Fancy a Game of Cricket (Day 40)

We have been working hard on improving the customer experience at the Civil pub.  We now have two dart boards installed in the brewery. 

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A Civilized Game: Darts


The following is excerpted from “The Book of Darts” because quite frankly, I couldn’t say it better myself.

“Darts is a game of the people.  To play one does not have to join a special or exclusive club or invest in expensive equipment.  Much of the game’s character derives from its traditional home, the English pub, which is not merely a place to drink but a social institution.

The most important characteristic of the pub is that it is “local.” To many, having a good local pub is as important an amenity s public transportation or shops.  It is common to be asked, especially if you have recently moved, “What’s your local like?”  It is difficult to define a good “local.”  Certainly it means having good beer (about which much controversy rages among the experts). It also means having a comfortable atmosphere without being pretentious.  The ultimate test, however is - is it friendly? Are you made to feel welcome? In a good local, the regular patrons, the landlord, and his staff know each other.  They may indeed know each other very well but a certain decorum is exercised in pursuing private matters.  The conversation may center on local gossip, sport, or the current political scandal.  The pub is the people’s equivalent of the rich men’s club.  It is an enclave where friendships can exist without the pressures of work or the obligations of domestic life.

It is in this atmosphere that the game of darts has flourished.  The team, if the pub has one, will be both a local and a somewhat casual affair.  It may compete with the Jolly Gardeners down the road or the King’s Head some miles away,  but it will be unlikely to travel out of its own area.  The game will be played seriously with a desire to win.  The rivalry may be intense, but the game is ultimately governed by a spirit of conviviality.”  

The Book of Darts can be found in the Civil Life Library (blog post day 36)