The New Chimneys in Ashford, Kent, were crowned 2026 Punch Darts Classic champions after winning a dramatic last-leg decider at the Grand Final in Coventry last weekend.
The Ashford pub took home all the glory at the Coventry Building Society Arena after a nail-biting final against their St. Helens opposition, The York, with Queen of the Palace, Fallon Sherrock, in attendance.
After taking a 4-1 lead, The New Chimneys were pegged back by The York to set up a thrilling last-leg decider. With the title hanging in the balance, the Kent side produced a stunning two-dart checkout from 93 to seal the Punch Darts Classic crown.
As well as the conclusion to the darts competition, attendees on the day were treated to an on-stage interview with Fallon herself, with a chance to test their arrows against the only female player to win a match, and subsequently, two consecutive matches at a PDC World Darts Championship.
The tournament was brought back by Punch at the start of the year for the first time since 2018, with 240 teams from around 190 Punch pubs taking part in the competition. After several local heats and eight regionals, it all came down to the final 16 teams at the Grand Final in Coventry.
The relaunch was proudly supported by some of the biggest names in the world of pubs and darts, including Sky Business, Paddy Power, Heineken and Magnify Marketing, helping to make the Punch Darts Classic bigger, bolder and better than ever. Their backing has ensured the competition delivered not just memorable matches, but real excitement in local pubs, night after night.
Commenting on the Grand Final, Punch Darts Classic organiser Jake Green, said: “The Grand Final of the Punch Darts Classic really was the icing on the cake of what’s been a fantastic competition over the course of the year.
“The atmosphere on Saturday was electric and the standard of darts was incredible. To have that many people there on the day was beyond expectations. Huge congratulations to the team at the New Chimneys for winning an epic final and a massive thank you to the suppliers that have supported us.
“Most importantly for us, we’ve seen communities come together to really celebrate their local pubs over a game of darts. We can’t wait to see what next year brings!”
Pub address: New Chimneys, Loudon Way, Ashford, TN23 3JJ
Pub website: The New Chimneys
Pub Facebook: New Chimneys (Ashford)
Photographs: courtesy of Ignite Creative