Two friends from Gloucester, Dom Hoskins and Joe Makuch, have turned their passion for darts into a thriving business by opening a dedicated dart shop near Gloucester. After noticing a surge in the sport’s popularity across the county, the pair launched an online darts store called 9 Dart Den in January 2024.
Recognizing that dart enthusiasts wanted a place to see and try the equipment in person, Dom, 25, and Joe, 28, took the next step. In May, they opened the 9 Dart Den shop at Krate Village in Whitminster, just outside Gloucester. This new location fills a gap in the local market, as the nearest darts shop had previously been in Swindon—too far for many local players.
Dom explained their journey: “About 18 months ago, Joe and I started playing darts at Top Cue in Gloucester. We quickly fell in love with the game. We saw there were no darts shops around here, with the closest one being in Swindon. So, at the start of this year, we launched the 9 Dart Den online store.”
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The online store’s success motivated them to create a physical space where customers could test the darts equipment firsthand. “Our shop sells everything related to darts,” Dom added. “Most of our products come from reputable producers in the UK, and customers really appreciate being able to try before they buy.”
Despite holding full-time jobs—Dom as a plumber and Joe as a joiner—the pair are committed to running the shop together. They have structured their schedules to keep 9 Dart Den open four days a week while managing their other responsibilities.
Since its official opening on May 5, the shop has been well received by local darts players. Dom expressed excitement for the future: “The shop is doing well, and we look forward to welcoming new customers and growing our business.”
9 Dart Den is now open to the public at Krate Village, Whitminster, offering a unique local destination for darts enthusiasts.