A Nottingham Legacy: The History of Elston & Hopkin Billiards
For generations, the name Elston & Hopkin has been synonymous with cue sports tables in Nottingham and beyond. From humble beginnings in the late 19th century to becoming a pillar of the billiards trade, their story is one of craftsmanship, family, and adaptation.
Roots in Nottingham’s Billiard Scene (Pre-1938)
The narrative of Elston & Hopkin begins even before their formal partnership. One key figure was John Gent, a Nottingham billiard table maker who had been building and supplying tables in the area since the late 19th century. His business included a workshop behind the Palais de Dance on Convent Street and offices with billiard rooms on Broad Street from approximately 1880 to the 1930s. John Gent also supplied special tables for professional exhibition matches.
James William Elston (1878-1949) started his journey as a billiard ‘marker’ for John Hopkin Sr. at the Burnaby billiard hall in Hyson Green, which opened in 1901. Elston became a highly proficient player, winning the national Markers’ handicap in 1914. In 1908, he transferred his employment to John Gent’s new public billiard hall on Broad Street, eventually becoming its manager by 1911. When John Gent died in 1924 without children to inherit, James Elston took over the billiard hall and table repair services, trading as ‘Elston’s’ from 1926. He supplied the “Premier Match Cushion” from his Broad Street base before moving his billiard hall to Goldsmith Street, Nottingham, in 1934.
Meanwhile, John Stuart Hopkin (1894-1960), son of John Hopkin Sr. who owned a chain of billiard halls, was appointed manager of the Burnaby hall after World War I. In 1933, he began his own billiard repair and supply business from this location. The Hopkin family had a deep history in the billiard hall business, with John Hopkin Sr. setting up seven halls in the East Midlands by the beginning of the century.
The Amalgamation: Elston & Hopkin Billiards Ltd. (1938-2004)
In 1938, J S Hopkin merged his billiard table repair business with James Elston’s similar venture. The following year, a limited company was formed, and they began advertising as Elston & Hopkin Billiards Ltd, operating from Elston’s billiard hall in Goldsmith Street, Nottingham. This location notably housed a public billiard hall for many years. The company became known for supplying their “Empire Match Cushion” through the 1950s.
After James Elston’s death in 1949 and John S. Hopkin’s death in 1960, John’s son, also named John Hopkin (born 1926), took over the ownership, entering the firm in 1955.
In 1981, the business address relocated to the Newark Snooker Centre on Newark Street, Sneinton, Nottingham, and they introduced their “Tournament” cushion. Elston & Hopkin also had a workshop on Canal Street.
John S Hopkin and Elston and Hopkin cues
The John Hopkin Burnaby Hall cue is hand spliced and is ash into ebony. It is the only John Hopkin cue that I have ever seen. Due to the style of the cue, I estimate that it is about as early a cue from this supplier as you are ever likely to see.
The J S Hopkin Burnaby cue is hand spliced, Ash into ebony. It has interest as it is clearly from the era where The Burnaby Billiard Works was in full operation, therefore is newer than the John Hopkin. I have seen several of these.
Many years ago the double hand spliced, Elston and Hopkin disk badged cue was included in the collection. It has a maple shaft and quite a slim butt. It is clearly a Peradon built cue made on behalf of Elston and Hopkin as it is a very standard design. The condition is excellent.
We are pleased to have these three cues in the Cues n Views collection as they help document the evolution of the Elston and Hopkin company’s progression and development in physical form.
A New Chapter: Universal Logic and GCL Billiards (2004-Present)
By 2004, the company was facing challenges, and John Hopkin III, being well beyond retirement age, decided to sell the company’s name and goodwill. Universal Logic Ltd, a group of companies based near Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, acquired Elston & Hopkin, and continues to use the trading name. However, the limited company (Elston & Hopkin Billiards Ltd.) was formally closed down and ceased trading.
A significant figure in the later history of Elston & Hopkin is Geoff Large, a time-served and NBSA approved billiards fitter. Geoff first became interested in billiard fitting in 1975, training for five years with Mick Robb of Belvoir Billiards, a firm that also originated from Elston & Hopkin. In 1980, Geoff joined Elston & Hopkin Billiards Ltd, working for John Hopkin. He describes John Hopkin as the best boss he ever worked for, known for his kindness and fair treatment. Geoff worked for Elston & Hopkin for 25 years.
After the acquisition by Universal Logic, Geoff Large stayed with the company for a further eight years. In 2012, with 37 years of experience under his belt, Geoff decided to establish his own business, GCL Billiards.
Geoff continues to work despite surpassing retirement age, seeing his business as a direct legacy from John Gent Billiards through Elston & Hopkin. “I’m still working at 71 years old, I think I will look at if I still want to do it after 75, John Hopkin retired at 79 when he finally sold up, he died two years ago aged 99”.
Other individuals who honed their skills at Elston & Hopkin and later branched out include Roger Perczyhinski, now deceased, and also Mick Pykett and Brian Anthony. Geoff’s work partner Roger Perczyhinski, of whom Geoff declared “I learned a lot from him” founded Direct Re-Covers. Mick Pykett and Brian Anthony set up as Anthony & Pykett Billiards of Nottingham which is still an ongoing business.
The Elston & Hopkin legacy lives on through the continued trading name under Universal Logic and through the expertise of individuals like Geoff Large, who continue to provide specialist cue sports table services across the UK and even internationally, serving a diverse clientele.
The history of Elston & Hopkin is a testament to the enduring craft and passion for cue sports in Nottingham.
John A Smith and David Smith
Cues n Views
Thanks to Geoff Large, GCL Billiards for his assistance in writing this piece
