Partner Article

Pub supplier Bob Rudd pockets UK-wide partnership with Ultimate Pool

Pool-loving punters will soon be able to play like the pros as one of the nation’s best-loved pub games prepares for a thrilling revamp.

Industry insiders insist pool is fast approaching its very own ‘darts’ moment with many predicting the sport’s explosive popularity is set to surge.

The timeless pub classic is already hot on the heels of Luke Littler and co. thanks to a new generation of cue kings and queens fronting televised events around the world.

And now Bob Rudd — which operates more than 7,000 entertainment products in pubs and bars across the UK — has teamed up with Ultimate Pool to maintain the momentum.

Following the launch of the Ultimate Pool Pack, Nick Rudd, Managing Director of Bob Rudd, said: “Pool has always belonged in pubs but we think there is a real opportunity to make much more of it.

“Ultimate Pool has created huge energy around the sport with weekly televised media and this partnership gives us the opportunity to bring some of that excitement directly into venues and give customers another reason to pick up a cue.

“We’ve seen what is possible through our partnership with Target Darts. Target Dartzone is now in more than 600 venues and that experience has shown us the power of combining a brilliant, specialist brand with Bob Rudd’s relationships, service network and understanding of the licensed trade.

“We want to take that same collaborative approach with Ultimate Pool. The Pack is the starting point, but what really excites us is what comes next — Beat the Pro events, pub leagues and new ways of getting customers involved. We want to help write an exciting new chapter for pool in pubs.”

The new Ultimate Pool Pack allows venues renting a pool table from Bob Rudd the opportunity to upgrade their package with a combination of branded products designed to enhance players’ experiences.

The package includes Smartrack, Professional 820 cloth and Ultimate Pool Pro Dynaspheres — bringing together the best of the Ultimate Pool’s product line in an official proposition delivered and supported by Bob Rudd.

Both businesses agree the equipment is only the start, with the Ultimate Pool Packs set to bring people together, breathe new life into pubs and bars and build on the growing appetite for competitive socialising.

Jason Gains, Director of Ultimate Pool, said: “Our brand has always been about taking the game forward — creating excitement around pool, building a community of players and giving people more opportunities to get involved with the sport.

“Pubs are a hugely important part of that future. They are where so many people first discover pool, where friends become rivals and where competitive play can become part of a regular night out.

“Bob Rudd understands that environment exceptionally well. Their experience across the licensed trade, and the success they have already had working collaboratively with Target Darts, made them a natural partner for us.

“The Ultimate Pool Pack gives us a fantastic foundation but our ambition together goes much further. We’re excited about getting into venues, engaging directly with players through events and leagues and ultimately helping more people play more pool in more pubs.”

Bob Rudd is already the official partner of Target Darts for its Target Dartzone product and there is a sector-wide confidence that pool can follow suit in achieving greater success on a national scale.

Earlier this year the sector-leading supplier to the entertainment industry undertook research into the spending habits of pub goers across the UK. The results revealed pool remains a key part of a customer’s ‘Entertainment Journey’, alongside time spent on gaming machines, taking part in quizzes and playing darts.

Based in Newcastle but with active depots nationwide, Bob Rudd continues to lead the way in its innovative approach to supplying pubs and bars with a range of flexible  entertainment packages. 

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Rushworth .