The Bite Magazine - Spring/Summer 2026 - Issue 39

bitenightout I n the 14th and 15th centuries, Euro‑ pean nobility played pool, a mix of croquet and golf, on manicured lawns. The players used long‑handled clubs with broad heads called maces to strike balls through hoops or toward fixed tar‑ gets. This leisurely, social pastime was tied to the rhythms of outdoor life, but weather, seasons, and the unpredictability of grass surfaces made the game inconsistent. Even‑ tually, it evolved into a more reliable indoor activity. By the late 1400s, French artisans had be‑ gun crafting wooden tables that mimicked the lawn’s boundaries. The edges were lined with simple barriers to keep the balls from rolling off, and the surface was covered in green cloth to evoke the colour of grass. The birth of the billiard table saw the mace re‑ Jada Brookes discovered the history of pool and experienced interactive pool play powered by AI at the launch party for Poolhouse in Liverpool Street. Play It By AI Images courtesy of Poolhouse