Only went there once..never again! Indifferent staff who didn’t look old enough to be there were playing pool instead of being behind the counter, leaving us outside buzzing for five minutes. We basically just wanted a game of snooker, but were told we had to get a year’s membership..what happened to trying first to see if we liked it? Downstairs was done out ok, but the snooker room upstairs was filthy. There was no service point or staff up there, which was why gangs of youths were chasing each other round tables, screaming and throwing balls and chalk at each other. No wonder the tables were in such a state! And no wonder they make you join, because you definitely wouldn’t go back if you hadn’t just shelled out for a year’s membership! Don’t know what other Riley’s are like, but this one should be avoided. One star because the lights worked.

This Rileys on Essex Street is without a doubt the best pool/snooker club in the area.

For a start it is 24 hours, so you're free to pop in for a quick game whenever you fancy! It's members only, but memership is only £10 (£5 students-NUS) for a year, and join on the day. Then you just pay for your table, with different hourly rates depending on peak/offpeak times etc, but it works out at about £6 an hour, which is reasonable. Considering most pool tables down the local pub are a pound a play, and you get more than 6 games into an hour with a group of you down there.
As it's just round the corner from hurst street, the arcadian, it's great for going for a few beers before a night out. The drinks are very reasonable for town, with many special promotions, such as the 4 pint pitcher for about £8.
The food is surprisingly decent considering your in a snooker club with a great selection of pub food, go for the nachos, enough for about 4 people.
There are 14 american pool tables, and 13 full sized snooker tables (upstairs). They are all of great quality, as the place was complteley refurbished about 12 months ago, and as the other review says, in th evenings you might be looking to wait for 5-10 minutes for a pool table if you're quite late.
Also, they've just introduced live poker tournamemts, which I haven't yet been to, but a mate of mine has. He says its quite a good laugh, and i think they hold them on Monday evenings at 8pm, its a £10 freezeout scenario.
Oh and finally, I forgot to mention, they've got a huge projector screen in the comfy bare area where they show the majority of sky sports games.
10/10 for me

I've spent many a happy evening in Rileys Birmingham, with the evening normally tied in with some form of drinking at the Arcadian just around the corner. They are usually busy, but I've never had to wait more than 5 minutes to get a table. Prices are alright - you kinda have to buy a membership card first though, but that lasts all year and isn't that expensive (I can't exactly remember, but maybe £10 tops)

The tables are generally in good nick and the cues are alright. Upstairs they have a MASSIVE snooker hall, which is generally quiet/empty. You'll never have a problem getting a snooker table.

They serve rudimentary food - burgers and the like, and the beer selection is kinda limited. Grolsch or Fosters is the "choice" I seem to recall. The price isn't too bad though.