The West Hartford Town Council unanimously adopted an ‘Ordinance Concerning Amusement Devices’ on Tuesday night.

By Ronni Newton

Following a brief public hearing, the West Hartford Town Council at its meeting Tuesday night voted unanimously to update its zoning related to allowing pool tables and jukeboxes in restaurants.

Pool tables and billiards were previously mentioned in West Hartford town code only in connection with “Indoor Recreation of Amusement Facility,” and neither pool tables nor jukeboxes were otherwise specifically permitted in town zoning ordinances as accessory uses – and were therefore not allowed. The “Ordinance Concerning Amusement Devices” amends two sections of town code, updating the definition of amusement devices and indicating that pool tables and jukeboxes are permitted as accessory uses, subject to several standards.

Prior to the revision, Town Manager Rick Ledwith said the “limitation has proven restrictive as town staff have received several inquiries over the past few years from commercial businesses interested in incorporating pool tables into their establishments to enhance the customer experience.”

The proposed revision to the ordinance was first raised at a Jan. 15, 2025 meeting of the Town Council’s Community Planning and Economic Development Committee (CPED), and Ledwith said that over the past few years, Town Planner Todd Dumais as well as the town’s economic development staff have been questioned about pool tables.

“We have had an ordinance on the books since the late 70s and early 80s that prohibits a number of amusement devices,” Dumais said at the January CPED meeting. “We’ve received several inquiries over the last few years of different commercial operators, in this case mostly restaurants, interested in adding pool table to their establishments. We don’t have a mechanism to do it.”

Allowing pool tables as well as jukeboxes boxes as accessory uses will permit greater flexibility and help differentiate our local offerings, Ledwith said Tuesday, as well as “enhance customer engagement, longer patron visits, and encourage economic growth through more attractive and dynamic business environments.”

While Ledwith did not specifically mention Iron Horse Sports Pub, which opened in June 2024 on the corner of Oakwood Avenue and Park Road, that business was forced to remove a pool table that had initially been installed once they were advised that it was not permitted by the town.

Bob Mercier, owner of Iron Horse Sports Pub, thanked the Town Council on his Facebook page filling the unanimous adoption of the ordinance Tuesday night, and said there will soon be an update on the return of the pool table. Iron Horse Sports Pub would eventually like to expand into space they already lease on the second floor of the building, adding additional pool tables and even hosting leagues and tournaments.

The ordinance does have several restrictions, Ledwith noted, including that not more than seven pool tables are allowed per establishment, and not more than one is permitted “per 700 square feet of gross floor area or fraction thereof.” A minimum of four feet of space must be open on any player side for circulation and safety purposes.

In addition to being discussed by CPED, the new ordinance had been previously reviewed and approved by the Town Plan and Zoning Commission on April 7 prior to being brought before the full Council for a vote, Ledwith said.

In response to a question from Council member Carol Blanks, Ledwith confirmed that the town’s zoning enforcement officials will periodically audit any restaurants that do add pool tables to ensure compliance.

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