Marazion Snooker Hall: Pub Games Booking System
Running a snooker hall, pool club, or any venue with bookable assets is bloody hard work. Between managing bookings, tracking table availability, handling customer requests, and keeping track of stock behind the bar, venue managers are juggling more balls than the players on their tables.
That's exactly the problem I set out to solve when building a comprehensive venue management system for snooker halls. What started as a simple booking system evolved into a full-featured platform that automates nearly every aspect of venue operations.
The Problem: Manual Management Doesn't Scale
Traditional venue management relies on phone calls, paper booking sheets, and a whole lot of hoping nothing gets double-booked. Staff waste hours managing bookings, customers get frustrated waiting for confirmation, and revenue opportunities slip through the cracks when tables sit empty.
The real kicker? Most off-the-shelf booking systems are either too generic (built for restaurants or salons) or too expensive for small to medium-sized venues.
The Solution: Purpose-Built Automation
I built a custom venue management platform that handles the entire customer journey, from browsing available tables to checking in for their game. Here's what makes it tick:
Real-Time Table Management
The system tracks every table's status in real-time: available, occupied, reserved, or under maintenance. Staff can see at a glance which tables are free and when the next slot opens up. No more awkward "let me check the book" moments.
Smart Booking System
Players can book tables through an intuitive interface that shows available time slots. The system handles multiple booking types (snooker, pool, darts), manages player check-ins, and automatically archives old bookings to keep the database lean.
Integrated Stock Management
Got a fridge full of drinks? The platform includes inventory management for refreshments. Track stock levels, manage pricing, and ensure you never run out of the essentials.
Request & Communication Hub
Customers can submit requests directly through the platform, which get prioritised and tracked until completion. Staff can also broadcast emails to all members for events, promotions, or important updates.
Role-Based Access
Different interfaces for players, staff, and admins ensure everyone sees exactly what they need, nothing more. Players book and track their games, staff manage operations, and admins control the whole shebang.
The Tech Stack: Modern & Reliable
This wasn't built with duct tape and prayers. The platform runs on a solid tech foundation:
- Backend: Laravel 12 with Jetstream and Sanctum for authentication
- Frontend: Vue.js 3 with Inertia.js for smooth, SPA-like experiences
- Payments: Stripe integration through Laravel Cashier for subscriptions and payments
- Hosting: Deployed on AWS for reliability and scalability
- Development: Built using Laravel Sail for consistent local development
The entire system was built with Claude Code, Anthropic's AI coding assistant, which accelerated development significantly. Being able to scaffold features, debug issues, and refactor code with AI assistance turned what could have been months of work into weeks.
Real Business Impact
Here's where automation really shines:
Time Savings: Staff spend minutes (not hours) managing bookings each day
Revenue Optimisation: Real-time availability means more bookings and less downtime
Customer Experience: Players can book anytime, anywhere, without picking up the phone
Data Insights: Track booking patterns, popular time slots, and customer behaviour
Reduced No-Shows: Automated reminders and easy check-in flows keep customers accountable
Building Products That Actually Work
This project reinforced a few critical lessons about building products with real traction:
- Solve Real Problems: This wasn't built on assumptions. Every feature addresses actual pain points venue managers face daily.
- Start Specific: Rather than building a generic booking system, focusing on snooker halls and similar venues allowed for purpose-built features that actually matter.
- Automation as a Feature: The best automation is invisible. Users don't think "wow, this is automated" — they think "this just works."
- Modern Stack, Proven Patterns: Using established frameworks like Laravel and Vue.js meant spending time on business logic, not reinventing wheels.
- AI-Assisted Development: Tools like Claude Code dramatically accelerate development, especially for full-stack projects where you're juggling backend logic and frontend UX simultaneously.
What's Next?
The platform continues to evolve based on real-world usage. Future enhancements include analytics dashboards, automated SMS notifications, and integration with point-of-sale systems for seamless payment at the table.
The beauty of building custom systems is the ability to iterate quickly based on actual user feedback, not feature roadmaps dictated by off-the-shelf software vendors.
The Takeaway
Modern venues deserve modern tools. By combining purpose-built software with cloud infrastructure and AI-assisted development, it's entirely possible to build professional-grade management systems without massive teams or budgets.
Whether you're running a snooker hall, a bowling alley, or any venue with bookable resources, automation isn't just a nice-to-have anymore. It's the difference between spending your day managing logistics and actually growing your business.
This venue management system was built entirely with Claude Code and is currently hosted on AWS, serving real customers and handling real bookings every day. If you're interested in building custom automation solutions for your business, the tools have never been better — or more accessible.
