Prince of Wales, Merton, SW19

The refurbishment is 99% complete now - we're just waiting on a couple of fencing panels and a few more plants to be installed out the back, and we're all done.

I visited this pub on Wednesday, hopeful that the refurb mentioned below would have been completed by now, but unfortunately I found the pub still in a state of transition, which makes reviewing it a little tricky given the missing furniture et al. The friendly barman informed me that they were having a big reopening on Saturday 5th June. The interior is fairly big, although it may be deceptively so given the open spaces in some parts. The refurb seems to be similar those given to a lot of other Young’s pubs in the last year or so, but it generally looked pretty good and I would imagine the finished article will be very pleasant. Only Young’s Ordinary (£2.90) and Special on the pumps, although their website suggests that they have a guest ale on normally. Given the sunny weather and lack of indoor seating, I took my pint out to the beer garden where there was a BBQ in full swing. Surreally, the pub had an energetic young piglet running around on its roof terrace, presumably incensed at watching its forefathers being grilled below. A decent enough Young’s pub and despite the turmoil it did enough to convince me to return and check out the finished product.

Hi to all, I'm the landlord of this pub, and would like to just add that unfortunately, the brewery design gurus are being let loose with the place on Tuesday - hopefully they'll get rid of everything thread bare, and keep a bit of charm....

Pleasant enough, friendly locals pub on the busy A24. A variety of seating in what is now effectively one space but due to the layout still feels distinctly like three rooms. Homely feel, thankfully the brewery design gurus have stayed away so far. A few pics of Royalty, plus as Rex says the famous Queen Mum picture. The old clock over the fireplace, pub mirrors and food serving hatch reinforce the parlour room feel. Darts, piano, books and Dvds/videos in the small front room. Are these for rental/lending, I don't really know? A bit of a nostalgia trip for me as I lived nearby about 14-15 years ago, so it was a regular port of call. The Youngs beers were always good but I agree with Rex that the Brains was a little tired.

This is a Young’s pub with the usual range on, but as a concession to the 6 Nations tournament they were allowed to put on that excellent Welsh beer, Brain’s SA. But the pint I had wasn’t brilliant, but OK to drink. It’s been a Young’s house for a very long time; since they took a lease on it in 1876. It used to be called the Prince of Wales, but was renamed the Princess of Wales following the death of you know who in 1997. The pub itself is larger than it looks from the outside with a large seating area at the back on the left. The front part of the pub looks to be the most traditional, with a piano, dartboard, and a bookshelf with some books that I suppose might have been donated by regulars. The large bar at the back, which almost certainly would have been the result of a later extension, features a couple of things that one rarely, if ever, sees in a pub. Firstly, there was a small (laptop sized) TV monitor that was only showing adverts for forthcoming sporting events, and secondly a children’s area with a small blackboard having pride of place. I’m not sure that I would want to be in there when the latter was in use. The upholstery on the banquettes in this area certainly looked as if it had seen better days – but there again so had the clothes I was wearing so no problem there for me! The decor on the walls worth mentioning consisted of a number of prints of previous monarchs, plus the large photographs of both HRH The Prince of Wales and the late HM The Queen Mother both pulling pints in a Young’s pub. At one time you couldn’t visit any Young’s pub without seeing these photographs. This is a decent enough quiet little pub. Not my favourite in the area – that accolade goes to the Trafalgar Freehouse – but OK for a pint or two as long as you’re not expecting anything too flash.