Photo: The Three Compasses
The Three Compasses: Darts in Dalston, London
The Three Compasses is a relaxed Dalston boozer where you can pick up the arrows without paying a penny. It sits on Dalston Lane in E8 and has two dart boards you can use for a casual game, so the usual move is grab a pint, wait for a board to clear, and have a turn. No booking, no per-game charge. The building is around 150 years old and was a proper darts pub for decades before the current crew took it over in 2012 and gave it a modern lean, which is why it still scooped a Time Out Best Pub in Hackney E8 nod. Expect craft beer, a rotating burger pop-up, and a busy events calendar rather than a slick darts-bar setup. Good for a low-key night with mates.
Contact
- Phone 020 7923 4752
- Website Visit site ↗
- Address 99 Dalston Lane, Dalston, London, E8 1NH
Opening hours
- Mon 16:00-23:00
- Tue 16:00-23:00
- Wed 16:00-23:00
- Thu 16:00-23:00
- Fri 12:00-00:30
- Sat 12:00-00:30
- Sun 12:00-22:30
Good to know
- Darts
- Live music
- DJ nights
- Cocktails
- Wine list
- Kitchen
- Dog friendly
- Beer garden
- Wi-Fi
- Sports screened
See the full pub page for The Three Compasses →
The darts setup
There are two dart boards here, and you play them the way you would at any old-school local: free, first come first served. There are no automatic scoring screens or bookable oches, so bring your own chalk-and-banter approach and keep score on paper or your phone. Because it is a pub board rather than a dedicated darts venue, a board can be busy on quiz nights or when the DJs are on at weekends, so it is worth turning up earlier in the week or in the afternoon if darts is the main event. If you have a bigger crowd, the pub can take group bookings for tournaments.
The darts scene here
Darts is in this pub's bones. For decades before its 2012 refresh, The Compasses was known as a darts pub, and the boards survived the modern makeover. These days it is less a competitive league fixture and more a place where regulars and newcomers play casual games between pints, which makes it an easy spot for beginners and mixed-ability groups. The wider feel is a friendly East End local: craft beer from the likes of Beavertown and Camden, cocktails, and a reputation among regulars for a good Guinness. Tuesday quiz, weekend DJs, plus open mic and drag bingo nights keep the room lively around the oche.
Good to know
The pub is at 99 Dalston Lane, E8 1NH. Hours run Monday to Thursday 16:00 to 23:00, Friday and Saturday from noon until 00:30, and Sunday noon to 22:30, so weekend afternoons are your widest window for a relaxed game. Food comes from a rotating burger pop-up (smash and lamb burgers, fried chicken buns) with a Sunday roast, served from early evening on weekdays and from lunchtime at weekends. For transport, Hackney Downs overground is the closest at roughly a 600m walk, with Dalston Kingsland and Dalston Junction also within easy reach.
Common questions
- What is The Three Compasses in Dalston?
- It is a relaxed East End pub on Dalston Lane in E8 with two dart boards you can play for free. The building is around 150 years old and was a darts pub for decades before a 2012 refresh, and it has been named Time Out's Best Pub in Hackney E8.
- Is darts free at The Three Compasses?
- Yes. The two boards are free pub boards. You just turn up and play, with no per-game charge. For bigger groups the pub can also take bookings for tournaments.
- Do you need to book to play darts?
- No. For a casual game you do not need to book; the boards are first come, first served. Booking only comes into play if you want to organise a larger group or tournament.
- How many dart boards does it have?
- Two dart boards, set up for casual play rather than as a dedicated darts-bar with screens or automatic scoring.
- Is it good for beginners and groups?
- Yes. It is a friendly local where regulars and newcomers play casual games, so it suits beginners and mixed-ability groups. There is craft beer, cocktails, and a rotating burger pop-up if you want to make a night of it.
- What is the nearest station to The Three Compasses?
- Hackney Downs overground is closest, around a 600m walk. Dalston Kingsland and Dalston Junction are also within easy reach.
Other darts bars nearby
- The Black Eel Dalston Dalston
- The Black Eel Dalston, Hackney
- Duke of Wellington Haggerston, Hackney
- Oaktree Community Centre Stamford Hill / Hackney
- The Eagle (Hackney) Hackney, E9
- The Eagle Hackney (Homerton, E9)