WhosOnNext replaces the chalk marks and shouted "who's next?" arguments at the pool table with a digital queue. Players scan a QR code stuck near the table, add their name, and the app handles the rest - queue order, whose turn it is, scores, and win streaks.
There's nothing to download. Whether you're a player joining a queue for the first time or a pub owner setting the whole thing up, everything runs in a normal web browser.
For Players
Joining a Queue
Every table has its own QR code stuck up nearby. Here's the whole process:
Open your phone's camera and point it at the QR code on or near the table. Tap the link that pops up - it opens straight in your browser, no app or account needed.
You'll land on that table's queue page. Type your name into the box that says "Your name - tap to join" and tap it.
You're now in the queue - you'll see something like "You're #3 in queue" confirming your spot.
Keep an eye on the screen (or the TV nearby, if the pub has one showing the queue) to see when you move up.
When it's your turn, you'll be shown as the Challenger - head to the table, it's your go.
Changed your mind? You don't need staff for this - you can remove yourself from the queue, or skip your own go if you're not ready when you're called, right from the queue page.
How the Game Works: Winner Stays On
WhosOnNext runs on the classic pub pool format - Winner Stays On. At any moment there are two key players:
On The Table
Champion
Whoever just won (or the first player, at the start of the night). They stay on the table until they lose.
vs
Next Up
Challenger
The player at the front of the queue. They play the Champion for a shot at taking the table.
After each game, staff mark the result on the queue screen. If the Champion wins, they stay on and their win streak climbs - you'll see something like "on a 3-game streak". If the Challenger wins, they become the new Champion and take the table, while the previous Champion drops back into the queue for another go.
Everyone's wins and games played are tracked automatically and feed into the pub's Leaderboard.
Not ready when you're called? Staff can skip a Champion or Challenger who isn't at the table - being skipped just sends you to the back of the queue rather than losing your spot entirely.
For Venue Owners
Setting Up Your Pub
Getting your venue live takes a few minutes:
Sign up and complete payment through Stripe. New venues start on a free trial.
Within a few minutes, a welcome email arrives with your pub's unique link, a QR code for your first table, and your admin passkey. Keep the passkey somewhere staff can find it - it's needed to unlock any controls.
Print the QR code and stick it up at (or near) the table it belongs to.
That's it - players can start scanning and joining the queue straight away. Everything else (adding tables, running the queue, checking the leaderboard) happens from the pages covered below.
The Table Manager
Your table manager is the venue-wide control screen - the link is in your welcome email, and it's separate from any single table's queue page. Enter your passkey to unlock it.
From here you can:
Add tables - each new table gets its own unique QR code and its own independent queue. Table 1 always shares the link from your original sign-up code, so anything you've already printed keeps working.
Print QR codes for any table, any time.
Manage your subscription, including cancelling if you ever need to.
Running the Queue
Some queue actions don't need any unlocking at all - anyone at the table can do these directly from the queue page:
Skip Champion / Challenger
Anyone can skip themselves (or be skipped) if not ready when called - it sends them to the back of the queue rather than removing them.
Remove a player
Anyone can pull themselves (or step in to remove someone) from the queue entirely - there's a brief undo if it was a mistake.
Everything else stays behind the Admin Panel on that table's queue page - separate from the table manager. Tap the admin icon and enter your passkey to unlock it:
Reorder the queue
Drag and drop names into a different order using the handle next to each entry.
Clear the session
Wipes the whole queue - handy at the start of a new night.
Edit the leaderboard
Correct a player's win count using the pencil icon if a result was marked wrong.
Export the session
Downloads a text file record of the queue and results for that table.
Staying unlocked only affects that browser tab on that device - other staff (or the TV display) won't see admin controls unless they unlock it themselves too.
The Leaderboard
Every win and game played is tallied automatically as people play, and shown on your pub's public leaderboard page - no extra setup needed. It's a nice thing to put on a spare screen or share with regulars chasing bragging rights.
TV Mode
Any table's queue page can be switched into TV Mode - a bigger, simplified view built for a screen mounted near the table, so the whole queue and current game are visible at a glance without anyone needing to huddle round a phone.
More Help
This guide covers how to actually use the app day-to-day. For billing, cancellations, and account questions, head to the Help Centre - or just get in touch if you're stuck on something this page didn't cover.