-
Book a Showroom Visit
-
Free Delivery in the UK
-
Ongoing Service & Warranty
-
Call us to find out more
Description
The Athenaeum is the latest addition to our small collection of luxury bespoke tables and represents a worthy addition to the range.
The overall design aesthetic is one of classic lines, underpinned by a feeling of great solidity and tradition. Subtle brass inlays and black leather pockets give the Athenaeum a look of quiet distinction, and like a high quality hand tailored suit it’s made with tremendous attention to detail and built to last a lifetime.
Although beautifully understated the Athenaeum never the less has great presence and commands the room. Shown here in a black oiled finish this piece shares many of the characteristics of its stunning stablemates, including the ability to double up as a table tennis table. The table tennis tops, which are stored within a concealed drawer in the side of the cabinet, necessarily comprise three identically sized sections as two would be too large to store neatly. When in situ the middle section bridges the centre area of the table bisected only by the net and the other two parts are located using reinforced ‘dominoes’, which effectively pull everything together in place. It should be noted that the brass inlays which feature on the pool table rails are echoed on the table tennis tops, performing the role that would normally be served by a painted white line whilst adding an undeniable touch of luxury.
At either end the ‘push release’ drawers, almost invisible when closed, open to reveal sculpted inserts which store the balls, triangle, table tennis bats and net, all of which sit snugly within the custom cut outs that have been created for them.
The mechanism for affixing and tensioning the net is itself a thing of beauty and wonder, using precision engineering to great effect. The L-shaped post, which is finished in chrome, brass, or brushed steel according to taste, pushes into a recess within the edge of the table tennis top. Secreted at the far end of this hidden channel is an adjustable spring loaded mechanism and it’s the ‘push back’ from this tiny but clever device that keeps the net tensioned. The Athenaeum can be manufactured in any size and finish, or even made as a snooker table if preferred.
At The Games Room Company we’ve always taken immense pride in the quality and the range of our offerings, but as time went by it became increasingly clear that a small but significant percentage of our customers were seeking pieces that were unique in some way.
This in turn led us to produce bespoke versions of existing products, where the customisation might take the form of personalised embossing, specialised finishes, or the printing of tailor made graphics on the playing surfaces of pool and foosball tables.
In time we were able to gather around us a team of highly skilled craftsmen and specialists who could not only modify these pieces under our direction, but could actually build them from scratch according to the most exacting brief. It was this that led to the design and manufacture of our first pool table, ‘The Pembridge’, and the birth of a separate luxury brand, ‘Waldersmith’, under the auspices of The Games Room Company in 2012. Reginald Waldersmith founded the business back in 1962 and his son Alexander, current owner and CEO, felt that reviving the family name would be a fitting tribute to his late father.
The Athenaeum is now one of four bespoke pool tables that we manufacture to special order, the other three being The Olympian, The Shoreditch, and The Pembridge. Although radically different from each other in terms of style and even construction methods, what they share is an unparalleled attention to detail, a commitment to the highest possible standards, and an underlying philosophy which holds that these ‘legacy pieces’ should last a century or more with no significant signs of deterioration.
Each of them is painstakingly handmade without compromise, which is why a lead time of several months is the norm. We don’t cut corners and we don’t outsource any part of the process beyond our small but highly dependable team. n needed.
As with our other two bespoke tables, the design of The Pembridge can of course be tailored to your exact needs. We start with the overall size but beyond that basic decision comes a range of options which is literally infinite in its scope. With today’s technology and our excellent team of craftsmen almost anything is possible, from mood under-lighting to specialised coverings, and as they used to say in the ads: You are limited only by your imagination. The proposed design is rendered as a high resolution visual before we start work so that everyone understands what the finished piece will look like and of course, there is ample opportunity to change your mind as many times as you wish.
If you call us to discuss your requirements we will be pleased to prepare an initial visual and estimate with no obligation.
Details
- Any size can be specified
- Default size for 8ft American Pool: 2647mm x 1524mm
- Combines classic lines with understated elegance
- All tables are hand made to order in England
- Unparalleled quality
- Included with three-piece table tennis tops
- Brass inlays on rails and table tennis tops
- An infinite range of colours and finishes can be specified
- Also available with under-lighting and custom printed baize
- 3/4’’ Italian Slate Bed
- Simonis Professional Cloth
- Spring loaded table tennis net
- 'Push release' drawers at either end
- Transforms seamlessly between ping-pong table and pool table
Delivery
- Free UK delivery
- Please see here for further delivery information & exceptions
- Please contact us for an international shipping quotation
The Athenaeum Bespoke Pool & Table Tennis
Share this product: