Turner's Old Star, darts in Wapping (Tower Hamlets), E1W

Photo: CAMRA / WhatPub

Turner's Old Star: Darts in Wapping, London

FreeWalk-in1 dartboardLeague pubCask alePool table

Turner's Old Star is a proper old East End free house tucked down a Wapping back street, and one of the easiest spots round here to get a few legs in without paying a penny. It is a small, family-run street corner pub in a Victorian building, with red leather bench seats, multi-coloured stained glass and well-kept cask ale on the bar. The single most useful thing to know: the darts live behind the bar, so you just ask, no booking and no charge. It suits a relaxed evening rather than a big organised darts night out, so it is a good shout if you want a real pub board, a pint of cask, and a bit of local history. The pub dates back to around 1830 and is named after the painter J.M.W. Turner, who once owned cottages on this site.

Contact

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 12:00-00:00
  • Sun 12:00-22:30

Good to know

The darts setup

This is a traditional pub dartboard, not a booth bar with screens and automatic scoring. There is one board, the darts and chalk are kept behind the bar, and the staff hand them over when you ask. You score yourself, old school. Alongside the darts there is a pool table, which gets regular use since the pub plays in the East End Pool League. So expect a normal pub setup shared by whoever fancies a game, rather than dedicated oches or timed sessions. If you want a proper London pub board to throw a few arrows on with your pint, this is exactly that, but it is a casual single board rather than a venue built around darts.

Good to know

There is nothing to book and nothing to pay for the darts, just turn up and ask at the bar. On the drinks side it is a Cask Marque free house pouring changing cask ales, with regulars like London Pride and Doom Bar and guest beers from breweries such as Brockley, Redemption and Southwark. There are big screens and projectors for the sport, plus a few fixtures worth timing a visit around: a quiz every Thursday from 8:30pm with cash prizes, Play Your Cards Right with a rolling jackpot, and karaoke on the last Saturday of the month from 8pm. Open from noon daily, later on Friday and Saturday.

Getting there

Turner's Old Star sits on Watts Street, a quiet corner just back from Wapping High Street and the river. The nearest station is Wapping on the London Overground, a short walk away, and Shadwell (Overground and DLR) is also within reach if you are coming from the City or the East End. It is an easy add-on to a walk along the Wapping waterfront and the old dock warehouses. Being tucked off the main road, it stays low-key and local rather than a tourist stop, which is part of the appeal if you want a genuine East End pub for your game.

Get directions

Common questions

What is Turner's Old Star?
It is a traditional family-run free house in Wapping, east London, in a Victorian building dating to around 1830. It serves changing cask ales and keeps a dartboard and a pool table for customers, so you can have a game with your pint.
Is darts free to play at Turner's Old Star?
Yes. It is a normal pub dartboard, free to play. The darts are kept behind the bar and the staff hand them over when you ask, so there is no charge and no equipment to bring.
Do you need to book to play darts there?
No. There is no booking system. Just walk in, ask at the bar for the darts, and use the board when it is free. It is a casual pub setup, not timed sessions.
How many dartboards does Turner's Old Star have?
It has one pub dartboard, plus a separate pool table. This is a small corner pub, so expect a single shared board rather than multiple oches.
What are Turner's Old Star's opening hours?
Monday to Thursday noon to 11pm, Friday and Saturday noon to midnight, and Sunday noon to 10:30pm. The Thursday quiz starts at 8:30pm.
What is the nearest station to Turner's Old Star?
Wapping station on the London Overground is the closest, a short walk away. Shadwell (Overground and DLR) is also within reach.

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