ONE of the most famous names in snooker will be giving a new club in York a big boost later this month.

Castle Snooker and Pool Club opens on Monday and six-times world champion Steve Davis has been booked to play there on Friday, March 21.

The new club, situated opposite Clifford's Tower in Tower Street, has eight full-size snooker tables and four American pool tables, plus bar and refreshment facilities.

"We felt that York desperately needs a new snooker venue," said club owner Aligul Kala, who with his partners has spent £250,000 on setting up the new venture.

The club will be open from 10.30am until 11.30pm from Monday to Saturday and from 10am to 10.30pm on Sundays. Table fees will be £5 an hour for snooker and £1 a game for American pool.

There will be free admission for the first three months and on the opening night on Monday the drinks will be half price at the bar.

"We will consider after three months whether to introduce a membership fee," said Kala.

Davis, whose career has found a new lease of life which has taken him back into the provisional top 16 of the world rankings, is due to be at the club from 7.30pm and 11.30pm on March 21 and it is expected that he will play exhibitions frames.

York first team lost their last match of the season in the Yorkshire Inter-City League, going down 4-2 to Wakefield at the Cueball Club.

Kevin Hopper won the first frame, beating Wakefield's John Spooner 56-22. Spooner made a 33 break in winning the second frame 59-17.

Tim Hart made breaks of 38 and 25 in beating Mark Ramsbottom 88-29 in their first frame and the York player made a 27 break and led by 11 points in their second frame. He potted yellow and green but missed brown for the frame and Ramsbottom cleared up to win on black 58-46.

Kevin Gall lost both his frames against Keith Hartley, by 66-34 and 70-35.

If York II win their match against Sheffield by 6-0 next weekend it is possible this would give York I promotion to division three.

Updated: 11:22 Friday, March 07, 2003