How do I check a pool hall’s tables and equipment before buying?

Tables are the heart of a pool hall, and they are heavy, specialized and awkward to replace. A seller may say the equipment is included, but that can mean very different things. Before you rely on any figure in the seller’s books, walk the floor with a list, a notepad and, ideally, someone who services billiard tables. What you learn there feeds directly into your due diligence.

Find out who owns each table

Ask the seller for a schedule of every table showing the owner, the make and the age. Some halls own their tables outright. Others lease them, or share coin-operated tables with an outside operator who collects part of the take. Request copies of any lease or placement agreement and ask whether it can transfer to you. Ask your lawyer whether each item of equipment transfers under the agreement.

Inspect the condition

Check whether the slate is level, how worn the cloth is, whether the cushions still play true and whether pockets, lights and racks are intact. Ask when each table was last re-covered and who does the work. Age and upkeep records matter here as they do with any equipment, much as they do when you check a nightclub before buying. Cue, ball and chalk stock should be counted too.

Plan for moving and replacing tables

If the landlord will not renew, tables may have to move. Ask a specialist what taking down and reinstalling a table involves, and whether the slate can be moved without damage. A buyer who knows this ahead of time can negotiate the lease with better information. Ask your lawyer to list the equipment in the agreement so there is no dispute at closing.

• Schedule of tables with owner, make and age
• Copies of leases or operator placement agreements
• Slate, cloth, cushion and pocket condition
• Cue, ball, rack and chalk stock
• Service and re-covering history