Two of Scotland’s best pool players have unveiled exciting plans for a major new sports venue in Angus.
Dundee-based brothers Marc Fleming, 23 and Ryan Fleming, 21, who have represented Scotland at every level and are ranked number one and three respectively in the Scottish game, believe they have spotted a gap in the market in Arbroath.
Shotz Pool and Snooker will be a pool, snooker and darts club which will transform itself into a live music venue at weekends, with bands and DJs.
There are also plans to hold pool and snooker competitions at the proposed venue on John Street West and attract the biggest names in the game to the town.
The venue will include satellite TV, private booths, six full-size snooker tables, eight pool tables, two US pool tables, up to eight dart boards and poker facilities.
Ryan said: “Both Marc and myself have a long background in playing pool, a skill passed down by our father Jim and helped to make happen by our mother Anna.
“We learned the game through playing at a table in our grandad’s house which he made himself.
“Later we practised at a club near our house and gained our first international caps for Scotland in 2003 with Marc aged 12 and myself aged 11 with the under-18 national team.
“Since then we have played for our country every year consecutively through under-18s, under-21s and now men’s level, where Marc holds the Scottish international number one spot, while I hold number three.
“Our passion for the game has made running our own club seem only a dream for many years, until we spotted a gap in the market in Arbroath.
“Arbroath is home to one of Scotland’s fastest growing and most respected pool leagues.
“Having attended many events in the town and having so many close friends compete in the local league, the distinct lack of facilities available to these dedicated players was pretty clear.
“Having worked in two clubs myself and Marc having spent many years in close friendships with the owner of one, we have a good knowledge of what it takes and also what’s expected.
“Having such good contacts within the Arbroath pool scene as well as the league committee will allow us to not only provide the perfect facilities to help evolve the town’s talent but also to host very large and appealing pool events that will attract many more locals to the game.
“We also plan on doing some very big things with snooker and hope to revive this by making it available to the vast 350-member pool league and getting more youth into the game.
“Last year in the club I work in in Dundee I started a junior pool coaching night aimed at kids between 8-18. We now have 40-50 local kids on our books who had never played pool before starting and now play on a weekly basis.
“We plan to apply this method to both pool and snooker in Arbroath, with the hope of providing local kids not only an enjoyable pastime but the foundations for a potential career.”
Ryan said they also plan to have cameras in place to stream live coverage of pool and snooker events around the globe on the internet.
It is hoped the venue will be open by late July or early August with the emphasis on making the club a friendly and enjoyable place to attend.
Ryan added: “Although we will cater for pool, snooker and darts enthusiasts, 90% of our weekly customers are likely to be people who just enjoy the odd game with friends.
“We wish to make it clear that really everyone is welcome, no matter what their interest.”