For darts fans, the festive season isn’t just about mince pies and crackers, it’s also the chance to don fancy dress, head to Alexandra Palace to sit at long tables adorned with four-pint pitchers, and enjoy some arrows action.
Looking at some attendees, such as the group above, the reason for choosing their outfit is clear, but for others, their inspiration is less obvious. Our photographer Tom Jenkins set up a makeshift studio at the venue to photograph some of the fans and get some background to their sartorial stories.
The Pope – Lucas Wehenger from Austria. It’s his fifth time at the darts at Ally Pally. Why does he love it? “Nice people, nice party. It’s perfect.”
Chicken – Fred Nathan from Finchley. It’s his seventh year at the PDC, coming in costume each year with a group of friends. “You have to, it’s a tradition.” Previous years they have come as bowling balls, Mario characters, bees and beekeepers. This year they have come as one fox and six chickens.
It’s Christmas, a great day out, a time when people can let their hair down, dress up as silly things and watch great sport. For me it is Christmas and it wouldn’t be the same without it.
Shark – Thomas Russell from Witham, Essex. “Me and my mates picked sea creatures to come as. I chose a shark because it looked really comfortable. Nice and warm too, didn’t have to wear a coat. I came on the train like this, got quite a few looks.”
Ali G – Kyle Healy from Cork City, Ireland, who like Thomas Russell, is a first-timer at the Ally Pally. He is here with identically dressed friends and said “I grew up watching Ali G on TV. Though he was very funny so why not come as him?”
Lobster – Ryan Morgan from Bristol, has been to the darts for the past 5 or 6 years with friends, wearing different costumes every time. Why a lobster? “Because they’re endangered and we want to raise awareness for them.” Morgan’s dedication to the cause is demonstrated by the fact that he came all the way from Bristol on the train as a lobster.
The drama of darts is unmatched but the drinking with mates definitely adds to it.
Crayon – Jack Sherwood from Hertfordshire. It’s Sherwood’s third year in a row at the Championship. In 2021 he was dressed as a nun and last year was a cheerleader. Why a crayon? “I just thought a crayon was very silly, so more chance of getting on the telly.”
Presumably these fans’ outfits make it easier for them to order at the bar. A turkey and a wise man gets frisked by security as they enter the venue. Where else would you find the Queen standing next to Buzz Lightyear? Beer seems to be a recurring theme at the event.
Macho Man Randy Savage – Dave from London, who is a first timer and came with a group of 10 mates, are all dressed as wrestlers. “Everyone is here for a good time, that’s all that matters.”
Al Snow, WWE wrestler – Chris Gavin from Walthamstow. After failing to get tickets many times before, he has finally made it to the world championship. “I love it here – for the love of the sport. And beer. Sport and beer, sport and beer. I support the sport of darts and good clean fun – GCF, that’s what I’m here for, GCF.”
A player and spectators celebrate a 180.
It’s thirsty work watching the action.
Ronald McDonald – Dave Hailey from Cromer, Norfolk, who is at the PDC Championship for a third time. “We all left home at 5.30 this morning in a minibus dressed like this. That’s dedication.”
“It’s just pure entertainment. It’s not like football where everyone’s at each other. This is all about banter, everyone’s friendly, the beer is flowing, it’s a great atmosphere. You can’t ask for more than that.”
Donkey Kong – John Kerslake-Smith from Poole, Dorset, is a first-timer, here with family who are all dressed as Mario Bros characters. “I chose Donkey Kong because I knew it from growing up.”
Eddie the Eagle – Mirko Spieker from Hamburg, Germany, is here for the first time with friends as a 40th birthday present.
“I have seen it many times on TV and loved it. It’s always been a dream to be here at Ally Pally.” Why Eddie the Eagle? “We looked at many costumes and saw Eddie the Eagle. It was the stupidest so we took it.”
Penguin – Dan Terry from Essex. Like Mirko is also a first-timer. He is also here with a group of friends, all dressed as penguins. “Basically I chose it because it was easy.” Why the darts? “I’d recommend it to anyone – it’s a brilliant night out.”
Spectators in fancy dress arrive at the venue.
A spectator in the fan village sports a Hawaiian shirt featuring the player Peter Wright. Astronauts, aliens and Teletubbies are among the throng in the arena.
Flamingo – Russell Orphanides from Southgate, continued a bird theme on his second visit to the darts, having dressed as a pigeon previously. “I don’t follow darts the rest of the year, only when this event is on.” Why come? “Everyone’s really wholesome here having a good time. One of the few sporting events where everyone’s enjoying it as a collective.”
Bo Peep from Toy Story – Mike from Nottingham has been to Ally Pally for the past 3 years, all with friends, all in costume. “As a group we used a random generator and I got this.”
The atmosphere – you can’t beat it. It is THE night. I don’t know much about darts to be honest, I’m just here for the night out.
It’s not just the fans who are donning some fancy threads. Peter Wright, Ricky “Rapid” Evans, the so-called fastest player in the world, Stowe Buntz, Cameron Menzies, Fallon Sherrock, Michael Smith, Ricardo Pietreczko, Mikuru Suzuki, Christian Kist and Luke Humphries are all sporting some snazzy shirts.
The Grinch – Lewis from Newcastle, is with a group of lads, all dressed the same. “It’s my first time here but by no means will it be the last. It’s very different from going to St James’ Park every other weekend.”
Referee – Tom Phillips from Cardiff, goes regularly to darts events in his home city but this is his first time at Ally Pally and is with five friends all dressed as refs. “It’s so hard to get tickets for here, it’s the pinnacle of darts.” Why referees? “Not only is it easy to get the kit but it’s also relevant and makes you stand out.”
Bottle of ketchup – Ben Lawson, from Colchester, has been for the past three years, every year in fancy dress with friends. “We were Santas for the last two years so we wanted something a bit different.” Why come to the darts? “It’s so funny and exciting. I don’t support anyone in particular, I’m just here for the event.”
The Mask – John Reeve from Rugby. “I can’t remember if it’s the last 6 or 7 years but every time I have come to the darts here dressed like this. But every year this outfit is getting tighter and tighter. I’ll either have to get a bigger size or come as something else.”
You don’t need to like darts to come here. If you like a drink, like a good atmosphere and like a bit of sport, that’s what it’s all about. It’s a great day out.
Spectators cheer towards the stage, Luke Littler waits on the runway ahead of his walk on, the dartboards are replaced for every match, subtracting the scores for Littler, a cameraman films the 16 year old, who then gives a press conference after his first round victory over Christian Kist.
You’re more likely to stand out in the stands if you’re not wearing fancy dress.
Wonder Woman – Carla Knight from Guildford is a first-timer who came with work colleagues dressed as DC comic characters for a Christmas party. “I don’t know anything about darts. You throw it in the middle don’t you? All I do know it’s fancy dress.” Expectations of the experience? “A lot of booze, a lot of fun, a lot of 180s.”
Christmas cracker – Stevie Goodyear from Tolworth, Surrey is here with a group of friends all dressed as items from a Christmas dinner table and he pulled out the cracker in a random draw. The first-timer said “I’ve heard the atmosphere is incredible. I don’t really follow the darts but everyone says it’s one to tick off socially.”
Christmas tree – Rosie Monk from Hastings has been to other darts events but it is her first time at Ally Pally. She is here on a family outing and her mum helped out with her last-minute outfit by making her hat. “I’m just here for the laughs.”
Where’s Wally – Dan Fry from Stonehouse, Gloucestershire. It’s his third consecutive trip to the Ally Pally, donning jockey and road cone outfits in previous years. “It’s just a great crack. We’re a big group of lads from the same football club on the beers.”
Tweedle Dee – Carl Drury from Colchester. It’s his second time at Ally Pally. “First time, me and my brother came with our nan. So of course we came as nans too. We grew up being called Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee”, which explains this year’s outfit.
It’s such a great atmosphere, the whole day out, the whole experience. To be honest you barely get to see the darts in the background.
Scouser from Harry Enfield’s Television Programme – Elise Coventry from Wilmslow is a first-timer and said: “It’s an experience, a totally new one for me.” Her mum persuaded her to come like this. She and three friends drove down in the morning in full outfits.
There were some questionable looks at the service station.
Pink Power Ranger – Elliot Young from Maidstone, the first-timer said: “Six of us, all Power Rangers, came up on the train dressed like this. Walking through London we’ve had loads of comments. They’ve all been good and friendly.”
Banana in Pyjamas – Charlie Henson from Welwyn Garden City is at Ally Pally for the first time and is part of a group of 15 family members. “Me and my brother wanted to come as a duo act. We were thinking Powerpuff Girls but ended up as Bananas in Pyjamas.”
Ruth Madoc in Hi-de-Hi! – Helen from Bradford-on-Avon is a first-timer and is at Ally Pally with a group of colleagues, “I’m here for the singing. I do quite like the darts but that’s secondary.”
Princess Leia from Star Wars – Nik Brady from Oxford is at Ally Pally for the 15th time in a row and is with a group of friends all dressed as characters from Star Wars. Every year they don fancy dress and have previously come as Flintstones, pirates, French mime artists, to name a few.
The atmosphere is amazing, the people are amazing. It’s not even really about the darts.
