Dragons' Den viewers floored after 'extortionate' business lands three massive five-figure offers

The first thing the viewers noticed was the price tag. A teacher, Glyn Richards, walked onto the set with a miniature golf set that cost him just £2.53 to make and asked for a £30,000 investment for 15 % of his business. The shock was not in the money he wanted but in the fact that the dragons were already lining up offers before he opened his mouth. Peter Jones and Steven Bartlett were practically buzzing with excitement, while Deborah Meaden, Touker Suleyman and Jenna Meek were the only ones who could see the fine print. The game, dubbed “Finger Golf,” was essentially a tiny version of Subbuteo, but Glyn was determined to sell it for £30.

Peter Jones, a dragon known for his bold moves, didn’t wait for Glyn to explain the business model. He simply grinned and said, “I’d like to make an offer.” He proposed paying the full £30,000 for a 30 % stake, double what Glyn had requested. The move stunned the audience and the other dragons, who were suddenly forced to confront the question: how much can a toy actually be worth when the cost of production is a fraction of the price? Peter’s confidence may have been misplaced, but it also highlighted a larger trend in the show: the dragons’ willingness to bet on novelty over substance.

Touker Suleyman was the first to call out the price, gasping that “It’s a lot of money for that.” He later admitted he “would struggle” to sell the game for £30. His reaction was echoed by Jenna Meek, who urged Glyn to lower the price to £19.99. The criticism was not just about the price but about the product’s perceived value. Twitter users echoed this sentiment, with @LucyP23_oldie calling the offer “extortionate” and @k_heyrab questioning the viability of a “finger‑adapted golf club” in a market that no longer embraces Subbuteo-like games.

Viewers at home were divided. Some, like @paulus837, laughed at the idea of “Finger Golf,” while others, such as @I_am_KenBarlow, compared it to a Millennial classic that had lost relevance. The comments section became a battlefield of opinions, with @angelapinbuild describing the set as “clunky” and @Toughtruth5 labeling the price “extortionate.” Yet, despite the backlash, Glyn managed to secure three offers, all of them from dragons who saw potential beyond the initial cost.

Given the mixed reception and the high price point, I predict that Finger Golf will find success in niche marketsperhaps as a novelty gift or a tabletop game for collectorsrather than becoming a mainstream household item. The dragons’ willingness to invest suggests they believe the brand can scale, but the product will need to either justify its premium price or drastically reduce it to compete with other miniature sports kits.

The show’s finale left Glyn laughing, his arm slung over Peter’s shoulder, as he declared, “I’m elated, overwhelmed… being an entrepreneur with Peter Jones as a partner, he’s going to open so many doors. It’s going to be an exciting couple of years.” Whether that excitement translates into sales remains to be seen, but the episode has already sparked a debate about what makes a product truly valuable.