What are the best and most famous snooker venues? A tour of the most iconic arenas in the sport


In this piece, we take a tour of the finest snooker venues and why they have been tantamount to developing the game into the one we know and love today.
Crucible Theatre - Sheffield, England
No discussion about snooker’s greatest venues can begin without mentioning the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, the home of the World Snooker Championship since 1977. This intimate venue holds a capacity of just under 1,000 spectators, which provides a unique pressure-cooker atmosphere for the players.
Advertisement
Advertisement
While the arena holds a variety of different events across the year, the word ‘Crucible’ has become synonymous with snooker, witnessing some of the most dramatic and emotional moments in the sport’s history and British sport as a whole. In recent times, the Crucible has become a significant talking point, with talks of the World Championship moving elsewhere after its contract expires in 2027.
Guild Hall - Preston, England
The Guild Hall in Preston hosted professional snooker competition across five different decades, although is best known for being the home of the UK Championship every year between 1978 to 1997.
Ronnie O'Sullivan memorably won the UK title there in 1993 as a 17-year-old, and 'The Rocket' went full circle when he compiled his historic 1,000th professional century break at the venue in 2019 in the frame that won him the Players Championship title that year.
A plethora of other tournaments - including the World Seniors Championship and Q-School - have also been played there.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Tempodrom - Berlin, Germany
The Tempodrom in Berlin has quickly established itself as one of snooker’s best venues as the host of the German Masters since its reintegration in 2011.
The unique arena offers a modern twist on traditional snooker settings, with a circular design and tiered seating that provides an excellent view from all angles. The German Masters also holds one of the most enthusiastic crowds in the sport, which is a testament to snooker’s ever-expanding global appeal.


Wembley Conference Centre - London, England
The Wembley Conference Centre is a legendary venue in the sport’s history, as the home of the Masters from 1975 to 2006. The venue provided the backdrop for some of the sport’s most iconic moments - such as Paul Hunter’s thrilling hat trick of victories.
The venue’s large auditorium and electric atmosphere made it a favourite among players and fans before it was eventually demolished. Though it no longer exists, its influence on snooker remains significant, helping elevate the Masters into its position as one of the sport’s most-watched tournaments.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Waterfront Hall - Belfast, Northern Ireland
Each year the Northern Ireland Open is held at the stunning Waterfront Hall in Belfast. This venue offers a glorious setting for one of the four Home Nations events, with its contemporary design and beautiful riverside location.
The thrilling atmosphere inside Waterfront Hall is a testament to the passion of the local fans, a city once inspired by legend Alex ‘Hurricane’ Higgins. The tournament has grown in prestige over the years, aided by a memorable series finals featuring Judd Trump and Ronnie O’Sullivan.
The Barbican - York, England
The UK Championship, one of snooker’s three ‘Triple Crown’ events, has its home at the York Barbican. While not as renowned as The Crucible in terms of history, this venue has cemented itself as a staple of the snooker calendar since its introduction in 2001.
The Barbican offers a mixture of history and modernity, with excellent facilities and a passionate crowd in attendance each year. The venue remains a key battleground for snooker’s best players and will no doubt remain that way in the future.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Goffs - Kill, Republic of Ireland
The island of Ireland has produced several major title winners down the years and it can also boast one of the most revered and talked-about arenas - Goffs.
Located near Dublin, Goffs - normally an auction house for bloodstock sales - played host to the prestigious Irish Masters invitational every year between 1978 to 2000, and was Ireland's annual opportunity to host a world-class professional snooker tournament.
Passionate local fans flocked to support the event, and with the live audience seated in a circular fashion around the exclusive one-table set-up, there was always an electric and couldron-like atmosphere.
Venue Cymru - Llandudno, Wales
Venue Cymru in Llandudno has become a key component of Wales’ snooker heritage since being established as the host of the Welsh Open in 2023. The seaside venue combines its impressive setting with high-stakes matches in one of the biggest tournaments on the circuit, making it one of the most underrated yet significant venues in the sport.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Welsh fans are known for their deep appreciation of the game, and their knowledgeable support bolsters the atmosphere inside Venue Cymru.


Alexandra Palace - London, England
Another iconic venue among snooker’s Triple Crown events, Alexandra Palace, is home to the prestigious Masters tournament. Also known as ‘Ally Pally’, the impressive Victorian building provides a spectacular backdrop for one of the calendar’s most coveted events. Its convenient position in the north of the capital helps pull in a sizable crowd of over 2,000 people each year.
Due to its much larger capacity than the Crucible, Alexandra Palace features a raucous yet respectful crowd that only adds to the intensity of the matches. The Masters invitational top 16 format already guarantees high-quality snooker, and the prestige of Ally Pally further adds to its grandeur.
Future destinations and homes for professional snooker
As snooker continues to grow as a global product, especially with its new frontier in Saudi Arabia, more grandiose venues are bound to emerge.
However, the classics will always hold a special place in the hearts of players and fans, and we can all agree that nothing is more important than this connection.
Comment Guidelines
National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.