It was once claimed to be the largest snooker hall on the planet – and then it became the first ever big screen karaoke venue in the country, taking credit for kickstarting the karaoke craze in Scotland.
Established in 1981 by brothers Bert DeMarco and Ramon DeMarco, Marco’s Leisure Centre then morphed into Marco’s Pool Hall, and at the height of that karaoke boom would regularly see 500 people turning up each weekend to sing their hearts out.
Having relaunched the family business in 2015, Bert’s son Paul DeMarco has now unveiled a major revamp of the venue, which he hopes will both cement its legendary status and take it forward into the future.
Keen to pay tribute to its musical history, Paul has added a state-of-the-art private hire karaoke room that can comfortably accommodate up to 16 people, with private concierge service to order drinks and fresh stone-baked pizzas.
But the karaoke room is just one part of the refurbishment project – venue visitors can also go head-to-head in the brand-new retro gaming snug, kick back and watch live sports on the latest 4K ultra HD TVs, or enjoy a drink at the refreshed bar, which now includes an even larger selection of craft beers and cocktails, as well as over 50 gins.
The venue’s historic association with green baize remains proudly intact – there are no less than 19 9ft professional American pool tables, and displays of vintage billiards memorabilia and original scoreboards dating back to when Marco’s first opened in 1981. One significant design feature is the caricature of Luigi Umberto DeMarco, Paul’s grandfather, who is described as ‘the Godfather of Scottish Snooker’.
Paul said: “So much has changed since my father Bert DeMarco and my uncle Ramon DeMarco opened this venue over 40 years ago, but the great thing about Marco’s is that we continue to evolve without losing sight of where we started. The result is a range of unforgettable experiences – from easy-to-play American pool, great food and drink, live sports, and now karaoke and retro games stations.”
