11–14 June 2026 ● Norbreck Castle Hotel, Blackpool
The Novice
Series
Built for less experienced players. No current County A players, no pros, no big-money winners. Just teams of similar ability having a proper weekend of pool.
11–14 June 2026
● Norbreck Castle Hotel, Blackpool
The Novice
Series
Built for less experienced players. No current County A players, no pros, no big-money winners. Just teams of similar ability having a proper weekend of pool.
160
Team places
£90
Entry per team
£20,000+
Cash & trophies
42
Sam Atlantic tables
The Novice Series is a 3-player team event created so less experienced players get the full Golden 8 Ball weekend. The arena, the atmosphere, the trophies. Against teams of a similar standard. Team, singles and doubles events run across the weekend, played to Blackball rules.
This event is popular folks. Please register early to avoid disappointment. If we reach capacity, a waiting list runs and places usually become available.
ℹ️ Important announcement
Norbreck arena costs & new accommodation system
Read why the arena now costs more to hire, and how all hotel bookings are handled from now on.
✓ Pool for all
Our ethos is ‘Pool for All’. We want the Golden 8 Ball to appeal to players of all skill levels and ability. The Novice Series is where most first-timers start.
Fills fast
160 teams. First come, first served.
The Novice Series is a 3-player team event created so less experienced players get the full Golden 8 Ball weekend. The arena, the atmosphere, the trophies. Against teams of a similar standard. Team, singles and doubles events run across the weekend, played to Blackball rules.
This event is popular folks. Please register early to avoid disappointment. If we reach capacity, a waiting list runs and places usually become available.
Fills fast
160 teams. First come, first served.
ℹ️ Important announcement
Norbreck arena costs & new accommodation system
Read why the arena now costs more to hire, and how all hotel bookings are handled from now on.
✓ Pool for all
Our ethos is ‘Pool for All’. We want the Golden 8 Ball to appeal to players of all skill levels and ability. The Novice Series is where most first-timers start.
The Novice weekend
● Racked up and ready
● Teams of similar ability
● Referees on every stage
What every team gets
Included in your entry
Nine line items ● one entry fee
01 ● The rules
Played to Blackball rules
02 ● The balls
Super Aramith Pro
03 ● The cloth
Hainsworth Precision
04 ● The arena
42 Sam Atlantic tables
05 ● The field
160 teams at max capacity
06 ● The guarantee
Min 37 frames in the team stage
07 ● The squad
3–6 players per team
08 ● The results
livepoolscores.com live results, schedule & draw
09 ● The prize fund
£ 20,000+
In cash prizes & trophies
One band, all weekend
Wristbands & spectators
Everyone in the arena wears a band, players and spectators alike, and it must be worn at all times. No tickets, no re-entry queues.
● Player ● Player ● Player ●
Player
£70
Novice weekend
- Arena access for the full weekend
- Covers every event you enter
- Required to play, worn at all times
● Both weekends ● Both weekends ● Both weekends ●
● Both weekends ● Both weekends ●
Both weekends
£120
player upgrade
- One band, Novice and Pro-Am weekends
- The pick for teams entering both series
- Collected once, worn throughout
● Spectator ● Spectator ● Spectator ●
Spectator
£20
whole festival
- Covers both weekends, or £10 for a day band
- Evening sessions and presentations
- All spectator money goes to our nominated charity
ℹ️ Book the Golden 8 Ball Accommodation Package at the Norbreck and the relevant wristbands are included free.
No band, no play
Players attempting to play in any main event without the appropriate wristband risk being disqualified from the tournament. Both players and spectators require wristbands to gain entry to the event on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Guaranteed cash & trophies
Prize fund
We paid out 200 separate prizes over the 2025 weekend. Over £20,000 in cash prizes and trophies, giving many more players the chance to win something. For security, all prizes over £100 are paid by cheque.
Tap an event for the breakdown
Gold 8 Ball
Team
£5,850*
Last 32 + prelim losers
Team ● Last 32 + prelim losers
Gold 8 Ball
£5,850*
Golden 8 Ball Champs
£600 + trophies
Runners up
£300 + trophies
Semi finalists
£240 each
Last 8
£180 each
Last 16
£150 each
Last 32
£120 each
Losers of prelim round
£90 each
Silver 8 Ball
Team
£1,260
Paid down to the last 8
Team ● Last 8
Silver 8 Ball
£1,260
Silver 8 Ball Winners
£300 + trophies
Runners up
£180 + trophies
Semi finalists
£150 each
Last 8
£120 each
Bronze 8 Ball
Team
£990
Paid down to the last 8
Team ● Last 8
Bronze 8 Ball
£990
Bronze 8 Ball Winners
£240 + trophies
Runners up
£150 + trophies
Semi finalists
£120 each
Last 8
£90 each
Wooden Spoon
Team
£480
Paid down to the semi-finals
Team ● Semi-finals
Wooden Spoon
£480
Wooden Spoon Winners
£180 + trophies
Runners up
£120 + trophies
Semi finalists
£90 each
Open Singles
Singles
£6,350*
Last 64 + prelim losers
Singles ● Last 64 + prelim losers
Open Singles
£6,350*
Singles Champion
£500 + trophy
Runner up
£250 + trophy
Semi finalists
£120 each
Last 8
£100 each
Last 16
£80 each
Last 32
£60 each
Last 64
£50 each
Losers of prelim round
£40 each
Open Doubles
Per pair
£3,860
Paid down to the last 32
Per pair ● Last 32
Open Doubles
£3,860
Doubles Champions
£600 + trophies
Runners up
£300 + trophies
Semi finalists
£200 per pair
Last 8
£120 per pair
Last 16
£100 per pair
Last 32
£80 per pair
ℹ️ Payout
*Gold and Open Singles pots are calculated on 2025 prelim-round numbers (7 teams, 44 players) and vary with the number of entries. Main prize payout commences at 11:00am on Sunday; lower open singles and doubles prizes may be paid on Saturday evening. Unclaimed prizes are donated to the nominated charity of the weekend.
Order of play
Schedule
Arena opens Thursday at 10am for practice. Schedule is subject to change; any changes will be announced during the tournament.
Thursday 11 June
Thursday 11 June
10:00
Arena opens for practice
15:00
Team registration opens
15:00
Singles qualifiers start
19:00
Flyers
01:00
Bar shuts
02:00
Arena closes
Friday 12 June
Friday 12 June
08:00
Arena doors open
08:30
Opening ceremony
08:45
Team round robin commences
Evening
Main singles event
Saturday 13 June
Saturday 13 June
Morning
Round robin concludes
Afternoon
Knockout stages begin
Evening
Doubles ● evening entertainment
Doubles
Sunday 14 June
Sunday 14 June
Morning
Knockouts continue
Knockouts
Afternoon
Finals on the feature table
Finals
17:00
Tournament finishes (approx)
Who makes it happen
Official sponsors
Headline partner ● Everything snooker & pool
Cue + Case
Trade stand in the arena all weekend, with cues, cases, tips and everything else you need for the tables.
Junior Series
Cue maker
Smart Rack
Official cloth
Official balls
Official tables
Who makes it happen
Official sponsors
Headline partner ● Everything snooker & pool
Cue + Case
Trade stand in the arena all weekend, with cues, cases, tips and everything else you need for the tables.
Junior Series
Cue maker
Smart Rack
Official cloth
Official balls
Official tables
Register today
This event is popular folks, so please register early to avoid disappointment. Team places are limited to the first 160 that register and pay.