Plans have been submitted to Sheffield City Council to convert a former manufacturing building into a new snooker hall.
Awaiting approval on the planning application from the council, Club 400 will be a snooker club which will offer multiple snooker rooms to book for hire.
The location for the proposed club will be on Petre Street, which is the previous location of the industrial warehouse, Mudfords, which has now relocated.
Dan Kirkland, aged 52, owner of Spot On Snooker Club in Sheffield, said: “Snooker is going to be in better health the more clubs there are, it will be no good for the sport if I’m the only club in Sheffield.”
Known for hosting the World Championships annually at the Crucible Theatre since 1977, Sheffield is synonymous with world snooker and it forms a part of the city’s identity.
However with a lack of central funding to grassroots snooker and a decline in youth interest in recent years, the city has seen many clubs close their doors, leaving the future of the sport in uncertainty and with a need for fresh opportunities for the sport.
Mr Kirkland said “we as clubs have to encourage kids, if not what will we do in 10 years time”, emphasising the importance of youth development and investment to the future of snooker.
The possible opening of Club 400 in Sheffield would provide players with a new, accessible venue and enable more players to get into the sport.
David Redfern, aged 64, a player who regularly attends the club, highlighted the important social benefits that grassroots snooker has to offer in local communities as he has “met some people through playing the sport”.
A supporting statement from the planning application to the council has said: “The space is divided internally into multiple rooms and areas for people to wait if needed”.
Currently vacant, the venue also offers on-site parking, will be staffed by three full time employees and “expects to be open Monday-Sunday”.
No objections or complaints have been received by the council as the application awaits a decision.
