The team behind Topgolf and Puttshack have a clear formula: take something familiar, strip it back, rebuild it properly, and make the room beautiful while you’re at it. Poolhouse – their latest venue, now open at 100 Liverpool Street – applies the same logic to pool. Twenty tables across 21,000 square feet, AI-assisted gameplay, a cocktail programme from one of London’s most respected bars, and interiors that have no right being this dazzling. It’s a strong hand.

The venue

Ellis Design Studio were brought in by operators Steve and Dave Jolliffe to translate a brief that sat somewhere between a 1970s pool hall and golden-age Las Vegas. The result is more cohesive than the reference points suggest: a considerable 20 private and semi-private suites spread across two floors, each with enough individual character that they don’t feel like iterations of the same room. Hand-painted walls, bespoke carpets, large-scale murals, and regal wallpaper.

The technology is well-integrated into each of these rooms. Each table sits beneath a custom three-tiered chandelier (striking enough that it reads as pure design) which discreetly houses the AI game system and projects gameplay directly onto the baize below. The hardware disappears into the aesthetic entirely, so really, it feels like you’re just playing an elevated version of a traditional pool game – not an off-putting, gimmicky add-on.

At the centre of the ground floor, there’s a 20-metre bar beneath a starburst chandelier and radiating canopy of lights – absolutely the focal point of the venue, and one of the most dazzling bars we have ever seen in London (pictured above). You’ll want to sit by the bar and pretend you’re a Hollywood star for a moment.

What’s on the drinks menu?

With game-led venues like this, expectations are usually low beyond the main attraction. But Poolhouse’s cocktail menu alone is reason enough to visit the venue. It was developed in collaboration with Three Sheets – the Dalston bar known for its stripped-back, precision-driven approach to classics – and includes a list of classics, as well as remakes of popular cocktails like a Disco Pisco Sour and a Guinness Espresso Martini.

We’d happily have the cheeky Breakfast in Vegas (£15) for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and if you’re into mezcal, you’d likely feel the same. It leans into that smoky character, but it’s lifted nicely by the marmalade sweetness and a hit of orange citrus that keeps it from feeling too heavy. The Side Hustle (£15) is just as delectable, with Casamigos tequila, a gentle heat from the jalapeño, lime, agave, and orange blossom. There’s a selection of wines on offer, too, if you don’t want to venture into cocktails.

What about the food?

In a space this polished, you half expect something pretentious – skimpy plates, eye-popping prices, not much substance or flavour. But you’ll be impressed, just like we were: it’s proper food, generous sizes and flavoursome bites.

The menu covers a lot of ground, from snacks and starters like crispy zucchini fries with truffle mayo and wagyu beef sticks with XO sauce to bigger plates: lobster rolls, buttermilk fried chicken sliders, cheeseburger sliders with bacon jam, and a rather delicious vegetarian option with squash and chickpea.

You’ve also got crispy tacos (tuna, salmon teriyaki, or veg), bao (fried chicken, crispy duck, maitake mushroom), and delicious thin-crust pizzas, from margherita to pepperoni with burrata, and a richer truffle bianca with mortadella and gorgonzola. If this isn’t a menu of dreams – even for the most hard-to-please eaters – we don’t know what is.

The food menu goes on and on, ending with no other than ice cream sandwiches. One thing is guaranteed: you won’t leave Poolhouse famished enough to be hunting down a half-sub outside Liverpool Street station. Get your game on and stay for as long as you want.

Our verdict

Poolhouse is a fabulous space that feels like stepping into vintage Vegas – all mood, lights, and theatre – but it never tips into feeling overdone or stuffy. It’s indulgent, pompous, and welcoming all at the same time.

The tech powering the tables does most of the heavy lifting, which means even total beginners can just jump in and figure it out as they go.

The games are fun and varied, and there’s plenty of good food and cocktails to work through, so you can easily end up spending a few hours here without realising it. It makes for a brilliant evening out.

Key details

Address: 100 Liverpool Street, London, EC2M 2AT

Website: www.pool.house

Socials: @poolhouse.uk

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