Bristow takes pub by storm

He has been credited with helping to turn darts into a worldwide spectator sport and Eric Bristow proved he can still hit the target with fans when he dropped into a Black Country boozer.

The Crafty Cockney, who got his nickname from a pub, wowed fans when he visited The Alexander in Chapel Ash, Wolverhampton, to take on regulars last night, part of a bid by landlady Tina Yeomans to boost the game in her boozer.

But the 50-year-old Staffordshire-based legend of the darts world says the game has never really gone away.

"It has always been a popular game," he said. "People are playing it across the world and you can still get thousands of people packing out a venue. It is just a great game."

Bristow, who now lives in Leek, started the game as a London youngster playing in pubs and went on the emerge as one of the sport's greatest stars.

And it was only a few months ago he was in town to catch the Grand Slam of Darts at Wolverhampton's Civic Hall in November.

Pub regular Kal Singh, aged 45, from Chapel Ash, said: "I used to love watching Eric, he was a great player and one of my favourites."

Newbridge resident Adrian Waite, aged 47, first played Bristow when he met him by chance 20 years ago in Blackpool.

He joked: "I have been waiting all this time for a rematch".

At the end of the evening landlord Tina presented Bristow with a miniature dart.

She said: "Hopefully, this will help give the sport a real boost in the pub. People have already been asking for it."

Fans who missed Bristow can see him tonight at The Boscobel Tavern on Park Lane West, Tipton. The evening runs from 7pm.