Photo: Ewan Munro
Ship: Darts in City of London, London
The Ship is a narrow Victorian boozer tucked behind Fenchurch Street station, the kind of proper City local that has kept its character while glass towers went up on either side. Grade II listed and built in 1887, it is busy and friendly downstairs, with a darts room one floor up. If you want to throw a few arrows in the Square Mile without paying for a booth, this is your spot. There are two boards upstairs and the pub is happy for you to come in for a practice. It is a CoLDA-approved venue, so you will be rubbing shoulders with City of London Darts Association regulars. Weekday hours only, so plan a lunchtime or after-work session rather than a weekend one.
Contact
- Phone 020 7702 4422
- Website Visit site ↗
- Address 3 Hart Street, Tower Hill, London, EC3R 7NB
Opening hours
- Mon 11:30-22:00
- Tue 11:30-23:00
- Wed 11:30-23:00
- Thu 11:30-23:00
- Fri 11:30-23:00
- Sat Closed
- Sun Closed
Good to know
- Darts
- Wine list
- Kitchen
- Dog friendly
- Wi-Fi
The darts setup
Head upstairs and you will find two dartboards, with new lighting put in during early 2024 so you can actually see the treble twenty. This is a traditional pub board rather than a bookable oche with automatic scoring, so bring your own arrows or borrow a set, chalk up, and play. The room doubles as a hireable space, which means it can be booked out for private darts nights and team matches. On a normal day you can just turn up and ask to use it for a practice. No fancy electronic gear here, just a board, a light, and a pint within reach.
The darts scene here
The Ship is approved by the City of London Darts Association (CoLDA), the main darts body in the Square Mile with well over 400 players from total beginners up to county level. CoLDA has no single home ground; teams pick from approved pubs around the City, and The Ship is one of them. That makes it a genuine league venue rather than a novelty bar, and a good place to test yourself against people who play properly. If you fancy getting into organised darts in the City, this is a sensible pub to start showing your face.
Good to know
The Ship sits at 3 Hart Street, EC3R 7NB, about 100 metres from Fenchurch Street and roughly 300 metres from Tower Hill Underground and DLR, so it is an easy walk from a few directions. It is open weekdays only: Monday until 22:00, Tuesday to Friday until 23:00, opening at 11:30 each day, and shut at weekends. Expect a classic City pub menu with real ales and a changing wine list, so you can line up food and drink around your throws. Aim for a weekday lunchtime or an after-work session, because there is no Saturday or Sunday option.
Common questions
- What is The Ship on Hart Street?
- It is a Grade II listed Victorian pub at 3 Hart Street in the City of London, built in 1887, with a darts room upstairs. It is a CoLDA-approved venue, so it hosts City of London Darts Association play alongside being a normal City local.
- Is it free to play darts at The Ship?
- Yes. There are two dartboards upstairs and the pub welcomes drinkers in for a practice on the house board, so there is no per-session charge. The upstairs darts room can also be hired out for private nights and matches.
- Do you need to book or can you just walk in?
- For a casual practice you can simply walk in and ask to use the upstairs board. Booking only comes into play if you want the darts room reserved for a private group or team night.
- How many dartboards does The Ship have?
- Two boards, both in the upstairs room, with new lighting installed in early 2024.
- What are The Ship's opening hours?
- It is open weekdays only. Monday 11:30 to 22:00, Tuesday to Friday 11:30 to 23:00, and closed on Saturday and Sunday.
- What is the nearest station to The Ship?
- Fenchurch Street is the closest at about 100 metres. Tower Hill Underground and DLR is roughly 300 metres away.
Other darts bars nearby
- Williams / Feeney's (Aldgate Irish pub) Aldgate (E1) / City (EC3)
- The Cheshire Cheese (Crutched Friars) City of London City of London
- Cheshire Cheese City of London, EC3
- The Walrus and Carpenter City of London City of London
- Roxy Ball Room St Mary Axe St Mary Axe
- The Three Tuns (Aldgate) Aldgate (City of London), EC3