Friday evening · 5 March
Our pick is the round when the top-ranked players enter, following the afternoon's live draw. Use the new stage list once the matchups are known.
UK Open 2027: a Minehead weekend with an open draw
The UK Open returns to Minehead on 5–7 March 2027. It's the FA Cup of darts: qualifiers, several early boards and fresh draws that can put favourites together.
Book the correct adult resort break and make room for the whole weekend. For your UK Open resort arrangements, use the Minehead darts guide.
At a glance
Tournament dates5–7 March 2027
ResortButlin's Minehead · Somerset
CharacterAmateur qualifiers · open draws
Ticket modelAccommodation break · get a quote
GuestsBig Weekender · adults 18+
Checked 6 October 2026. The dates are announced; starts and format details below use the published 2026 guide.
Dates and session times
PDC's published calendar confirms the UK Open in Minehead on 5–7 March 2027. The tournament begins on Friday.
Butlin's current terms also identify Wednesday 3 and Thursday 4 March UK Open arrivals; those are resort choices, not extra match days.
2026 session starts and stages, as a guide: Friday began at 11:00 on supporting boards and noon on the Main Stage.
The final 2027 timetable and room choices aren't confirmed here; use the new programme to plan your day.
Check the new programme before setting your alarm or choosing an early train.
| 2027 match day | 2026 start guide · GMT | Previous stage of tournament | Break price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri 5 Mar 2027 | 11:00 other boards / 12:00 Main | Rounds 1–3 | Quoted darts break · not a session face value |
| Fri 5 Mar 2027 | 19:00 | Round 4 | Quoted darts break · not a session face value |
| Sat 6 Mar 2027 | 13:00 | Round 5 | Quoted darts break · not a session face value |
| Sat 6 Mar 2027 | 19:00 | Round 6 | Quoted darts break · not a session face value |
| Sun 7 Mar 2027 | 13:00 | Quarter-finals | Quoted darts break · not a session face value |
| Sun 7 Mar 2027 | 19:00 | Semi-finals / final | Quoted darts break · not a session face value |
From £356 per person — Butlin's advertised starting price, checked 6 October 2026; your quote depends on arrival, nights and accommodation.
Use your official party quote; a deposit isn't the weekend total.
Sources and checked date
Source: PDC 2027 event announcement · PDC March calendar panel · 2026 starts and round guide · 2027 resort arrivals · Advertised UK Open starting price ·
checked 6 October 2026.
Tickets and how they sell
Choose the UK Open product from Butlin's official darts breaks. Check the confirmation: March 2027 event, arrival, guests and room type. A family break is a different booking.
Ask what seating and darts access your quote includes. Meals and upgrades can cost extra.
From £356 per person — Butlin's advertised starting price, checked 6 October 2026; your quote depends on arrival, nights and accommodation.
Current UK Open places and non-resident day entry aren't confirmed here; ask Butlin's about your booking options.
We haven't confirmed an event day ticket from the official pages.
Keep the official break as your starting point, rather than assuming a generic resort day visit includes the arena.
Your balance is due 70 days before arrival. Pay in full when booking inside that window.
If you choose an eligible deposit, the arena-break figures are £45 per adult or £25 through AutoPay; neither is a ticket-only face value.
Arrange name changes with Butlin's. Wristbands aren't transferable; see our resale guide.
Sources and checked date
Source: Official March darts booking route · Full-balance deadline and personal wristbands · Changes and arena deposits · Advertised starting price ·
checked 6 October 2026.
Session-by-session: what to expect
Friday: the room-hopping day
The UK Open is called the FA Cup of darts because qualifiers can meet the established names in an open draw.
In the 2026 guide, entry rounds depended on ranking, with the top 32 joining in round four.
In 2026, the Main Stage was in the Skyline Pavilion, Stage Two in Reds and Stages Three to Eight in Studio 36. Save the board list for qualifiers.
The previous field included Tour Card holders, Challenge/Development Tour players and sixteen amateur qualifiers through Rileys and PDC in the Community.
The first three rounds were randomly drawn ahead of play; a live open draw followed round three and every later round.
Saturday: follow the draw, not a fixed bracket
Each new draw can put two favourites together. The 2026 fifth round used four stages; round six narrowed to two. Check the fresh draw during the break.
Sunday: back to the main stage
The guide moves quarter-finals to the afternoon and the semi-finals/final to the evening.
In 2026, early ties were best-of-11 legs, the middle rounds and quarters best-of-19, and the last two rounds best-of-21.
Treat those as the previous format until the 2027 competition details arrive.
For a comparison with seeded events, use our tournaments guide. Unexpected pairings and supporting boards make this one different.
Sources and checked date
Source: 2026 entry rounds, room plan and draws · 2026 field and match lengths · checked 6 October 2026.
UK Open 2027 amateur qualifiers
Sixteen amateur places at the UK Open 2027 come through PDC in the Community venues.
Pre-qualifiers began on 7 November 2026; the published venue finals finish by 7 February 2027.
Enter directly with the relevant host using the contacts in the PDC qualifier schedule and entry list.
The list covers 13 English routes plus one each in Scotland, Wales and Ireland.
Venues set their own entry fees and deadlines, and confirm registration and start times.
Ask your chosen host for those details before travelling.
Playing eligibility starts at 16, although a venue’s licensing may require 18+.
Tour Card holders and already-qualified players cannot enter; eligible 2027 PDPA Associates can.
Players may enter more than one qualifier.
The PDC rules allow the series through 8 February 2027.
That is not an extra event in the published schedule, whose last listed final is 7 February.
These are player-qualification rules.
Check visitor admission rules separately.
Sources and checked date
PDC qualifier announcement, 6 November 2026 · checked 8 November 2026.
PDC 2027amateur qualifier rules, section 10 · checked 8 November 2026.
How to pick a session
Friday daytime · supporting boards
Watch several matches covered by your package. Eat breakfast early: the supporting-board programme began before the Main Stage.
Friday afternoon · 5 March
Try a daytime tour of the supporting boards before your first group dinner. Agree a meeting point when you split up to follow different games.
Saturday evening · 6 March
The previous round-six programme narrows the choice to two stages. Set an early dinner and a meeting point so the group can watch together.
You're choosing the focus of an accommodation break, not a one-session deal. Our booking-choice guide compares it with London and Blackpool.
Sources and checked date
Source: Prior rounds informing these picks · 18+ resort booking · checked 6 October 2026.
What will the trip cost?
Enter each adult's UK Open package cost, including resort nights. Add rail and local transfer spending separately.
Keep the hotel inputs at zero unless your trip includes rooms before or after Butlin's.
Your darts night
Sources and checked date
Source: Resort package basis · Additional options and payment conditions · Advertised UK Open starting price · checked 6 October 2026.
Use the hotel search for an extra night outside your included resort stay.
On the day
Collect your wristband on arrival. Use the app for food hours and room locations. Eat before Friday's supporting-board start.
| Moment | Day session · 2026 guide | Night session · 2026 guide |
|---|---|---|
| First darts | Friday 11:00 / Main noon; weekend 13:00 | 19:00 |
| End · our planning range | Allow a full afternoon, into roughly 17:00 | Plan for 23:00 or later if matches run long |
| Next move | Check the new draw and take a meal break | Return to the accommodation on your booking |
The 2027 darts entry times aren't confirmed here; follow the arena instructions in your break programme.
Check-in opens at 13:00; the darts starts later, so check your programme. Both cash and contactless are accepted by Butlin's.
Use a steward for immediate help; the venue help guide has contact and lost-property details.
Sources and checked date
Source: Guide Friday and weekend starts · Resort arrival and payments · checked 6 October 2026.
Families and groups
This advertised UK Open resort stay admits adults only, with photo ID checked. The rules don't make an exception for an under-18 travelling with parents.
See under-18 options before choosing a different family trip.
Adult groups should settle a room list and meal choice before asking for the total.
A dining plan covers all named guests and the duration, rather than just whoever feels hungry that day. Agree who handles cancellations.
Large groups should speak to the organiser's group team. The terms require approval for certain twenty-plus predominantly younger parties.
Our group-night guide helps you organise payments and meeting points.
Sources and checked date
Source: Age and larger-party conditions · Whole-party dining and guests · checked 6 October 2026.
Fancy dress and rules for this event
Allowed
- A named-adult booking with the required identification and personal wristband.
- Practical group costumes accepted by the resort, without awkward or intimidating accessories.
- Purchases from the individual venue bar for drinks consumed there.
- Access help arranged with the specialist team before you arrive.
Not allowed
- Offensive outfits, criminal celebrations or imitation resort/security uniforms.
- Costume guns, knives, whips and other weapons, even inflatable versions.
- Carrying drinks from one entertainment venue into another.
- Refusing staff requests to change an unacceptable outfit; the party can lose admission without a refund.
The 2027 rules for flags, masks, bags, outside food and moving between rooms aren't confirmed here; read your break's darts instructions.
Check the event instructions before deciding what to carry.
March sea air makes the walk between rooms colder than the photographs suggest. Choose a costume you can layer, using the fancy-dress planning guide.
Sources and checked date
Source: Current costume and behaviour conditions · Venue-bar restrictions · checked 6 October 2026.
Getting there and home
Use Taunton for the mainline train, then the current 28/28A towards Butlins Main Gate.
The listed Sunday return ends too early for the final, so keep an overnight departure plan. The Minehead travel guide covers the full transfer and resident parking.
Sources and checked date
Source: Current Sunday service constraint · Taunton-to-resort bus · checked 6 October 2026.
Plan the March arrival and departure
Select the arrival on your resort confirmation, not just Friday morning. Check UK Open rail travel
Where to stay and when to book
Pick the official UK Open accommodation product before arranging any off-resort nights. Compare kitchen facilities, party size and whether dinner is added to the quote.
Our resort and local-stay guide names alternatives for a travel extension, not replacement darts admission.
Sources and checked date
Source: Accommodation and optional dining · Event stay choices · checked 6 October 2026.
Extend the trip into Dunster
Book the village stay separately from your darts break. Check Dunster hotel availability on Booking.com
FAQs
What are the confirmed UK Open 2027 dates?
The PDC calendar lists 5–7 March 2027 in Minehead. Resort arrival choices begin earlier and must be read from the booked offer.
Why do fans call the UK Open the FA Cup of darts?
Amateur qualifiers join the professionals and the live open draws can pair any remaining players. It doesn't protect leading names with a fixed seeded bracket.
When does the UK Open use a fresh live draw?
In the 2026 format, the first three rounds were drawn ahead of play. A live draw followed round three and each subsequent round; that is the guide used here.
Can amateurs qualify for the UK Open?
Yes.
The 2027 series offers 16 amateur places through PDC in the Community venues.
Enter directly with the PDC-listed host; fees and deadlines are set by each venue.
Did every 2026 UK Open board start at noon on Friday?
No: supporting stages began at 11:00, with the Main Stage starting at noon. Those are 2026 times as a guide, not confirmed 2027 starts.
Can I give my UK Open resort wristband to a friend?
Butlin's prohibits gifting, sharing and resale of its wristbands. Ask the booking team about an official booking amendment instead.
Are UK Open meals automatically part of the accommodation quote?
No: dining is an optional plan unless your offer includes it. An added plan covers every guest and the full booked duration.
March planning uses clearly labelled 2026 session guidance. How we check our facts.
Package or do it yourself?
| Decision | A package offered by an official seller | Ticket and hotel booked separately |
|---|---|---|
| What is included | Read the named seller’s exact seat, food and accommodation inclusions | The ticket and room each have their own booking terms |
| Seat choice | Only the package inventory offered | Choose from the official general-admission plan |
| Flexibility | Changes depend on the package contract | Ticket and hotel cancellation rules can differ |
| Cost | Compare the full quoted total, including fees | Add ticket fees, room, travel and meals yourself |
Butlin’s UK Open darts break
Butlin’s sells the darts break around resort accommodation and entertainment.
Selected Comfort Plus, Westlake Chalet and Seaside Lodge bookings receive arena bar table service.
Dining plans and other upgrades must be checked separately; a town hotel booking is not a substitute for the darts break.
Sources and checked date
uk open official package check — Official package/partner information · Official package/partner information; checked 28 October 2026.
Prize fund for 2027
The PDC hasn’t announced the 2027 prize fund in the sources checked on 8 November 2026. PDC prize-fund source (checked 8 November 2026).
| Prize information | GBP |
|---|---|
| Confirmed winner’s prize | Not announced in checked PDC sources |
Sources and checked date
PDC prize-fund breakdown — checked 8 November 2026. The current table does not announce this2027 edition;2026 amounts are not carried forward.