The 16-time world champion no longer owns a set of darts and instead loves getting his hands dirty helping build a new boozer named ‘Taylor’s Bar’ in his honour
Darts legend Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor is now known as ‘The Power Drill’ – after turning his highly skilled hands to construction. The 16-time world champ has been putting in the graft building a boozer named in his honour.
Phil, 65, said he loves getting his hands dirty and does not even own a set of darts any more. He said: “A digger is easy to drive – easier than a car and I love it.
“I am labouring away. I have been doing shuttering, helping with fencing because they want to set up a petting zoo for the kids near the pub.
“Shire horses, goats, ducks for the pond, pheasants and a park for the kids. I just love being out in the fresh air and doing something physical. I have had my day in darts. The game has moved on from me and good luck to them.
“I like getting my hands dirty and having something to do. I am not an office person and I was never going to do nothing after retiring from darts. It can be tough. I wouldn’t say I am full-time. But I really, really enjoy it.
“I am using muscles that I haven’t used for 40 years. At first it was quite hard and I really ached. But it’s like going to the gym. It doesn’t take long, your body gets used to it.
“Working up here is incredible. The views are spectacular, the work is honest and one day you can be wearing a t-shirt and shorts and the next you need a thick jumper and a coat to keep out the cold.
“Sometimes you have to keep knocking off regularly just to keep warm. But I love it.”
Taylor’s Bar is a new outdoor boozer next to Charlie Bassett’s country pub in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs. Both boast a campsite next door which ensures they are always busy.
Though the pub has a dartboard Phil – who won 87 titles, the World Darts Championship eight years in a row and was No1 player on the planet from 2006 to 2013 – shows zero interest.
He told the GiveMeSport website: “I don’t even own a set of darts now. I certainly don’t practice anymore. I do have some somewhere but I don’t play. I am done with darts.
“There is a dartboard in the pub but I don’t use it. The pub is a great place to be. There is beer, food, entertainment and quiz nights. Loads of stuff. The scenery is beautiful with an old Roman church nearby too. It beats Ally Pally and the Circus Tavern – just.”