Game over at snooker club

VB and Sons supermarket, which is directly underneath North Harrow Snooker Centre on Pinner Road, own the building and are planning to use the space for their own business, according to director Chandu Nathwani.

Martin Gould, 29, is currently number 20 in the world and has risen quickly through the professional rankings in the past five years.

He said: "I am really grateful for what they did for me. When I was in need of a few quid and trying to make it they let me work there and practise on the tables for free."

The 'Pinner Potter' is on track to be ranked 16 by the end of September, meaning he would automatically qualify for every major tournament. He stopped playing at the North Harrow centre last year after going in search of more serious competition.

Mr Gould, from Howards Close, Pinner Green, is currently in training for the Australian Masters and says the centre definitely played a part in his success.

Although numbers have been declining over the past few years because of the smoking ban and recession, the club remained popular with players of all ages and abilities.

The club is known for its relaxed atmosphere and sociable clientèle. Tony Leliw has been going to the club for the last eight months with his 16-year-old son, Alex Batoryk-Leliw.

Mr Leliw, 51, from Oxford Road, Harrow, said: "It's a really friendly place to go, both me and my son enjoy it and it's a shame it will be closing."

The club closed its doors on Monday July 11 and manager Andy Toumazou, who has worked at the club for 25 years, said he had fond memories of the club: "We had a party last weekend and people had tears in their eyes. There were people who had started playing when they were 15 and now they are 40."

The VB and Sons supermarket opened in February and made Mr Toumazou an offer for his lease, which was coming to an end.

Members of North Harrow Snooker Club will be able to transfer their membership to Rileys Pool and Snooker in Wealdston. Aled Williams, who works at Rileys, said 60 players had made use of the free membership in the first week.