Topgolf and Puttshack‘s founders have raised $34 million of seed capital from investors for a tech-enabled version of pool called Poolhouse.
The funding round for the Poolhouse concept was led by Sharp Alpha, a US leisure-focused venture capital investor, and DMG Ventures, the Daily Mail’s investment arm.
Poolhouse has also attracted backing from Emerging Fund (investors in F1 Arcade and Flight Club); Blackstone executive David Blitzer; Simon Sports, a co-owner of English football club Ipswich Town; and Active Partners, an early investor in Soho House.
Additionally, Australia’s Signature Hospitality Group has taken an equity stake and signed a franchise agreement with Poolhouse.
The new business has been developed by Steve and Dave Jolliffe, the British duo behind Topgolf and Puttshack.
Poolhouse locations will combine patented technology for interactive experiences with world-class food and beverage.
Andrew O’Brien, CEO of Poolhouse, told GamesBeat: “We’re not just building venues, we’re building technology that we can place into any venue where there’s a pool table.”
Growth of competitive socialising
He added: “It’s really exciting what we’re doing. And the design of the venue is going to be spectacular. It’s a vintage Vegas. That’s going to be the theme. It’s like American dive bars. There are going to be ultra premium feels, like stepping back in time.”
Steve Jolliffe said in a statement, “Poolhouse is the most ambitious and scalable concept my brother and I have created, representing the pinnacle of our lifelong work.
“Today, more people play at Topgolf than on traditional golf courses in the US, and we aim to make an even greater impact on the world of pool.
“While we have a strong track record of incorporating technology into golf balls, this project has been our most challenging endeavor yet.”
The first Poolhouse venue for competitive socialising is set to open in early 2026 opposite Liverpool Street station in London.
Via the Financial Times, real estate agency Savills said the UK market for competitive socialising has grown by 40 percent since 2018 and called it “the biggest development the leisure sector has seen in decades”.
After opening in London, Poolhouse plans to launch in the US.
