A launch for friends and family
Owners Ryan Farmer and Steve Wilson joined Martin Ling in welcoming friends and family to the launch. Phoenix FM's sales and marketing manager, Steve Roach, was among those invited.
Black and gold balloons decorated the room as guests of all ages tried the lanes. The dartboards remained in use throughout the evening, alongside a busy bar.
Facilities and plans for players
Each of the 10 lanes has a professional dartboard, lighting and a dedicated scoring screen. The venue's team emphasizes that darts is its central purpose: "This isn't a bar that happens to have dartboards. It's a venue built for players – from the casual regular finding their rhythm to the serious competitor chasing their average."
Players can buy equipment from leading brands in the shop and get advice from staff who play darts themselves. Large screens carry live coverage of major PDC tournaments. The bar offers draft and bottled beer, wine, spirits, soft drinks and hot drinks, along with snacks.
The team plans to hold leagues, tournaments and other events throughout the year. A youth darts academy is also planned, according to the October 2026 newsletter from Brentwood Connected, the local Business Improvement District. The newsletter identified the venue as a family-run business and described it as unlike anything else in Essex.
The earlier alcohol license application
Before the opening, Andrea Farmer applied on behalf of The Darts Venue Ltd for a new premises license under Section 17 of the Licensing Act 2003. The Public Notice Portal published the application on May 8, 2026, with May 27 set as the deadline for representations.
The application sought permission for on-site alcohol sales from noon to 11 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Those hours were part of the application, rather than a statement of the venue's current opening hours.
Lane bookings and private events
Lane bookings start at £20 and run for one to four hours. The venue recommends two to four players per lane. It is also accepting Christmas bookings and private-hire inquiries for league nights, birthdays, corporate events and parties.
Bookings are available through the venue's website, by calling 01277 361694 or by emailing info@thedartsvenue.co.uk. The business also has an Instagram account. Its full address is First Floor, 40 High Street, Brentwood, CM14 4AJ.
