Photo: CAMRA / WhatPub
The Horseshoe (Clerkenwell): Darts in London
The Horseshoe is a traditional Clerkenwell boozer that happens to be one of the best darts pubs in London. It sits on a quiet back street near Farringdon, on a pub site going back to at least 1748, and it has stayed a proper locals' house: real ale, sport on the telly, a secluded beer garden, and dartboards in steady use. There are nine boards in total, two downstairs and seven up in the function room. It is free to throw, so you can walk in, grab a board if one is going, and play. The catch is timing. This is the unofficial home of the City of London Darts Association, and the upstairs boards get booked solid for league play, especially Tuesday to Thursday between 5 and 8.
Contact
- Phone 020 7253 6068
- Website Visit site ↗
- Address 24 Clerkenwell Close, Clerkenwell, London, EC1R 0AG
Opening hours
- Mon 12:00-23:00
- Tue 12:00-23:00
- Wed 12:00-23:00
- Thu 12:00-23:00
- Fri 12:00-23:00
- Sat Closed
- Sun Closed
Good to know
- Darts
- Wine list
- Kitchen
- Dog friendly
- Beer garden
- Wi-Fi
- Sports screened
The darts setup
Nine boards spread over two floors: two on the ground floor by the bar and seven upstairs in the function room. The downstairs pair are the easy walk-up option for a casual game while you drink. Upstairs is where the serious throwing happens, which is why that room gets hired out and packed with league players. It is a steel-tip, traditional pub setup rather than a flashy automatic-scoring bar, so bring your own arrows if you have them or borrow a set, keep your own score, and chalk up. The atmosphere is famously mixed and welcoming, media types next to City workers next to old regulars, so beginners get a friendly reception.
The darts scene here
The Horseshoe is treated as the unofficial home of the City of London Darts Association, and it is a central fixture of the wider London darts scene. League matches and tournaments run regularly, and the pub has hosted big organised nights, including a Stock Exchange darts evening with over 100 players. The upstairs function room is the engine of all this and is regularly booked out, particularly Tuesday to Thursday between 5 and 8pm. If you want a board in that window, book ahead or come for a quieter session. Casual players are genuinely welcome, but the calendar belongs to the leagues.
Good to know
It is a free-to-play pub, so there is no charge to use a board, you just buy your drinks. The upstairs room is bookable for league nights and group events, and the pub markets it for company darts nights and quizzes. Prices are reasonable for Zone 1, with two changing real ales on the hand pumps plus Sky Sports and TNT Sports. Lunchtime and evening food is served, and there is a secluded beer garden out back. It is dog-friendly. Note the limited hours: open Monday to Friday from noon, and effectively closed at weekends, so plan a weekday visit.
Common questions
- What is The Horseshoe in Clerkenwell?
- It is a traditional Clerkenwell pub widely rated as one of the best darts pubs in London. It has nine dartboards across two floors and is the unofficial home of the City of London Darts Association, alongside real ale, sport on TV, and a beer garden.
- Is darts free to play at The Horseshoe?
- Yes. It is a free-to-play pub, so there is no charge to use the boards. You just buy your drinks. The upstairs room is bookable for league nights and group events.
- Do you need to book darts at The Horseshoe?
- For a casual game you can walk in and use a board if one is free, especially the two downstairs. The seven upstairs boards get booked out for league play, particularly Tuesday to Thursday between 5 and 8pm, so book ahead if you want a guaranteed slot then.
- How many dartboards does The Horseshoe have?
- Nine in total: two downstairs near the bar and seven upstairs in the function room.
- Is The Horseshoe good for groups and beginners?
- Yes. The upstairs function room is hired out for company darts nights and group events, and the crowd is a famously friendly mix, so beginners get a warm welcome alongside serious league players.
- What are The Horseshoe's opening hours and nearest station?
- It opens Monday to Friday from noon until 11pm and is effectively closed at weekends, so go on a weekday. The nearest station is Farringdon, about a five-minute walk away.
Other darts bars nearby
- The Horseshoe Clerkenwell (Islington, EC1)
- Brewdog Clerkenwell Clerkenwell
- Old China Hand Clerkenwell, EC1
- The Golden Lion, Camden Town Camden Town
- The Roundabout (Old Street) Shoreditch Shoreditch
- The Roundabout Shoreditch Shoreditch