Darts icon Bobby George, one of the sport's most flamboyant characters, continues to reside in a truly extraordinary home: an 18-bedroom mansion he constructed with his own hands over three decades ago.
The King of Bling's Palatial Project
Famous for his love of flashy jewellery that earned him the nickname 'King of Bling', George enjoyed a successful career on the oche. He reached the BDO World Championship final in 1980 and 1994 and clinched the prestigious News of the World title in 1979 and 1986. His success on the exhibition circuit funded his ambitious building project near Colchester, an estate he named George Hall in Ardleigh.
The house is impossible to miss from the air, as it is deliberately built in the shape of a dart flight. Interestingly, the current 18 bedrooms are actually a scaled-back version of George's original vision. Planners advised him that his initial plan for a 28-bedroom residence would have been "over the top".
Inside the Unique Estate
The 12-acre grounds are as impressive as the house itself, featuring not one but three private fishing lakes for the avid angler. Inside, the property boasts a pub-style entertainment area complete with a bar and snooker table.
Now 80, George previously told the BBC he "overdid it" with the plans. "But I was younger [50], and I didn't have any fear," he explained, detailing how he built the home room by room, starting with a bathroom, then a bedroom and kitchen.
A Toe-Curling Piece of Memorabilia
The bar also houses one of the property's most unusual conversation pieces: a piece of darts memorabilia with a very personal connection. Due to a genetic condition, George had several of his toes amputated in 1999. While three were medically disposed of, he was allowed to keep one, which now resides preserved in a vodka bottle in his bar.
In his autobiography, 'Still Here! The King of Bling', he wrote about the painful condition that made walking difficult, joking that it led to "Operation Toot-Toot-Tootsie." He noted that visitors often don't believe the story until they see the evidence for themselves.
More than thirty years after its construction, Bobby George's dart-shaped mansion remains a lasting testament to the character and success of one of darts' most iconic figures.
