Pub chief fights back over darts

A pub group chief is fighting back over claims that the popularity of darts in pubs has been hit by gastropubs.

The Save Our Darts campaign was launched last week to preserve the game in pubs. A study claimed the game was facing extinction, blaming the rise of the gastropub.

But Rupert Clevely, managing director of Geronimo Inns, is disputing this and challenged the face of the campaign, Phil "The Power" Taylor, to a game at one of his company's pubs.

Clevely said: "We've nothing against the principles behind the Save Our Darts campaign but we are a little put out at the suggestion that the sole reason for the decline of this pastime is because of food-focused pubs like ours."

He is hoping to play Taylor in a best of three set match at the Black Swan, in Ockham, Surrey, if he accepts the challenge. In the interests of fairness, Taylor will be forced to throw the darts either blindfolded or left-handed.

For every leg that Taylor wins during the course of the match, Clevely will be forced to introduce a dartboard to one his pubs that doesn't currently have one for a minimum of one month.

For every leg the pub chief wins, the company proposes that Taylor donate sports equipment to a children's charity of his choice, on the proviso that that it is any sport other than darts.

Prince Charles, who came out in support of the campaign at a reception at Clarence House on Friday, will also be invited to attend the match.