South London Irish Centre: Darts in Wimbledon

FreeWalk-inLeague dartsTwo barsLive music

138-140 Hartfield Road, Wimbledon, London · SW19 3TG · Mo-Th 14:00-23:00; Fr 14:00-00:00; Sa 12:00-00:00; Su 12:00-23:00

The South London Irish Centre is the home of the South London Irish Association, a long-running community club just off the high street in Wimbledon. It is a proper members' social club rather than a slick darts bar: two bars, a function hall with a stage, and a separate pool and darts section where you can throw a few legs without paying for a lane. The single most useful thing to know is that the board here is a real league fixture, listed as a venue in the Wimbledon Village Darts League, so on match nights you will find regulars who take their darts seriously. It suits anyone who wants a relaxed, no-frills game with a pint, plus anyone after live Irish music, GAA on the screens, or a cheap weekend night out close to the station.

The darts setup

Darts live in the centre's pool and darts section, set apart from the main function hall and its two bars. This is a traditional steel-tip club board, not a chain-bar oche with automatic scoring, so expect chalk, a manual scoreboard, and people who know the rules. The venue is a registered member of the Wimbledon Village Darts League, which runs both winter and summer seasons with fixtures and competitions, so the standard on a league night can be high. Outside of matches it is a casual game alongside the pool table. There is no booking and no charge to play, which makes it an easy place to get a few practice legs in over a drink.

Good to know

This is a community club, so the vibe is friendly and low-key rather than polished. There are two bars and a function hall with a stage, the whole place is air-conditioned, and the hall holds around 80 people for events. Alongside darts and pool you get live bands and dancing most weekends, traditional Irish music sessions, bingo, dance and fitness classes, and GAA and Celtic football shown live on the screens. The bar opens early afternoon on weekdays (from 14:00) and from midday at weekends, running late on Fridays and Saturdays. There is no entry fee for a normal night, though some events and dances may charge on the door.

Getting there

The centre sits at 138-140 Hartfield Road in central Wimbledon, an easy walk from the transport hub. Wimbledon station (National Rail, District line and Tramlink) is roughly a five to ten minute walk away, and the nearest tram stop at Merton Park is two to five minutes on foot. Plenty of bus routes serve the area, including the 57, 93, 131, 152, 163 and 164. Because it is right by the station, it is a simple stop for a game and a drink whether you are local to SW19 or coming in from elsewhere in south London.

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Common questions

What is the South London Irish Centre?
It is the home of the South London Irish Association, a community social club in central Wimbledon. It has two bars, a function hall with a stage, and a pool and darts section, plus live music, dancing, bingo and GAA and Celtic football on the screens.
Is the darts free to play at the South London Irish Centre?
Yes. The board is a community-club board with no per-game charge and no booking system, so you can just turn up and play over a drink. Some special events or weekend dances may have a charge on the door, but normal nights are free to enter.
Do you need to book to play darts here?
No. There is no booking system for the darts and pool section. You walk in during opening hours and play. Note that the board is a Wimbledon Village Darts League venue, so it may be in use for fixtures on league nights.
Is the South London Irish Centre a league darts venue?
Yes. It is listed as a member venue of the Wimbledon Village Darts League, which runs winter and summer seasons with fixtures and competitions. On match nights you will find regular league players.
What are the opening hours of the South London Irish Centre?
The bar opens Monday to Thursday from 14:00 to 23:00, Friday from 14:00 to midnight, Saturday from midday to midnight, and Sunday from midday to 23:00.
What is the nearest station to the South London Irish Centre?
Wimbledon station, served by National Rail, the District line and Tramlink, is around a five to ten minute walk. The Merton Park tram stop is even closer, about two to five minutes on foot, and several bus routes serve Hartfield Road.

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