Flight Club Hits the Bull’s-Eye in Clayton

Flight Club has revolutionized the traditional game of darts, bringing it into the 21st century for your amusement.

In 2015, friends Steve Moore and Paul Barham opened the first location of Flight Club in the Shoreditch neighborhood of London. Ten years and 28 locations later, the upscale entertainment concept built around “social darts” has finally made its way to St. Louis!

Combining fast-paced multiplayer games with groundbreaking tracking technology and instant scoring that doesn’t require a calculator, social darts are designed to bring people together. The five games – from Demolition to Killer – are loud, competitive, addictive and endlessly entertaining, and groups of two to 12 players can book an oche for 90 minutes of memories.

“[The co-founders] developed Flight Club around the game of darts, where people play with a real dartboard and real darts,” Toby Harris, CEO of State of Play Hospitality, says. “I know that sounds obvious, but a lot of technology-enabled darts don’t have the same authentic feel.”

Whether you’re a total beginner or a self-proclaimed professional, you have a chance to win when you play social darts. If you don’t make it onto the leaderboard, though, the vibe, design aesthetic and bar program at Flight Club will hit the bull’s-eye for you.

Featuring colorful hot air balloons, vintage birdcages, porcelain dogs, whimsical wallpaper and a full-size carousel horse, the curated décor hearkens back to traditional British pubs. “The idea of a classy Victorian pub anchors the concept, while fairground lighting adds a touch of playfulness to the space,” Harris explains. “The detailed design creates an elevated, female-friendly, adult-centric atmosphere, which is on par with top-end cocktail bars, and that’s truly the heart of Flight Club.”

Every area within every location has a slightly different, albeit intimate, vibe, bringing a sense of surprise to each visit. The food and drink menus allow you to mix up your experiences, too!

Start with a craft cocktail such as the Snapdragon (Ketel One grapefruit-rose vodka, guava, lychee, lime and dragon fruit), the Oaxacan Seaglass (green chile-infused Banhez mezcal, lychee, lime and ginger) or the Espresso Old Fashioned (Woodford Reserve bourbon, espresso, vanilla and chocolate bitters). Then, dig into small plates, signature shareables and sweet treats. Flatbreads topped with everything from Italian sausage to artichoke hearts and truffle oil to hot honey are also easy to eat while you play.

Since everyone loves Sunday Funday, Flight Club serves brunch, as well. Gather a group and enjoy smoked salmon flatbread with crispy capers, shaved red onion, fresh dill and whipped cream cheese; breakfast sliders with maple-glazed pork belly, scrambled egg and Cheddar cheese; and avocado toast with pumpkin seeds, microgreens and olive oil in between turns at the dartboard. Want to upgrade? Add 90 minutes of bottomless mimosas and flatbreads to your darts reservation.

“St. Louis has an amazing culinary scene, and sports are a major part of the city,” Kim Chute, vice president of marketing at State of Play Hospitality, says. “We think that Flight Club complements that established vibrancy.

“When you think of a social darts bar, you might not associate it with exceptional food and drinks,” she continues, “but that’s at the forefront of the concept. We want to make sure that we’re doing Clayton a service and living up to the high expectations of its residents and visitors.”