spring 2007

This was one of our absolute favourites , we stayed in the new accomodation in the recently converted barn. We simply couldn’t fault any aspect of our stay , the rooms were top quality as was the welcome and the breakfast ; the price charged was a fantastic £35. For those of you looking for a few beers and a good meal - your in luck , only a couple of minutes walk to local pub “The Original Farmers Arms”. We can recommend the food as being excellent !

www.parrhallfarm.com

Mucky Duck Inn - Spring 2007

We were struggling to find a room as we were late back from Eastbourne prior to working in Esher the next day. The accomodation on the Surrey/Sussex border is usually booked well in advance , so we were lucky to get late availability.Fortunately for us we unearthed another quality venue.

The pub itself has a wealth of real ales and does simply terrific food. The owner and head barman were very friendly and clearly valued our business ( unlike some major chains). However the best bit was the lovely rooms that have been built in a separate building across the car park. If you are in need of somewhere to stay on the West Sussex/Surrey border check out The Mucky Duck , Tisman’s Common , West Sussex. Its in the South so prices are somewhat higher but still competitive for the area.

www.mucky-duck-inn.co.uk 

The Granary at Stubbs Farm - Alton , Hampshire -Summer 2007

This is another total gem. Although you will need to be Marco Polo to find it in the dark as we did. A total joy to stay at with lovely rooms and a great breakfast , once again we had arrived late and to find such good accomodation awaiting you was a real joy. I have noticed that this site is listed under the Britains Finest website…………and with good reason. The price was an amazing £37.50 each.The curry house in Alton is pretty good as well !

www.stubbsfarm.co.uk

Detling Coach House - Detling , Maidstone  - Summer 2007

This was a bit of an uncharted area for us as we hadn’t done a lot of work in this locality. We were in fact en route to Hastings to pick up a George Wright table (superb example) and needed a stop off point.

We arrived late as usual and even though it was 8pm at night we were greeted with the offer of a cup of tea or coffee - great !

The rooms were in a converted barn which were very comfortable. A cracking cooked breakfast in the morning set us up for the work ahead. Highly recommended! The local pub in Detling (The Cock Horse) did really nice food as well.

www.detlingcoachhouse.co.uk

So there we have it a list of places that we have stayed at that are deserving of praise. We are really passionate about what we do and the standards we deliver. Clearly the above named B&B’s feel exactly the same way. More as we have it , and if you are staying in these areas , give them a ring you won’t be disappointed.

 Delighted to report that we have found another lovely George Wright table that is now in the process of being delivered back to base for a full restoration.

George Wright tables are a particular favourite of ours and we endeavour to acquire them whenever possible.

This table is not yet listed on the website but will be once we have properly inspected the new arrival. Delightful legs and scrolls as usual are featured on this latest table. Please see the picture. Interested , then please make contact so we can update you as the restoration process continues.

I do hope you like the picture of American celebrity Pool player Mercedes Tyrell.We have not bumped into Mercedes just yet but it may happen soon as we have been tremendously busy of late working throughout the UK.

Our Head Office is based in the East Midlands but we operate all over the UK and Europe as required. We have a very busy schedule in the next week and will be visiting the following locations.

Mansfield , Derby , Nottingham , Immingham , Oxford , Tewkesbury , Wimbledon Village , Hastings , Scunthorpe , Coventry, Aylesbury , Stoke on Trent.

The work will include :-

Pool Table Rentals , Pool Table Sales , Snooker Table Sales , American Pool Table Dismantled , Transported Erected and Recovered , Snooker Table(s) Dismantled , Transported , Erected , Re-rubbered , Recovered , English and American Pool table Recovers

If you need any assistance for any cuesports related enquiry , please feel free to ring we will be delighted to assist you.

 Eventually there comes a time when your table needs to be cared for like all older items. One of the ways to bring your table up to scratch is to have a complete repolish of the whole frame and cushions.

This process requires considerable skill allied to the correct use of the right products to revitalise the wood to its original best.

Its important first of all to strip the wood back to its original state and remove any imperfections. This can neccessitate a significant amount of sanding to remove damaged wood and to provide an acceptable surface to work with.

The wood must then be stained to an appropriate colour for the table , we often find that previous poor quality work will often discolour a table and we endeavour to bring it back to its most natural state. Once the table has been stained , the skilled work of the polisher starts to bring a lustre back to the table leaving a fabulous finish.

We recently repolished an antique table for a client in Derby , please see the pictures to give you an idea of the finish that can be achieved. If you have any enquiries re the restoration of your table , please do not hesitate to get in touch.

 Sadly flood damage has devastated many towns and villages in both the North of England , Home Counties and the South West as the unsettled weather continues.

We are not immune from this damage as sadly one of our clients had the misfortune to have their pub business flooded in torrential rain. Thus our Pool table was under three feet of water. A minor problem bearing in mind the trauma of losing your entire business.The scope of effect on individuals and businesses of all sizes has been immense.

Additionally we have had to assist some existing and new customers with dismantling and removing tables damaged by the floods. If you need any assistance of this type - we can help and will endeavour to do so at short notice if you have a serious difficulty.

We have been very busy in the last few months with clients who require their Snooker tables dismantled as part of a club relocation. We completed the move for a Nottingham Conservative club recently and are in the process of doing exactly the same for a British Legion club in Derby.

If you require a Snooker table dismantling , transporting , storing or re-erecting then we can assist you in completing the job professionally.

If any remedial work is required on your tables in the interim , this is the time to get the work completed ready for the installation into new premises.

If you require a table(s) moving and reblocking/rubbering/polishing please ring for our quotation. We only use the best materials in order to give you years of enjoyable further use.

Our next club relocation task is booked for October , please make contact if we can assist you.

We are delighted to report that two further clients have requested the installation of Snooker Tables on a rental basis in East Midland Cities. We are continuing to source good quality tables in order to satisfy the demand of our clients.

Our rental package is as described in our most recent blog very competitive and allows clubs/pubs to offer a first class table at a sensible price. We continue to look forward to our next installation.