A Newcastle snooker hall has suffered a devastating blow after the sport was banned from pubs, just days before they reopened.
Spot White's owner has now spent around £10,000 'Covid-proofing' the Stowell Street venue.
The venue reopened on 'Super Saturday' but only as a bar, as less than 48 hours earlier the Government published rules which meant snooker and pool tables were basically prohibited - a move that could have dire consequences for Spot White.
Owner Adam Goldstone said: "We're primarily for pool and snooker which means we're having to start looking at reduced opening hours and making staff redundant.
Last Tuesday, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) published new rules ahead of 'Super Saturday'.
"Licensed premises will be able to open from 4 July in their capacity as bars and restaurants but not for indoor sport use," stated the department.
"Any opening will need to follow the government’s guidance for pubs, bars and restaurants.”
It means the "fortune" spent on making the tables safe may not have been needed.
The venue recently showed off the massive transformation ahead of reopening, with protective panels dotted around the bar.
And Adam added: "I feel gutted about the decision, and I also feel it is unjust.
"We had created stringent cleaning policies and risk assessments, going as far as quarantining the chalk and equipment for 72 hours between uses.
"We were fully booked for the 4th - we had to cancel and let down all the bookings."
He says he has raised the issue with local MPs, claiming snooker is actually safer than other sports due to the natural social distancing between players.
The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association, which governs the sport, branded the decision a "disappointment".
A statement said: "We remain in dialogue with government to ensure that snooker facilities will be able to be used as soon as possible."
And on Twitter, others branded the 'ban' "baffling", although some questioned if the move may be down to fears the virus could be deposited on the balls, cues and table cloth.
However Adam said, at Spot White, those items are "cleaned in between customers with precision".
