About Us

In 1885 the Peradon business was founded by Leopold George Peradon, who's father was a skilled maker of church furniture, having settled in England from France some 20 years earlier. Leopold Peradon began making cues in the finished state. The first cues produced were plain ash followed by one point, two point and then four point hand-spliced cues. 

In the early days, Leopold made the cues at his home in Willesden with the assistance of his wife, who helped with the polishing and packing of the cues. He then delivered the cues by pony and trap. At the same time he was able to accept orders with exact requirements from the various London billiards traders. Leopold's two sons, Fredrick George and Louis Fraser, were brought into the business. They were sent to work in France in order to gain further experience and then worked back in Willesden in the family business, making both machine and hand spliced billiard cues, supplying them in the complete finished state to the billiards trade.

Early in the 20th century the first cue lathe was invented which allowed for the tapered turning of the cues so that the output of one man was increased from 10 or 12 cues per day up to almost 140 cues per day. So great was the demand for Peradon cues at this time, another factory was opened near Beauvais in France, with the additional output being shipped to the United Kingdom, until World War 1 commenced in 1914. During the war, Peradon made vast quantities of sticks for signalling flags which were supplied to the Ministry of Munitions, as wireless communication was not in use between units of the military forces.

It was during the 1930s that Mr. Fredrick Peradon ventured into the export market. In order to service his overseas customers, he commenced a wholesale distribution service adding to their quality cue range, balls, cloth, rubber and most other accessories for the billiards and snooker trade. In this he was assisted by his son Mr. L. L. F. (Bill) Peradon, who succeeded to the control of the business following World War II. It was during the post war period that the businesses of three other cue making companies was acquired, namely Nidd's of Kentish Town, MacMorran's of Chalk Farm and Weilding of Acton. This left Peradon as the only surviving manufacturers of billiard cues in the entire British Commonwealth. It is to their credit that they did not exploit the situation but served the trade faithfully throughout many difficult years. During this time Peradon made the 'own' brand cues sold by the leading cue sports companies such as Ormes, Rapers, Thurston, Ashcroft, Burroughs & Watts etc. The cues were made to the client's specification with the model name and brand on the butt plates and no reference that they were produced in the Willesden factory. 

In 1966, due to local planning developments, the company was compelled to vacate its long-standing premises in Willesden. This prompted a strategic relocation to a newly built, modern factory in Andover, Hampshire, where Bill Peradon—supported by the ever-loyal Charles Gage—continued to steer the business with distinction.

There were high hopes that Bill’s son, David, would carry forward the family’s proud cue-making legacy into a fourth generation. Although David spent several years gaining hands-on experience within the company, he ultimately chose to pursue a different career path.

As Bill approached retirement, he made the decision to sell his stake in the business. However, he was adamant that the company remain in the hands of those deeply rooted in the billiards trade. In 1976, he entered negotiations with Mr. Norman Clare of E. L. Fletcher & Son Ltd. Sadly, Bill Peradon passed away in April 1977 before the final arrangements could be concluded.

The formal amalgamation with E. L. Fletcher & Son Ltd was completed on 1st August 1977, with Charles Gage—who had dedicated over four decades to Peradon—appointed as Managing Director. The newly formed Peradon & Fletcher Ltd united two industry leaders: Peradon & Co Ltd renowned as the UK’s foremost manufacturer of snooker and billiard cues and E. L. Fletcher & Son Ltd, the leading producer of cue tips.

This merger created a formidable force within the cue sports industry, offering exceptional service across the UK and expanding its reach to international markets. Administrative offices and cue production remained at the Andover site, while the Liverpool branch continued manufacturing cue tips and related products. Both locations maintained comprehensive stocks of billiards and snooker accessories, ensuring fast and efficient distribution to the entire cue sports trade.

In 1994, E. A. Clare & Son Ltd acquired the Peradon brand, along with its machinery and stock, marking a pivotal moment in the company’s evolution. A significant investment followed with the establishment of a new factory site in Liverpool, setting the stage for enhanced production capabilities. Product lines were both refined and expanded, and Peradon was proudly appointed as the official distributor for Strachan’s renowned ‘West of England’ cloth, as well as Saluc’s world-famous Aramith Snooker, Pool, and Billiard balls—further cementing its position at the heart of the cue sports industry.

Peradon cues have earned the respect of elite players since the earliest days of the sport, with legends like Walter Lindrum and Joe Davis among their earliest advocates. That legacy continues today, with most—if not all—top UK players having used a cue crafted by Peradon. In the Production Director’s office, a display board showcases the butt plates from endorsed Peradon cues over the decades—a striking visual tribute to a veritable "who's who" of Billiards and Snooker history.

Since 1885, the Peradon name has stood at the forefront of innovation in cue design and manufacturing. In 2002, we reaffirmed our pioneering spirit by launching CueWizard—the world’s first bespoke cue design website. Today, Peradon is recognised not only for our prestigious range of cues and cases, but also as the trusted distributor for nearly all leading brands in cue sports accessories.