Bobby George, the legendary darts player famed for his flamboyant 'King of Bling' persona, is as well-known for his extraordinary personal life as his sporting achievements. His story encompasses a 38-year marriage and an utterly unique 18-bedroom mansion, shaped like a dart flight, which he once put on the market for a cool £3.5 million.
The King of Bling's Dart-Shaped Dream Home
In 1995, Bobby George constructed his spectacular and eccentric estate, George Hall, in Ardleigh near Colchester. The property's most striking feature is its design, modelled on the flight of a dart. This 18-bedroom mansion sits on 12 acres of land and boasts amenities fit for entertainment on a grand scale.
The interior includes a pub-style bar area with a snooker table, while the extensive grounds are home to three separate fishing lakes. Reflecting on the ambitious build, George admitted to the BBC that he "overdid it," constructing the vast property room by room while in his fifties.
The home also serves as a museum to his quirky career. Among the darts memorabilia is one of George's own toes, preserved in a vodka bottle in his bar. He had several toes amputated in 1999 due to a genetic condition and was permitted to keep one.
A Love Story Forged in the World of Darts
George shares his remarkable home with his wife of over three decades, Marie. The couple met when Marie was working as a walk-on girl at Professional Darts Corporation events. George proposed a date on Valentine's Day, but Marie initially refused, saying she didn't date older men.
His persistence paid off, and they have now been happily married for 38 years. Marie now acts as George's personal assistant, managing everything from his daily schedule to business admin. Her Instagram biography proudly states they have spent the "best years of our life" together.
Plans to Sell the 'Creaking Bones' Estate
In 2013, Bobby George made the decision to try and sell George Hall for £3.5 million. He expressed that the upkeep of the large property and grounds was becoming too much, quipping that his "old bones are creaking."
He famously stated his desire to sell while still "young-ish," humorously adding that he didn't want to leave the house in a wheelchair, fearing it would become an old people's home with him as a resident. The future of the unique dart-shaped estate remains a captivating part of his enduring legacy.
From the oche to an architectural oddity, Bobby George's life continues to be a testament to showmanship, enduring love, and truly unforgettable style.
