Barley Mow (Soho/Marylebone), darts in Marylebone / Soho, W1

Photo: CAMRA / WhatPub

Barley Mow (Soho/Marylebone): Darts in London

FreeWalk-in1 boardLeague pubReal ale18+

8 Dorset Street, Marylebone, London · W1U 6QW · Mo-Sa 12:00-23:00; Su 12:00-22:00

The Barley Mow is a proper old free house on Dorset Street in Marylebone, a couple of minutes from Baker Street. It is a Grade II listed pub built in 1791, kept much as it was, right down to the pair of tiny drinking booths fronting the bar. For darts, this is a one-board, walk-in kind of place rather than a booking-led darts bar. The board sits at the back left and you play it for free, the way you would in any traditional London pub. The thing to know: come early. The board has limited availability after 5pm and at weekends, partly because it is the home of the Alex Becket darts league, which has run here since 2017 and tends to stay full. If you want a relaxed game over a cask ale, a weekday afternoon is your window.

The darts setup

There is a single board, tucked at the back left of the pub. No booths, no automatic scoring, no oche bookings, this is a standard pub board you chalk up and play for free. The usual format is winner stays on, so if a few people are waiting you put your name down and take the winner. It suits a pair or a small group happy to share rather than a big party wanting boards to themselves. During quieter daytime hours you can pretty much walk up and have it to yourself, which is the easiest way to get a proper run of legs in without queueing behind the regulars.

The darts scene here

The Barley Mow is a genuine league pub. It is the home of the Alex Becket darts league, which has been running since 2017 and, by all accounts, stays permanently full. League nights fall on Mondays, and the single board gets busy with regulars who care about the place, so casual play gets squeezed after 5pm and across the weekend. If you are keen, the people to ask about joining or watching are the regulars at the bar. For a low-key game yourself, aim for a weekday afternoon when the board is free and the snug is quiet.

Good to know

This is an independently owned free house, one of the last in central London, so expect cask ale and a traditional feel rather than a slick darts venue. There is food at lunchtime and some evenings, a Tuesday quiz, live music nights, and a small snug with a book exchange at the back. The two drinking booths fronting the bar are a real heritage feature worth a look. The back section can sometimes be set aside for groups if there are enough of you, but it is worth calling ahead on 020 7487 4773 rather than turning up mob-handed and expecting space.

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Common questions

What is the Barley Mow in Marylebone?
It is a Grade II listed free house on Dorset Street in Marylebone, built in 1791 and one of the last independently owned pubs in central London. It has a traditional pub dart board at the back left and is the home of the long-running Alex Becket darts league.
Is it free to play darts at the Barley Mow?
Yes. The board is a standard pub board, so you play for free with no booking or charge, just like any traditional London pub. You will need to share it with others when it is busy.
Do you need to book to play darts here?
No, you do not book. It is walk-in, with winner-stays-on if people are waiting. The catch is that the single board has limited availability after 5pm and at weekends, so come early or aim for a weekday afternoon.
How many dart boards does the Barley Mow have?
One. There is a single board at the back left of the pub, so it is best for a pair or a small group rather than a large party wanting multiple boards.
When is the darts league at the Barley Mow?
The pub is home to the Alex Becket darts league, which has run here since 2017 and plays on Monday nights. The league tends to stay full, so the board is busiest in the evenings and at weekends.
What is the nearest station to the Barley Mow?
Baker Street, roughly 400 metres away, is the closest Underground station. The pub is open Monday to Saturday from 12:00 to 23:00 and Sunday from 12:00 to 22:00.

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