Photo: CAMRA / WhatPub
Birkbeck Tavern: Darts in Leyton, London
The Birkbeck Tavern is a proper old-school free house tucked into the back streets of Leyton, a couple of minutes from Leyton tube. It has been independent since 1991 and trades on the basics done well: a good range of cask ale (Mighty Oak's Maldon Gold and Captain Bob are the regulars), a corner public bar, a quieter lounge, and a large beer garden out back. For darts, the useful thing to know is that there are two boards and they are free to play. Just turn up, grab a pint, and wait your turn. This suits casual players, Leyton Orient fans on match days, and anyone who wants a real local rather than a polished bar. There is pool too, free on Mondays and Thursdays.
Contact
- Phone 020 8539 2584
- Website Visit site ↗
- Address 45 Langthorne Road, Leyton, London, E11 4HL
Opening hours
- Mon 12:00-23:00
- Tue 12:00-23:00
- Wed 12:00-23:00
- Thu 12:00-23:00
- Fri 12:00-00:00
- Sat 11:00-00:00
- Sun 12:00-23:00
Good to know
- Darts
- Live music
- Cocktails
- Wine list
- Kitchen
- Dog friendly
- Beer garden
- Sports screened
The darts setup
Two dartboards, both free to use, set up for casual pub play rather than booked sessions or league-grade kit. You chalk your own and keep your own score; there is no automatic scoring or bookable oche here. Because it is a busy local, the boards can be in demand, so you may have to wait for a game when the pub is full. The setup sits alongside a pool table, so darts shares the space with the rest of the pub's games. If you want a relaxed few legs over a pint with mates, this is the kind of place it is built for, not a competition arena.
Good to know
Darts is free and walk-in, so there is nothing to book and no charge to play. Drinks are the draw: a solid range of real ales, lagers, craft beers, wines and spirits, plus cocktails. Food is limited, with BBQs run in the beer garden at weekends rather than a full kitchen, so plan to eat before or nearby on a normal night. Pool is free on Mondays and Thursdays. The garden is a genuine bonus in summer, and the pub also runs karaoke, open mic and live music, so quieter darts is easier earlier in the week or earlier in the evening.
Getting there
The Birkbeck is on Langthorne Road in Leyton, postcode E11 4HL, on the residential streets between Leyton and Leytonstone. The nearest station is Leyton on the Central line, roughly a five-minute walk (about a quarter of a mile), which makes it an easy stop on the way out of town. It gets especially busy on Leyton Orient match days, with both home and away fans piling in, so expect the boards to be tied up around fixtures. On a normal evening it is the kind of unhurried community pub where you can settle in for a few games without rushing.
Common questions
- What is the Birkbeck Tavern?
- It is a traditional free house in Leyton, independent since 1991, known for real ale, a large beer garden, and casual games including darts and pool. It is a community local just off the back streets near Leyton tube, popular with regulars and Leyton Orient fans.
- Is it free to play darts at the Birkbeck Tavern?
- Yes. The Birkbeck has two dartboards that are free to play. You just turn up, get a drink, and wait for the board to come free. There is no charge and nothing to book.
- Do you need to book darts at the Birkbeck Tavern?
- No. The dartboards are walk-in only, with no booking system. Because it is a busy local pub, you may have to wait your turn when it is full, so coming earlier in the evening helps.
- How many dartboards does the Birkbeck Tavern have?
- Two. Both are standard pub boards set up for casual play, alongside a pool table. There is no automatic scoring, so you chalk and keep score yourself.
- What is the nearest station to the Birkbeck Tavern?
- Leyton station on the Central line is the closest, about a five-minute walk (roughly a quarter of a mile) from the pub on Langthorne Road, E11 4HL.
- Is the Birkbeck Tavern good for groups and beginners?
- Yes. With free, walk-in boards and a relaxed local atmosphere, it suits beginners and groups who want a casual few legs over a pint rather than a competitive or bookable darts setup. There is also a beer garden and pool table.
Other darts bars nearby
- Gravity MAX (London) Westfield Stratford Westfield Stratford
- The Lock Inn Hackney Hackney
- The Lock Inn Hackney Wick, E15
- The Beer Merchants Tap Hackney Wick, E9
- The Eagle (Hackney) Hackney, E9
- The Eagle Hackney (Homerton, E9)