Going Out
Flight Club: The ultimate Social Darts experience coming to Liverpool ONE
10 months ago
If ever there was a thing as perfect timing, this has got to be it.
Just as the UK’s gone crazy again for darts after the success of Warrington teen player Luke ‘The Nuke’ Littler in his World Championship debut, there’s news that the game’s been reinvented – and it’s on its way to the city!
Flight Club is opening its latest Social Darts venue soon in Liverpool ONE and it’s going to mean a great night out for you and your mates whether you don’t know your arrows from your elbow, or you’re a regular at taking your place on the oche (the line dart players stand behind when throwing).
Flight Club’s the brainchild of Steve Moore and Paul Barham who, 10 years ago, were catching up in a Devon pub where a crowd of young people were going crazy over a game of darts in the corner. It wasn’t the game they knew because unlike traditional darts it was loud and fast … and it gave them an idea.
The pair decided to combine the warmth and nostalgia of the traditional British pubs they loved with the high energy of Social Darts, using new technology to offer a variety of games and tournaments to play.
“It was set up by friends to bring friends together,” says Juliette Keyte, spokesperson for Flight Club. “Typically people think of darts as quiet and played by two people, but with Flight Club you can have up to 12 people playing together or, in a tournament, you can link with around 350!
“There’s technology so you don’t have to think about the arithmetic and scoring, you don’t have to be a pro, and it’s just fun and exciting. It’s about getting friends together, families at the weekend, or colleagues after work.
“We have a twist on games like Around the World and 21, and our own take on Snakes and Ladders, and while there are real darts and real boards, the technology does everything for you so you don’t need to know all the rules to play.”
It’s so successful, they’ve already gone on to open 12 Flight Clubs in the UK – and they’ve even taken it to the US and Australia.
And now it’s Liverpool’s turn.
“We’ve been looking at Liverpool for years, but it had to be the right venue and neighbourhood.
“Liverpool has always been massively on our radar because it’s such a fun city, it’s so great for a night out with so much going on, and in Liverpool ONE we’ll be at the heart of things with a seven day a week venue whether it’s for cocktails, brunch, date night or work socials.
“We’re hoping everyone in Liverpool will embrace it and want to have a good time with us, and we pride ourselves that people aren’t on their phones when they’re with us because they’re having such a good time.”
Because a great night out needs great music you’re guaranteed a fab soundtrack to create the best atmosphere, and ‘you can order food and drink at the touch of a button’.
There’s an amazing menu filled with small plates, sharing platters, burgers, sourdough pizza paddles, and more – fancy chicken souvlaki skewers or 24-hour pulled pork bao buns? – along with a full drinks offering to make sure your experience is nothing but (double) top.
There are food and drinks packages including bottomless prosecco and pizza which you can book with a darts sampler session every weekend – you even get complimentary carafes of orange juice (Mimosas anyone?) – which are perfect for get-togethers and fun days and evenings out; as well as more elaborate offerings with drinks, canapes, pizza and desserts like ‘The Pro’ from £55 per head which are ideal for parties or a works’ do.
A dedicated games master leads you to your table when you arrive, whether you’re in with the crowd or you’ve selected a semi-private event space – you can even hire out the whole venue, the choice is yours – and your play is filmed so you can relive your Fight Club story and look back on the mems you’ve made.
It’s going to be good Liverpool – so Game On.