Attending my first snooker match

[PinballWizard]

Hi all, my name is Daniel and it's nice to meet you.

I'm a long time snooker fan and I've got tickets for the last day's play of the world final at the Crucible in May. This will be the first match I have ever attended live and I'm absolutely buzzing. I was hoping to get some advice and pointers from fans that have been to the Crucible before. I have tickets for both sessions on the Monday and am planning to travel up from West Sussex in the morning. I'm booked into the Novotel hotel for Monday night and will be driving back home on the Tuesday. What advice can you give me? General stuff like how early should I get there and where are good places to eat? Are the queues long? Do you only get a chance to leave the arena at the end of the session? I guess if I'm late they won't let me in until there is a break in play? I got an email today to say as a premium booker I'm entitled to a programme and earpiece. It says the desk opens 45 minutes before each session. This doesn't sound like very long to get your earpiece and get in the arena Just stuff like this really. I want to make sure I get the most out of my visit! Thanks for any tips you can offer.

[Neil Taperell]

Hi Daniel , welcome to TSF .

Never been to the Crucible, but amazing to get Final Tickets for your first live match .

I’m sure that someone on here can advise you and hopefully you get to watch a thriller of a match .

[mikee]

I go most years and have done for a long time ,will be there Monday night and staying at the Merqure St. Paul’s where the players and film crew stay ,the Novotel is next door .There’s plenty of bars and restaurants all around the crucible area ,you are only 2 mins walk away from the venue .If you’ve not been before the size of the place will shock you ,it’s tiny ,the bar is pretty good and has tv screens all around ,there is also a shop for merchandise.Get to the venue about 10 minutes before unless you want a good look around or a beer or two first ,you can get up between frames but can’t get back in until that frame is complete .Plenty of car packing next to hotels with a multi story ,probably cost you about twenty quid .went with a press pas once for the final and watched it from the photography booth taking pics ,even got a good look around the table used in the final ,contrary to popular belive by some people ,the pockets on the tables are not huge ,neither are they on the practice tables .Outside the main venue there is a couple of massive screens in the main square so you can watch the snooker and have a drink outside a pub .It’s a great experience to go and there’s no venue like it .

[Nifty50]

I’ve been 10 or 11 times pre-covid. Always liked to have a visit to the Q Zone in the Winter Gardens. They have a full size table and run a few competitions for amateurs. I won a Sheffield Snooker Academy baseball cap for potting the most reds in a minute. Gave it away to a young lad who was runner up. Grrr wish I hadn’t done that. Would have been a nice memory of my visit. If you’re lucky you might get a chance to play a six reds against a young pro. I played Adam Duffy. I was really really lucky one morning. Went along early and the place was quite empty. Got a six reds with Nigel Bond. He was charming. Let me pot a few balls before clearing up lol.

[Doylejlw87]

Defintly something i wanna do one day.

[PinballWizard]

Thanks for the advice guys!

[Nifty50]

I noticed there’s something called the Fanzone to the right of The Crucible entrance. Not sure what it is but might be worth checking out.