Soho Darts Bar Night Planner for World Championship Season

Every December, the darts world turns its eyes to Alexandra Palace in north London, where the PDC World Championship usually runs from mid-December into the first days of January. Tickets disappear fast, and Jess and her friends missed out again this year. Rather than watching from separate sofas, they want a night that captures some of that famous atmosphere while letting them throw a few darts themselves. Soho, with its dense mix of bars and pubs, is the ideal base. This darts bar night planner explains how to combine playing and watching, organise a group and end with a late supper nearby.

Alexandra Palace, known to almost everyone as Ally Pally, has hosted the PDC World Championship for well over a decade, and its atmosphere has become part of the event's appeal. Crowds arrive in fancy dress, sing along to the players' walk-on songs and cheer every maximum one hundred and eighty as though a goal had been scored. On television, the noise and colour have helped turn darts into one of the most popular sporting events of the British winter.

That excitement spills into bars across London. Friends who never think about darts the rest of the year suddenly want to know who is playing, and casual players feel inspired to pick up a set of darts. For a group night out, it is the perfect moment: everyone has a reason to care, and the sport's festive mood matches the season.

The best darts nights during the World Championship combine both. Find a bar or pub in Soho that shows sport on its screens and, if possible, has a board or a social darts lane nearby. Watch the main match of the session, then take turns playing your own legs during the breaks. Seeing professionals finish on doubles makes amateurs instantly more ambitious, even if the results are less impressive.

If a single venue does not offer both, split the evening. Start at a social darts bar for an hour of play while the early matches are on, then move to a pub with a good screen for the headline game. Soho's compact streets make it easy to walk between places in minutes, which keeps the group together and the energy high.

World Championship evenings are popular, so planning matters. Decide on a date that features a match the group cares about, then settle on a venue early. Large groups should expect to share space, especially at weekends. Choose one person to coordinate arrivals so you are not left with three people at the bar and five still on the Tube.

Fancy dress is optional but adds a lot of fun, as it echoes the crowds at Ally Pally. A simple theme, like festive jumpers or matching colours, makes for great photos without much effort. Agree on any house rules for your own games in advance, such as how many legs each team plays and who chooses the next match to watch.

Think about the friend who is only coming along for the company. Give them a simple role, such as keeping score on a phone notes app or picking a player to support for the night, so they feel involved rather than stranded. A quick explanation of the basics helps too: players start at five hundred and one, race to zero and must finish on a double. Once a newcomer understands why the crowd groans at a missed double, the televised matches become far more gripping, and they will be cheering alongside everyone else by the second set.

Not everyone in a big group will be a confident player, so pick games that let everyone take part. Social darts bars offer games designed for beginners, often with automatic scoring and playful formats. If you are using a traditional board, try a points race where every player throws three darts and the highest total wins the round. It is quick, easy to follow and fits neatly into a break between televised matches.

For the keener players, a short 501 match mirrors what is happening on screen. A perfect leg of 501 takes just nine darts, the famous nine-darter, and watching professionals attempt one live is one of the great thrills of the championship. Do not expect to manage it yourself, but celebrating a ton or a lucky double will feel like a small victory of your own.

After the last match, head out for food. Chinatown sits just south of Soho, where Gerrard Street and the lanes around it are hung with red lanterns and lined with restaurants. It has long been a favourite late-evening stop for Londoners, and a shared meal is a lovely way to replay the night's best moments.

If the group fancies a short stroll first, Soho Square and Golden Square offer quieter corners away from the busiest streets, and the festive lights along Regent Street and Carnaby Street are a short walk away in December. The area stays busy late, so stay together, keep an eye on your belongings and plan how everyone is getting home before the evening winds down.

Soho pubs fill quickly in December with office parties and festive crowds, so arriving early in the evening gives you a better chance of finding space near a screen or board. Wear layers, as bars can be warm while the walk between them is cold. Bring a small set of darts if you have one, especially if you plan to play on a pub board.

Pace the drinks, too. Long evenings of watching and throwing can stretch for hours, and the best darts nights are the ones where everyone remembers the final. Eating partway through and alternating with soft drinks keeps throwing arms steadier and the mood friendly.

World Championship season comes around only once a year, and a well-planned night in Soho is the next best thing to a seat at Ally Pally. Choose your match, gather the group and decide whether you will play first, watch first or mix both.

The Karpo APP can suggest Soho bars that show sport, social darts spots for a group and late-night supper ideas nearby. Share the shortlist with your friends, pick a date in December and enjoy a darts night that feels like part of the festive season.