Marquis of Lorne, darts in Brixton (Lambeth), SW9

Photo: CAMRA / WhatPub

Marquis of Lorne: Darts in Brixton, London

FreeWalk-inDarts boardPool tableLeague pubSports on TV

49a Dalyell Road, Brixton, London ยท SW9 9SA

The Marquis of Lorne is an old-school corner boozer on Dalyell Road, tucked between Brixton and Stockwell. It is the proper unmodernised sort: a striking glazed-tile frontage from around 1880 (the pub is Grade II listed and on CAMRA's National Inventory) wrapped around a plain, carpeted room that runs on local regulars rather than trends. If you want a quiet pint and a game without the queues or the noise of central Brixton, this is your spot. The single most useful thing to know: there is a free dart board here, with a laser-guided oche to keep your throw line honest, plus a pool table and football on the telly. No food to speak of and no booking system, you just walk in. It suits darts players who like their game with cheap drinks and zero fuss, and small groups after a low-key night.

The darts setup

There is one dart board, set up for casual walk-up play rather than a banked-out darts hall. The nice touch is the laser-guided oche, a laser line marking the throw distance so nobody argues about where to stand. It sits in the main room alongside a pool table, so on a busy night you might wait your turn behind the regulars. This is pub darts in the traditional sense: bring your own arrows or borrow the house set, chalk up or use the board's scoring, and play for the pint rather than for points. No bays, no automatic scoring screens, no time slots.

Good to know

Playing darts here is free. There is nothing to book and no entry fee; you turn up, order at the bar and wait for the board. Drinks are the draw, a wide spread of beer, wine and spirits at honest old-boozer prices, and free peanuts have been known to appear. Do not come for a meal, as this is a wet-led pub without a proper kitchen. It is dog friendly and has step-free access and a small beer garden. The crowd is mostly locals, so as a newcomer you might feel you are crashing someone's living room at first, but the upside is you will never queue at the bar.

Getting there

The pub sits on Dalyell Road in the SW9 9SA pocket between Brixton and Stockwell. Brixton Underground (Victoria line) and Brixton mainline station are the obvious arrivals, roughly a ten-to-fifteen-minute walk east. Stockwell (Victoria and Northern lines) is a similar distance to the north. Plenty of buses run along Brixton Road and Stockwell Road nearby. It is a residential side street rather than a main drag, so it is worth having the postcode in your maps app; the gold, brown and green tiled exterior is the landmark to look for once you are on the road.

Get directions

Common questions

What is the Marquis of Lorne?
It is a traditional, no-frills corner pub on Dalyell Road between Brixton and Stockwell (SW9 9SA). It is Grade II listed with a decorative glazed-tile exterior from around 1880, and inside it is a plain, locals-led boozer with a dart board, a pool table and football on TV.
Is darts free at the Marquis of Lorne?
Yes. It is a regular pub board, so there is no charge and nothing to book. You just buy a drink and play. It even has a laser-guided oche to mark the throw line.
Do you need to book to play darts there?
No. There is no booking system and no timed sessions. You walk in, order at the bar and wait your turn for the single board, which can be busy when the regulars are in.
How many dart boards does it have?
One dart board, plus a pool table in the same room. This is a casual pub setup, not a multi-board darts venue.
Does the Marquis of Lorne serve food?
Not really. It is a wet-led pub focused on drinks rather than meals, though free peanuts have been spotted. Come for a pint and a game, not for dinner.
What is the nearest station to the Marquis of Lorne?
Brixton (Victoria line and mainline) is around a ten-to-fifteen-minute walk, and Stockwell (Victoria and Northern lines) is a similar distance. Several buses run nearby along Brixton Road and Stockwell Road.

Other darts bars nearby