Tuesday, 24 March 2026
The hidden snooker gem in the heart of Hebden Bridge
I'd been living in Hebden Bridge for over 40 years before I discovered, by chance, the amazing late Victorian/early Edwardian snooker hall that is upstairs in the Pennine Club on Albert Street. With its two full size snooker tables, bench seating all around the room, it is a significant part of Hebden Bridge's heritage going back well over 100 years.
Photo: Jamie Burr
The club's roots go back to 1872 when the Hebden Bridge Constitutional Club was formed. In the mid 1880s, the Constitutional Club decided to buy somewhere to house the club with plans for a large billiard room, a reading-room, and an assembly-room.
The Albert street building opened in 1887 and within a short time it was decided to buy a second billiard table - which is what we now call a snooker table. It seems little has changed in the room since then although the stairs that now lead up to it once led directly into the room but were set back to a landing outside the room with a lavatory and kitchen added in 1897.
The snooker tables are Orme and sons of Manchester, established in 1845. They are renowned for their high quality tables and became one of the country's leading snooker table manufacturers. The tables were totally refurbished in January 2025 using the finest cushion rubbers available and Strachan west of England cloth making them two of the finest tables in the area. The refurbishment was funded 50% by members donations and 50% by the club.
For most of its history, the Constitutional Club was affiliated to the Association of Conservative clubs. As late as 1994, according to reports in the Hebden Bridge Times, women were not allowed to become full members and the club was seen as "one of the last bastion's of male dominance in the town". Its members then included the late Sir Bernard Ingham. Things have changed since then. The club is no longer linked to any political party, changed its name to the Pennine Club in 2003, and welcomes all as equal members.
What has not changed is the challenge to keep a small club going in difficult times. The growing popularity of snooker is attracting new members from across the generations today. Junior coaching is on offer for under 16s on a Saturday morning, but snooker is not the only thing on offer.
Downstairs is a bright room with a bar where there are quiz nights, music and bingo, as well as special events open to the public at various times. A pool table has been added recently in a side room downstairs.
While the bar is only open on some nights, the snooker hall is available to members every day from midday to 11pm.
With thanks to research by Diana Monahan of the Local History Society for providing much of the background to the Club's history.
More information about the Pennine Club may be found on this web page.
Geoff Tansey