Horse and Groom (Soho), darts in Soho, W1

Photo: CAMRA / WhatPub

Horse and Groom (Soho): Darts in London

FreeWalk-in1 boardSam Smith'sTraditional pub

128 Great Portland Street, London · W1W 6PS · Mo-Sa 12:00-23:00

The Horse and Groom is a traditional Samuel Smith's pub on Great Portland Street, on the W1 edge of Soho, and it is back on the darts map. The board came out more than a decade ago, then someone put it back in 2024, and it now gets regular use from locals and passing players. This is a proper old-school pub rather than a booking-led darts bar, so the single board sits in the small bar area near the dining space and you play when it is free. Expect Sam Smith's house rules: no swearing, no laptops, and the usual Sam Smith's own-brand range behind the bar instead of the big names. If you want a quiet central throw with a pint and zero fuss, this is your spot. Closed on Sundays, so plan around that.

The darts setup

There is one board here, fixed to the right-hand wall in the small bar area as you head toward the dining space. That puts it in a bit of a thoroughfare, so you throw with people moving past rather than in a sealed-off oche zone. It is a single, casual pub board, not a bank of automatic-scoring lanes, so bring your own arrows if you are fussy and keep score the old way. The board was reinstated in 2024 after years without one, which is why you will find it in good nick and getting steady use from regulars and visiting players alike.

Good to know

This is a Samuel Smith's house, which shapes the whole experience. That means Sam Smith's own-brand beers, lagers and spirits rather than the usual big brands, and the chain's well-known rules: no swearing, no phones-out laptops, no music. Authentic pub food runs in the upstairs restaurant, roughly noon to 3pm and 6pm to 9pm. The board sits downstairs in the bar. Crucially the pub is shut on Sundays, and on other days it runs noon to 11pm, so aim for a weekday evening or a Saturday afternoon if darts is the plan.

Getting there

You are at 128 Great Portland Street, W1W 6PS, on the Fitzrovia and Soho fringe of the West End. Great Portland Street station is the closest at about 450 metres, putting you on the Circle, Hammersmith and City, and Metropolitan lines. Oxford Circus and Regent's Park are both an easy walk too, so you have the Bakerloo, Central and Victoria lines within reach. It is a genuinely central spot, handy if you want a few legs of darts before or after something else in the West End rather than a dedicated darts night out.

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Common questions

What is the Horse and Groom in Soho?
It is a traditional Samuel Smith's pub at 128 Great Portland Street on the W1 edge of Soho. It has a single dartboard in the bar that was reinstated in 2024, so you can have a casual throw alongside a pint.
Can you just walk in to play darts, or do you need to book?
It is a normal pub board, not a bookable darts venue, so you just turn up and play when the board is free. There is no booking system found for it.
How many dartboards does the Horse and Groom have?
One. It is mounted on the right-hand wall in the small bar area toward the dining space.
What are the opening hours?
Monday to Saturday it is open noon to 11pm. It is closed on Sundays, so plan your darts around that.
What is the nearest tube station?
Great Portland Street, roughly 450 metres away, on the Circle, Hammersmith and City, and Metropolitan lines. Oxford Circus and Regent's Park are also within walking distance.
Is there food and drink at the Horse and Groom?
Yes. As a Samuel Smith's pub it serves the chain's own-brand beers and spirits, and pub food is served in the upstairs restaurant, roughly noon to 3pm and 6pm to 9pm.

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