I nearly choked on my cornflakes this morning when I saw what they're charging for beer at the darts in Leeds. £9.25 for ONE PINT. Not in central London. Not at some fancy cocktail bar where they set fire to cinnamon sticks. At the bloody darts in LEEDS.
The Premier League Darts rolled into the first direct Arena on Thursday night, and while the arrows were flying on stage, wallets were being absolutely hammered at the bar.
The Great Northern Pint Robbery
You'd think being up north would mean more reasonable prices, right? That's what I always tell my southern mates when they moan about London prices. "Come up to Yorkshire," I say, "where you can still get change from a fiver for a decent pint."
Well, I feel stupid now.
Fans queuing up for their beverages were met with the eye-watering sight of "£9.25" displayed next to "Single Pint Cup" on teh price board. And if you thought buying in bulk might save you a few quid, think again - two pints would set you back £18.50. That's nearly twenty quid! For two pints! In Leeds!
Social Media Explosion
Predictably, social media went into meltdown. Football Away Days on X posted a photo of the prices, calling it "an absolute joke" - understatement of the century.
The comments section was... well, exactly what you'd expect when you tell a bunch of darts fans they need to remortgage their house for a round.
What the hell happened to darts?
One comment really hit home: "These sports are built on the backs of the working class and then once they've built it, it's ripped away and sold to casuals and influencers and anyone with money."
God. Remember when darts was just a bunch of slightly overweight blokes in polyester shirts throwing arrows in smoky pubs? Now it's all glitz, glamour, and apparently, London prices in northern venues.
A mate of mine went to the World Championship at Ally Pally back in 2018 and paid £7 a pint. We thought THAT was daylight robbery. Those were the good old days, apparently.
The "Tactical Drinking" Strategy
Some fans developed coping mechanisms. "I was there last night and the queues were massive. A 2-pinter lasted all night at those prices," wrote one practical soul.
Another pointed out it's "the price of the arena, not the darts" - which is technically true but doesn't make anyone's bank balance feel any better.
My brother-in-law attended a concert there last year adn swears he paid £7.50 for a pint, which seemed outrageous at the time. Inflation's really hitting where it hurts.
Oh yeah, there was some darts too...
Almost forgot - they actually played some darts amidst all the financial carnage. Luke Humphries edged out wonderkid Luke Littler 6-5 to win on night 14.
Humphries and Gerwyn Price secured their play-off spots alongside Littler, who had beaten Price in the semis.
Earlier in the evening, Humphries defeated Stephen Bunting, Littler overcame Nathan Aspinall, Price knocked out Rob Cross, Humphries beat Michael van Gerwen, and Bunting triumphed over Chris Dobey.
But let's be honest - the real competition was between fans and their rapidly depleting bank accounts.
A nation demands: Cap the pint!
One commenter summed up the national mood perfectly: "About time the price of a pint was capped! £3 anywhere outside London!!"
Listen. I'd vote for any political party that put that in their manifesto. Forget immigration, forget the economy - just promise me affordable beer at sporting events and you've got my vote.
Poor Leeds fans. They came for arrows and left with empty wallets.
Frequently Asked Questions
My darts keep bouncing out of the board. What am I doing wrong?
Bounce-outs are incredibly frustrating, but they're usually caused by one of a few common issues. First, check your dartboard—if it's old and dried out, even the best throws will struggle to stick. Quality sisal boards should last years, but cheaper paper-wound boards harden quickly. If you can press your thumbnail into the board and it doesn't leave a small indent, it's too hard.
Wait, so how exactly do you score in darts? I always get confused.
Dart scoring is straightforward once you get the hang of it! The standard game (501 or 301) starts with that number, and you subtract whatever you hit with each throw. The goal is to reach exactly zero, with your final dart landing in a double.
How far should I stand from the dartboard?
The official throwing distance is 7 feet 9¼ inches (2.37 meters) measured from the face of the board to the oche (throwing line). In American darts, this distance is sometimes 8 feet, so check local rules if you're playing in the States.
What's the standard height for hanging a dartboard?
The standard height for a dartboard is 5 feet 8 inches (173 cm) from the floor to the bullseye. This measurement is official across professional darts organizations worldwide, including the PDC and BDO. It's designed to create a fair playing field for players of different heights.
Can you recommend some fun dart games for parties?
Absolutely! Darts doesn't have to be all about 501 and cricket. For parties, you want games that keep everyone involved, accommodate different skill levels, and create some friendly competition.
Is it worth spending more money on expensive darts?
The question of dart investment really depends on your commitment level and budget. You don't need to spend a fortune, but there's definitely a quality threshold worth crossing.
Statistics
- Phil Taylor has hit a record 22 televised nine-dart finishes throughout his professional career.
- Statistical analysis reveals that professional players throw darts at an average speed of 40-60 miles per hour.
- A professional dart weighs between 18-50 grams, with most players preferring 21-24 gram darts.
- The distance from the throwing line (oche) to the dartboard is precisely 7 feet 9.25 inches (2.37 meters).
- The standard height from the floor to the bullseye on a dartboard is 5 feet 8 inches (1.73 meters).
- The highest possible score with three darts is 180, achieved by hitting three triple 20s.
- Research shows that top professional dart players achieve accuracy rates of over 80% when aiming at treble 20.
- A standard dartboard is divided into 20 numbered sections, with the bullseye at the center worth 50 points.
External Links
How To
The Dart Player's Journey: From Rookie to Robin Hood
I've been throwing darts since my college days back in 2008, but it wasn't until February 2022 that I really got serious about improving my game. That winter was brutal in Minneapolis—we had snow piled up to our windowsills, and I needed an indoor hobby that wouldn't drive my roommates crazy. Darts seemed perfect! Well, until I put a few holes in our wall... which led to my first lesson: always invest in a proper dartboard surround. My landlord wasn't thrilled about teh repair costs, but it taught me a valuable lesson about proper setup.
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