Cock Tavern (Soho), darts in Soho, W1

Photo: CAMRA / WhatPub

Cock Tavern (Soho): Darts in London

FreeWalk-in1 boardSam Smith pubPub food

27 Great Portland Street, Fitzrovia, London · W1W 8QE · Mo-Sa 12:00-23:00; Su 12:00-22:30

The Cock Tavern is a Samuel Smith's pub at the Oxford Circus end of Great Portland Street, on the W1 edge of Soho and Fitzrovia. It is a proper old boozer (the building dates from 1898) with polished dark woodwork, snob screens and tiled floors, and in 2025 a dartboard turned up by the bar. The board sits in a no-service section, so you get a bit of room to throw without blocking anyone ordering a pint. This is a drop-in afternoon-pub kind of darts spot rather than a bookable venue, which makes it handy if you want a casual game over a few Sam Smith's beers near Oxford Street. Bring your own arrows or borrow a set, grab the oche, and play.

The darts setup

There is a single dartboard here, added in 2025, and it is well placed. It sits close to the bar but tucked into a no-service section, so you are not in the way of people ordering and you get a clear run at the oche. This is a standard pub board for a casual game of 501 or around-the-clock, not a bank of automatic-scoring lanes, so keep your own chalk or scoring app handy. With only one board it is best for a small group or a pair rather than a big crowd, and you may need to wait your turn if someone else has it on a busy evening.

Good to know

This is a Samuel Smith's house, which means it pours Sam Smith's own beers and keeps prices lower than most of central London. There is traditional pub food too, served in the upstairs lounge bar, with the kitchen running roughly midday to mid-afternoon and again in the early evening. No phone, no app, no card on some Sam Smith's tills historically, so carry a bit of cash just in case. You do not book the darts, just turn up and ask at the bar if the board is free. The pub is open from noon every day, so an afternoon game is very doable.

Getting there

The Cock Tavern is at 27 Great Portland Street, W1W 8QE, on the Fitzrovia and Soho border just north of Oxford Street. Oxford Circus station is the closest, about a two-minute walk (200m), on the Central, Victoria and Bakerloo lines, so it is easy to reach from almost anywhere in town. Great Portland Street station on the Circle, Hammersmith and City and Metropolitan lines is a short walk up the road as well. Look for the huge glass lanterns hanging over the pavement, you can spot them from well up the street.

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Common questions

What is the Cock Tavern in Soho?
It is a traditional Samuel Smith's pub at 27 Great Portland Street, on the W1 edge of Soho and Fitzrovia, in an 1898 building with dark woodwork and tiled floors. A dartboard was added by the bar in 2025, so you can have a casual game over a pint.
Is darts free to play at the Cock Tavern?
Yes. It is a standard pub dartboard, so it is free to use. There is no booking system and no session fee, you just turn up, buy a drink and ask at the bar if the board is free.
Do you need to book darts at the Cock Tavern?
No. There is no booking for the board here. It is a walk-in pub dartboard, so come in and ask at the bar. With only one board you may have to wait your turn on a busy evening.
How many dartboards does the Cock Tavern have?
One. The single board was fitted in 2025 and sits by the bar in a no-service section, which gives you room to throw without blocking people ordering drinks.
What are the Cock Tavern's opening hours?
It is open Monday to Saturday from noon to 11pm and Sunday from noon to 10:30pm. Food is served in the upstairs lounge bar around lunchtime and again in the early evening.
What is the nearest station to the Cock Tavern?
Oxford Circus is the closest, roughly a two-minute walk (about 200m), on the Central, Victoria and Bakerloo lines. Great Portland Street station is also a short walk away.

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