Our Family Story

The Family Behind Premium Cues

Most people who buy a cue from us never realise they're buying from a family that has spent three generations inside snooker clubs — not just selling the game, but running it.

It started in 1989, when Paul Marinello opened his first snooker and pool hall. Over the next three decades, that grew into two of Edinburgh's most established venues: the Locarno Snooker Club and Shandon Snooker & Pool Club, both still open today. Paul didn't just own tables — he lived the sport, and in 2010 he was elected Chairperson of Scottish Snooker, the sport's official National Governing Body in Scotland. Under his leadership, Scottish Snooker formalised its partnership with the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association and became part of the World Snooker Federation — work aimed squarely at growing the game from grassroots clubs right up to the professional tour.

Alongside him, his wife Anne has served as Secretary of Scottish Snooker for years, working on child protection, referee liaison, and the everyday running of the governing body that keeps Scottish snooker functioning. She brought that same steady hand to Premium Cues, where she now manages the business's finances, admin, and stock.

Anne's son, Chris Totten, grew up watching his mother work for the sport and his stepfather run the clubs where it was played. It's no surprise he ended up on the table himself. Chris won multiple Scottish National Championships, captained Scotland to victory at the Home International Championships, and in 2017 — aged just 18 — became European Men's Champion, earning a place on the professional World Snooker Tour. He requalified through Q-School for the 2024/25 and 2025/26 seasons, and between tournaments, he's still behind the counter at Premium Cues, advising customers on the exact same things he thinks about before every professional match: weight, balance, tip size, feel.

That's really what makes Premium Cues different. We're not a retailer that pays for a pro-player endorsement or licenses a famous name for the box. The people advising you on your next cue are the same people who've run the clubs, governed the sport, and played it at the highest level — because for us, it's not a marketing angle. It's just the family business.