Horseshoe Clerkenwell

Announcement! The pub is closed for a private event on Monday 21 October. Open as normal from Tuesday.

For many the best thing about the game is the ability to meet new people. Darts has become a vehicle to create lasting friendships, offering a social environment where people connect over a shared passion. Spencer said: “I’ve got to make a lot of good friends, there are people I’ve known for 30 years purely from playing darts from when I started in the late 80s and I still keep in touch with them.”

Similarly, Tom McGhee, a competitor in CoLDA’s Speedway Event, said: “I just enjoy playing it. The social side of it, the mathematical side of it, it’s all good. Look how many people are here, everyone is nice, you can talk to everyone, you can have a laugh, have a joke, have a few beers, and enjoy a sport.”

The competitive edge of darts adds to the thrill, providing moments of joy and triumph like any other sport. Irwin said: “When people have little moments of joy and moments of glory because you hit that double or you hit that bullseye, that’s what sports is about.”

However, despite the popularity of darts, economic challenges loom over the sports landscape in London. House prices in Inner London have increased by 87.7% since January 2010, while in outer London house prices have risen by 96.2%, according to data from the UK House Price Index. During the same period, the average weekly earnings in the UK have only risen by 51% , according to the Office for National Statistics. Overall, London has become a more expensive place than it was 14 years ago and as a result, bars and pubs are having to adapt and become more commercial to stay afloat.

Paul Butler, the director of The IDL, said: “Either pubs are closing down, or they would rather fit in so many seats, or they would rather go down the ‘charge per lane’ route. It’s a shame, a lot of places take up the sports bar mantra and it depends on which way they want to go. Do they want to go the grassroots route with us, or the social, ‘let’s charge as much as we can’ route.”

The economic strain has led to a decline in the number of dart-friendly establishments in central London. With many people relocating to more affordable places outside the city, it’s harder for them to regularly participate in competitions. Irwin said: “People have been priced out and moved out and then the venues are closing down. In central London, there are less than 40 pubs with dart boards. Whereas there were closer to 150 20 years ago because if they’re taking up room where someone could be spending lots of money on food, they’re not going to keep them.”

Despite these challenges, individual darts leagues such as CoLDA and The IDL have been successful. By allowing players to schedule matches themselves at their convenience, the leagues have adapted to the modern way of life resulting in increased participation. The most recent CoLDA season, which began on January 8, had a record-breaking 282 players signed up, showing the resurgence in London’s dart scene. Irwin said: “Darts has been dying in London for the last 25 years and it’s now showing really positive signs of a new era and a new bunch of growth thanks to the individual leagues.”

Similarly, McGhee said: “The decline of pubs with dart boards is quite drastic, but it’s starting to come back again. Pubs are starting to put dart boards back up. It’s good because it’s moving away from that association of just larger lads drinking and throwing darts. It’s now skilled people throwing darts and it’s really good.”

While concerns about the diminishing number of dart boards in London are genuine, the thriving darting community paints a hopeful picture for the sport. London’s darts scene is not only surviving, but it is undergoing a resurgence, showing that even in the face of economic challenges, the spirit of darts remains.

Recently we hosted a special event for Paddy Power and welcomed some familiar faces to our stage! Congratulations to everyone who participated in a wonderful event and a huge well done to the winners.

If you're looking to host a darts event or just fancy a game in our warm and friendly pub, get in touch.

You never know who you might bump into.

Trying to stay warm no heating plumber hear 😂

"Together we can make a difference." ~ Rebecca

Hannah Dadds: the first female Tube driver | London Transport Museum Hannah Dadds became the first woman driver on the London Underground in October 1978. Her sister Edna worked with her as a guard, forming London Transport's first all-woman crew.

https://nativeculture71.com/dontmessskull2

🏆 Congratulations to Charlie Cresswell and England's U21s on winning the Championship!

JAMES TRAFFORD 👑

A 99th-minute penalty save to win the U21 Euros for England!

The Guernsey v COLDA Darts weekend
From Paul Clark
What a amazing weekend, my head hurts today though lol but well worth it.

Said thank you a lot but will post in here as well.

Thank you goes to Richard Tucker and his wife and team for all they have done for us this weekend, you're all gems and this event wouldn't be possible with you.

Also like to say a big thank you to Richy Helm Spencer Ellis Nicky Wallace for all the organising on the day, i leave you all to it on the day as I'll just get in the way. You all do a cracking job.

Darts was secondary this weekend really waa about making sure Caroline La Touche and the Guernsey Darts Association 2010 had an amazing weekend, which I'm sure they did with all the feed back I've seen.

Makes me one happy chairman to see everyone have such a cracking time.

Last thing CoLDA did win 34-26 so big congrats CoLDA we keep the trophy for anither year, if your in the Horseshoe next its on the top shelf behind the bar.

Keep 1-3 March 2024 in your diaries as thata when we'll be going over there.

DART BOARD BOOKINGS:

Looking to book a dart board at The Horseshoe, please either WhatsApp, email ([email protected]) or call us on 020 7253 6068.

See you soon!

🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯

Another great night of Darts at The Horseshoe Pub the Home of Darts in London COLDA DARTS FINALS NIGHT
LAST NIGHT AT THE Horseshoe Clerkenwell

Happy New Year to all our lovely customers and friends! Looking forward to seeing you all in 2023!

To all our lovely customers we want to wish you a very happy Christmas and a wonderful new year!

This week we'll be open as normal up until Thursday and then between 12-6pm on Friday before we close until Monday 9 January for a well deserved break.

That was a little too close for comfort 😂

Congratulations to Netherlands reaching the quarter final... Come and watch what we'll likely be their last game tonight at 7pm will a cold pint of Amstel 🍻

Congratulations to Netherlands reaching the quarter final... Come and watch what we'll likely be their last game tonight at 7pm will a cold pint of Amstel 🍻

In anticipation of the Brazil game tomorrow we thought we'd start practicing our yoga moves... How many can you do?

England v USA this Friday @ 7pm. To avoid missing out on a table get in touch early!

Looking for a place to watch the game on Monday, come and join us for a spot of lunch and catch the game on one of our many screens!

England v Iran @ 1pm