The Prince of Wales, Chelmsford

Blue Scrumpy left this review about The Prince of Wales

Weatherboarded village pub which was just about the best of 4 establishments we visited late afternoon/early evening on a Tuesday. Inside, there are 3 small rooms with slate tile flooring. There are lots of old pictures on the walls and in the area we were sitting, there was a propellor and a set of skis.

Outdoor seating, mainly to the rear (with a limited amount at the roadside to the front) appeared to be popular. Some of it was undercover. There is a children's play area, adjoining an area where goats and sheep were grazing. There is a main car park and an overflow area next to the goats. Live music is advertised at weekends.

The bar has 6 handpulls. As we arrived, 5 of them were clipped with Crouch Vale Yakima Gold, Bishop Nick 1555, Hop Back Glasshopper & Citra & Mighty Oak Captain Bob. Woodforde's Hazy IPA & Chevallier Paladin Suffolk Stout were amongst the keg beers. The cider was Healey's Rattler.

I have to say that for a Tuesday evening, this pub was doing a roaring trade in both beers and food. A lone waitress was overseeing table service, whilst what seemed to be a New Zealander behind the bar may well own the pub. She is certainly quite small and I thought I was about to be served by a child at first, but she was really welcoming and did an amazing job serving lots of thirsty people with barely a moment to spare. A third worker was in the kitchen but for a Tuesday, I couldn't believe how many people were in. They're obviously doing plenty of things right and this seems to be a very good business model.

As a country pub, this is a nice place. Clearly popular with a few local beers. I would have appreciated a traditional cider or a dark beer. Either/or would have bumped my score up a little. Nevertheless, I was impressed by the Prince of Wales. It's dropped out of the latest (2026) Good Beer Guide but I would still recommend it.

On 14^th August 2026 - rating: 6
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