Pool Tables for Christmas - a Buyer's Guide

Overview

A pool table makes a great Christmas present. For adults, it’s ideal to while away the evenings, host social tournaments and get the family together.

For kids, it’s a chance to learn a new game – without screens! Their hand-eye coordination will be sharpened and competitive instincts satisfied. Their friends will all want to come round and play pool, making them the most popular kid in school.

Choosing the right pool table from the countless available is the most important part of the process. You can read our Pool Table Buyer's Guide for an in-depth overview and read our Pool Table Room Size Guide to learn how to check the space you have available. For more essential advice, browse our full collection of pool table information articles.

The Winner slate bed British pool table. (From £1699.00) [ view in store ]

So what makes buying a pool table at Christmas different? The key things to consider are:

Availability

MDF-bed tables are quick and easy to arrange. Usually light, flat-packed and delivered by mainstream couriers, they can be pulled off the shelf, into a van and arrive at your front door within a few days.

MDF-bed multi games tables offer all the same great performance as dedicated MDF-bed pool tables, but combine this with other games - for example air hockey or table tennis - in a space-saving format. With so much versatility they're ideal for family fun, especially at Christmas time.

British slate bed pool tables, usually made in batches in smaller factories, can have long lead times. You should allow plenty of time when ordering for Christmas, in case the table needs to be made especially. We would recommend that you place your order by the end of October to be sure of getting yours. British slate beds come with the option of self-installation, or you can pay extra for our team to do it (and get a bunch of extra accessories too).

American slate bed tables vary wildly - at Liberty Games we hold a good stock of a variety of these, in lots of different styles, sizes and specifications. However they will always need expert installation by our technicians - a fairly complex procedure that can take a few hours. As scheduling gets tighter towards December, you should again allow plenty of time when ordering, to ensure that the install teams can fit you in in time.

Delivery

Slate bed pool tables, being large, heavy and requiring expert delivery by specialist staff, should be ordered as early in the season as possible. This ringfences a table of your chosen spec and ensures you'll receive it well before the big dude climbs down the chimney.

The Precision slate bed pool dining table with tops fitted - ideal for Christmas Dinner! (From £3489.00) [ view in store ]

Cutoffs

As we move deeper into the festive season, our couriers and delivery teams start to restrict their coverage. This is because of the sheer weight of orders and the time spent delivering to further-flung areas. Our listings will show up-to-date cutoff information in the Delivery Info panel, complete with regularly-updated maps and a postcode checker. If ordering later in the season, and especially anytime in December, you should carefully check these to ensure you are still reachable.

So if you're in a more remote area, for example in northern Scotland, west Wales or even the far south-west, you could find yourself without a delivery option. Closer to Christmas, even some regions in England - especially those furthest from central England and also some urban areas - may become cut off. As always, we recommend ordering early to be sure of getting your table in time.

The Avant Garde slate bed pool dining table. (From £1649.00) [ view in store ]

If you miss a cutoff, don't worry. You might not get your table by Christmas Day but you'll certainly receive it as soon as we can restart deliveries to your area - usually this is within the first two weeks of January.

In a few cases, we can also arrange for Collections from our depots either in Epsom, Surrey or Coventry, West Midlands. Selection is often limited and collections must be pre-arranged with the team, but it can be a lifesaver if you're fairly local and out of delivery options. Look for the Collection icon on certain listings for more information.

The Pureline Multi Games & Dining Table combines pool, air hockey & table tennis - plus dining! (From £679.00) [ view in store ]

Checking

If the table is a gift that will be unwrapped as a surprise on Christmas Day (such as an MDF-bed table for a child) then we'd recommend quietly opening the box at least a couple of weeks beforehand and checking all components against the parts list.

If any parts are missing or damaged, call our Customer Services team immediately and we can have a replacement part sent out the very next day. This avoids any disappointment when unwrapping and assembling on the day.

It's Chriiiiist-Maaaaaas!

Now it's time to browse our entire selection of pool tables - and choose the one that fits your needs and budget best. All of our tables come with accessories, enough to get you playing, but you might want to upgrade or add extras from our extensive selection of pool cues and pool table accessories.

For further guidance or for help placing an order, just contact us and we'll be happy to help.