Products
501 Hub
Celebrating over 501 million darts thrown, 501 FUN® charts its journey from a 2018 startup to a global leader in tech-driven, inclusive social entertainment.
Back in 2018, we spotted a shift in how people were choosing to spend their time and money. The competitive socialising movement was gaining serious momentum, and we recognised an opportunity to reinvent a classic game for this new era of experience-led leisure. That’s how 501 FUN was born – with a mission to create unforgettable shared experiences through technology and play. From that single idea, we’ve grown into a global entertainment brand. And now, just a few years later, we’ve hit a milestone that truly captures that journey: 501 million darts thrown worldwide.
Our story began with a bold reimagining of a pub classic – interactive darts. But this was never just about putting a TV on the wall. We partnered with Unicorn, the most prestigious name in darts, and integrated their Smartboard technology to deliver the most accurate auto-scoring system ever made. Every throw is tracked in real time, with gameplay, scoring, and dynamic graphics displayed on a big-screen TV right above the board. This removed the hassle of manual scoring and unlocked endless opportunities for designing fresh, fast-paced games that anyone could pick up and play. It was intuitive, social, and modern – a game transformed into a fully immersive, digital experience.
But we didn’t stop there. We took the concept even further and created the world’s first and only Augmented Reality (AR) darts system. Building on everything players loved about interactive darts, we made it even more immersive by projecting the entire gameplay experience directly onto the dartboard and the surrounding canvas. This includes animated targets, visual effects, and real-time feedback, all mapped perfectly to the physical board and its immediate backdrop. It transforms the throw of a dart into a rich, visual experience – drawing players into the game in a way that feels instinctive, exciting, and entirely new.
As our products evolved, so did our partnerships. We’re proud to work with some of the biggest names in global leisure and hospitality – from Dave & Buster’s in the US, to Mitchells & Butlers here in the UK, Topgolf across Europe, and Funlab in Australia. With our systems now live in over 700 venues across more than 40 countries, the reach of 501 FUN is a true testament to the universal appeal of modern, tech-powered social entertainment.
But beyond the tech and the milestones lies a bigger story. Competitive socialising has transformed the way we connect, blending play, performance, and togetherness in ways that speak to today’s consumer. It’s not just a trend – it’s a cultural shift that’s here to stay. And we’ve been proud to help hundreds of venue operators around the world get ahead of the curve: diversifying their offer, attracting new audiences, and unlocking brand-new revenue streams through interactive, competitive, high-energy play.
One of our proudest achievements was the launch of the Accessible Oche – a world-first, wheelchair-friendly solution that allows seamless play between standard and accessible-height dartboards. It’s a small innovation with a big impact, and a clear reflection of our belief that social entertainment should be inclusive and welcoming to all.
Our journey so far has been shaped by continual learning and improvement. We’ve refined our technology, launched new games, expanded into multiple languages, and introduced adaptive difficulty settings to make our products even more versatile. One of our most impactful additions has been Social Replay – a feature that captures highlight moments during gameplay and turns them into personalised, shareable clips. It’s transformed the player experience while giving venues powerful new tools to connect with their guests and extend their social reach.
From exhibiting at trade shows around the world, to expanding our team and moving offices… twice, 501 FUN has grown in every direction. Our team has quadrupled in size, our reach has expanded across continents, and our products continue to evolve with every throw, every game, and every conversation we have with our partners and players.And so, here we are – half a billion dart hits later. It’s a moment to celebrate and reflect, but also a moment to look ahead. Because while we’ve come a long way, we’re only just getting started.
With the launch of our brand-new Interactive Mini Golf product, we’re entering an exciting new chapter. Played on a single green with LED targets, game graphics, and multiple scoring holes, it combines all the hallmarks of 501 FUN – intuitive gameplay, bold visuals, and seamless integration – in a format designed to thrill and engage.
The future of competitive socialising is bright, and we’re proud to be helping shape it. Whether it’s with Interactive Darts, Augmented Reality Darts, or now, Interactive Mini Golf, we remain committed to creating experiences that connect, excite, and entertain.
Here’s to every dart thrown so far – the best is yet to come.
- Jonny Powell, CEO
