Duke of Somerset: Darts in Aldgate

The Duke of Somerset is a Stonegate-run sports pub tucked just off Aldgate High Street in the City fringe. It leans hard into live sport, with a stack of screens for the football and the darts on telly, but it also keeps a real board for you to throw on. If you want a casual game after work without paying for a timed lane, this is the kind of place that suits you.

The darts setup is simple and honest. There is one steel-tip board in a dedicated area on the right as you head toward the toilets, put in during 2024 by the City of London Darts Association. The pub is a COLDA-approved venue and runs league matches, so the board is well kept and properly mounted rather than an afterthought. It works for beginners and regulars alike, though league nights will take priority when they are on.

It sits in E1 8AH on Little Somerset Street, a couple of minutes from Aldgate and Aldgate East stations. Expect it busiest straight after work on weekdays when the City crowd piles in. There is no booking system for casual play, so turn up, grab a pint, and wait for the board to come free. It is closed on Sundays.