Photo: Tagvenue
Hawkins Forge: Darts & Pool in Battersea, London
A Battersea pub in a former blacksmith's forge with casual pool tables you play for free on a first-come basis, plus London's first Arrowsmiths interactive darts. If you just want a relaxed game of pool with mates, you can walk in and grab a table when one is free, no booking and no charge. The darts is the bookable, paid part. Expect 70s-style seating, exposed brick and quirky wall art nodding to the building's past, American-style diner food, a big spread of craft beer and spirits, Sky Sports on the screens and a hidden courtyard beer garden out back. It suits low-key catch-ups, sports afternoons and groups who want games without committing to a set time. Open from midday most days, with a later 4pm start on Mondays.
Contact
- Phone 020 7228 0349
- Website Visit site ↗
- Address 110 Battersea Rise, London, SW11 1EJ
Opening hours
- Mon 16:00-23:00
- Tue 12:00-23:00
- Wed 12:00-23:00
- Thu 12:00-23:00
- Fri 12:00-00:00
- Sat 12:00-00:00
- Sun 12:00-22:00
Good to know
- Darts
- Pool table
The pool setup
There are a couple of pool tables alongside the darts, and the pool runs on a first-come basis, so there is no need to pre-book and no charge to play. Turn up, wait for a table to free up and you are away. It is casual rather than a dedicated pool hall, so on busy sports nights or weekends you may have to share the room and bide your time for a game. Best bet for a guaranteed table is an off-peak afternoon earlier in the week, when it is quieter and you can settle in with a drink.
The darts side
Hawkins Forge is home to what it calls London's first Arrowsmiths interactive darts, which is the bookable, paid part of the venue. Electronic boards track your score and run multiple game modes for all abilities. Pricing is around £11 per person for 60 minutes or £15 for 90 minutes, with an off-peak rate of about £9 per person for 90 minutes Monday to Friday until 5pm. There are also monthly darts tournaments and social group bookings if you want something more organised than a casual throw.
Good to know
The pub sits in a former blacksmith's forge, hence the name, with exposed brick, 70s-style seating and quirky wall art. The kitchen does American-style diner food and burgers, and there is a wide range of craft beer and spirits at the bar. Sky Sports plays on the screens and there is regular live music, so it doubles as a sports bar. Out back there is a secret courtyard beer garden for sunnier days. It opens from midday most days, with a later 4pm start on Mondays and later closes on Friday and Saturday.
Common questions
- What is Hawkins Forge?
- It is a pub on Battersea Rise in a former blacksmith's forge, with casual pool tables, Arrowsmiths interactive darts, American-style diner food, Sky Sports and a courtyard beer garden.
- Is the pool free at Hawkins Forge?
- Yes. The pool tables run on a first-come basis with no booking and no charge. The darts is the paid, bookable part.
- Do you need to book to play pool?
- No. Pool is walk-in only and works first-come, first-served, so just turn up and grab a table when one is free.
- How much is the darts at Hawkins Forge?
- Arrowsmiths darts is roughly £11 per person for 60 minutes or £15 for 90 minutes, with an off-peak rate of about £9 per person for 90 minutes Monday to Friday until 5pm.
- How many pool tables are there?
- There are a couple of pool tables alongside the darts boards, so it is best for a casual game rather than a big pool session.
- What are the opening hours?
- Roughly midday to 11pm Tuesday to Thursday, midday to midnight Friday and Saturday, and midday to 10pm on Sunday. Mondays open later at 4pm.
Other darts bars nearby
- Arrowsmiths Clapham Clapham
- Hawkins Forge Battersea Battersea
- Gravity (Wandsworth & Stratford) Wandsworth
- Boom Battle Bar Wandsworth Wandsworth
- Strike Wandsworth Wandsworth
- Gravity MAX (London) Wandsworth Wandsworth