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Bob Rudd brought a bit of ‘Ally Pally’ to London’s Docklands when the leading independent operator hosted a star-studded ‘Target Darts Showcase’ at the BrewDog pub in Canary Wharf.

The evening, held following the opening day of EAG Expo, featured 16-time World Champion and the GOAT darts icon Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor, former World Champion Rob Cross, and the unmistakable voice of darts, John McDonald.

The expertly curated event featured live demos of the Target Darts Zone – the cutting-edge, interactive darts experience which increases dwell time, footfall and customer spend in licensed venues - top quality networking, a live and entertaining player Q&A as well as a unique opportunity to step-up to the oche and take-on Rob Cross.

Described on social media as ‘the EAG after show party of all time’ the event attracted in excess of 100 invited guests comprising industry leaders, pub operators, and innovators who made the short-hop from the EAG at Custom House to Canary Wharf.

Reflecting on the event Nick Rudd, Managing Director at Bob Rudd said: “The evening was a fantastic way to celebrate what sites are telling us is one of the most important revenue-generating non-gambling additions to their business in recent times.

“For guests who didn’t have the opportunity to visit the Target Darts Zone (TDZ) stand at EAG it was a chance to explore the innovation in-situ and see why it is transforming pub and bar environments across the UK. As exclusive distributor we already have the TDZ live in over 350 venues and it has been embraced by licensees and pub-goers alike.”

Rudd explained that the concept is a business generator and has been designed to drive longer visits, encourage group participation and increase secondary spend, while giving operators flexibility over how the commercial model is implemented.

“This represents the latest evolution in interactive pub entertainment and is helping venues to deepen their engagement with customers” he said. “The system integrates seamlessly with the Dart Counter app, allowing players to track scores, stats and progression, creating a ‘sticky’ experience that keeps customers coming back.”

According to Rudd, Target Darts Zone offers operators a low-risk, high-return opportunity to future-proof their entertainment offering in line with the expectations of contemporary consumers who want more from their leisure or entertainment spend.

“There has been strong uptake from local darts leagues, increased midweek footfall and a measurable uplift in bar sales,” he noted. “In a market where experiential leisure is outperforming traditional offers, Target Darts Zone gives venues a way to stand out while maintaining operational simplicity.”

Rudd added that feedback from single-site operators has exceeded expectations. “The response has been exceptional,” he confirmed. “A key factor is the accessible rental price point of £24.99 per week, which has been pitched to make the product viable for a wide range of venues. It removes any financial barriers to entry and allows pubs to trial a new entertainment offer with minimal risk.”

He concluded: “This affordability, combined with a premium-quality player experience, is what’s driving adoption at scale. The addition of Target Darts Zone to our growing product portfolio reinforces Bob Rudd’s position as the go-to partner for pubs looking to future-proof their entertainment offering.”

Commenting on what was Target Darts EAG debut Paul Dearlove the company’s Trade Marketing Manager said: "We exhibit at tradeshows all over the world, so it was a real pleasure to attend EAG right on our doorstep. The response to our Target Darts Zone was fantastic, and it’s clear that EAG attracts key decision makers from across the industry — which makes it a valuable and rewarding show to be part of.”