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Princess of Wales, WC2
WC2
WC2N 6ND
Pub Type
Nicholsons (Mitchells & Butlers)Reviews (Current Rating Average: 5½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blue Scrumpy left this review about Princess of Wales
I vaguely recall visiting a pub in Villiers Street years and years ago. It could have been this one. But I returned on a Monday afternoon to visit pubs that had appeared in the last 2 editions of the Good Beer Guide. If I did visit, it's not how I recall it!
The single ground floor bar is quite small. However, there is an upper floor, roped off on our visit.
TVs were showing Sky Sports News, which nobody appeared particularly interested in. Doom Bar is the regular beer, whilst there was also a guest beer in Ghost Ship.
Nicholson's pubs have really gone downhill in recent years, in terms of their beer range. This one is no exception. So there would be no reason for me to return here.
On 4th February 2022
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2452 recommendations about 2451 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about Princess of Wales
This is a Nicholson’s outlet, right next to Charing Cross railway station, so gets a great deal of passing trade, less so on a Sunday.
It’s pretty predictable inside, though less ornate than most of their outlets, with dark grey paint to the dado, mid-grey above, continuing to the ceiling. Lighting is Victorian-style and furniture is conventional, tall or normal; décor comes in the form of portraits of famous former local residents. What was wholly unnecessary, was American football playing on the TV, which added nothing but ugly light; naturally, no one was watching.
Ales were an improvement on my previous visit, a GK pub, which just goes to show how much better are Nicholson’s compared to their more numerous competitor, with Ghost Ship, Pride, Doom and Oakham’s Citra at £2.80 a half and good, though too cold.
Better than a GK pub, but still average and not bad if wanting a swift one before getting the train.
On 1st November 2021
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1985 recommendations about 1951 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Princess of Wales
Since the smoking ban, this small Nicholson's pub is much more pleasant inside than it used to be since the majority of customers usually seem to be standing outside in the semi-pedestrianised Villiers Street rather than being crammed into the rather dark interior. There is also the Rudyard Kipling dining room upstairs (never visited). On this visit, I found NPA plus five decent beers in a variety of styles including Florida Dark wild oat stout from Black Wolf (£4.45). Also now has Meantime's London Lager and Pale Ale on tap. Overall, nothing special, but not bad for a quick one if waiting for a train from the adjacent Charing Cross station. NB - Polycarbonate 'glasses' now in use from 20:00 due to licencing restrictions.
On 16th April 2017
- rating: 6
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
E TA left this review about Princess of Wales
A reasonable Nicholson’s with the usual trimmings and facilities. The staff were not the most helpful, the clientele mainly the after-work crowd delaying their arrival home. The TV was showing Sky News, the WiFi worked and the beer was good – 6 ales on draft, the pint of Revd James I had was quite decent, although it was possibly nearing the end of is shelf-life. I'd include in a crawl and would be happy to pop in most times for food and drink.
On 11th January 2016
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3285 recommendations about 3250 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
hondo . left this review about Princess of Wales
2 floor Nicholson's pub(didn't visit upstairs). 6 real ale taps 5 on during my visit. Quite a plain interior by Nicholson's standards.
On 25th April 2015
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2883 recommendations about 2820 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about Princess of Wales
A rather compact Nicholson's pub adjacent to the side entrance to Charing Cross station, inside is a rather narrow boarded room with the bar running along a side wall. Seating opposite the bar is at leather banquettes, small round tables and stools, there are the usual high seated options by the front windows. The interior is a bit more modern feeling than most of the chain, there is a bit of dark wood here and there, notably the bar back with a central clock however the upper walls and ceiling are a 70s style coffee brown.
The décor includes various potted histories of persons connected with the area and street, Benjamin Franklin gets a mention as does George Villiers, eponymous to Villiers Street, apparently the Duke of Buckingham 1592-1628, fictionalised in Alexander Dumas' "The Three Musketeers" and allegedly up to all sorts with the Royal King. Upstairs is the Rudyard Kipling room, I didn't look, less interestingly he claims the honour by living up the road for a bit. There is however more scandal involved, there are claims that the pub may have been named due to a secret wife of George IV, who's marriage was later annulled as it would have threatened the ascendency to the throne. It all happens down here then.
Anyway, back to a more sedate and liberal 2014, beers were St Austell Proper Job, Pride, Oakham Citra (£3.95), Nicholson's PA, Woodforde's Flagondry and one unclipped. Service was decent if typically central London from Eastern Europe, a nice brim-full pint of well kept beer. The pub was very busy given the location and tourist heavy but I quite liked my 25 mins or so in here, my only gripe being the over loud bass heavy music. Worth a punt if you're in the Charing Cross area and although not in the same shoes as The Ship and Shovel, for me, a better beer range. There is of course The Harp.
On 24th May 2014
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1708 recommendations about 1681 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about Princess Of Wales
Fairly mundane pub for the Nicholsons chain, a few pics and bits of local history on the wall at least pass the minutes. Quite small inside with limited seating; the restaurant room upstairs is very small too. Six ales on with three of interest, though annoyingly the Harviestoun Xmas beer that took mine (and others) fancy was off. Given the foreign barmaids lack of gumption I decided to reverse the clip myself. Fortunately the Portobello White was on and in good form, typical London pricing - £3.80pp. Due to its location on Villiers Street (almost opposite the side entrance to Charing X) it’s an acceptable stop-off should you have a few minutes to kill before catching a train. But the Ship & Shovell trumps if you make the effort of an extra minute’s walk.
On 27th January 2014
- rating: 6
[User has posted 5099 recommendations about 5082 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
John Bonser left this review about Princess Of Wales
Half way down Villiers Street, which runs alongside Charing Cross Station, is The Princess of Wales.
Outside a blackboard tells us that “The Princess’s tiara is shining bright once more” and inside it quickly becomes apparent that the pub has had a recent refurbishment.
It’s a Nicholson’s pub, but, rather disappointingly, with the absence of the usual traditional Nicholsons interior – such as dark shiny mahogany, glasswork and mirrors. A more modern interior features pastel colours, spotlights and a mixture of fixed padded seats and high circular tables and stools.
Just inside the door, a framed potted history of the pub tells us that it first became a pub in 1866. The walls have framed pictures of people connected with Villiers Strret – most notably George Villiers, after whom Villiers Street was named, who was The Duke of Buckingham between 1592 and 1628. We also see a print of Sir Richard Steele. Upstairs is the Rudyard Kipling Dining Room, apparently a former resident of the street.
6 beers were on – London Pride, Brains SA Gold, Nicholsons St Austell Ale, Andwell Ding Dong, Brentwood The Only Way is Essex and Kelburn Cart Noir.
The beer was in reasonable nick, but I didn’t like the more modern feel of the place and, with The Harp and The Coal Hole close by amongst others, this pub is not going down for an early revisit.
On 12th December 2012
- rating: 6
[User has posted 560 recommendations about 560 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about Princess Of Wales
This is a small Nicholson’s pub located down Villiers Street – the narrow lane that connects Charing Cross and Embankment stations. A very simple and compact wooden floored room with red wallpaper and a fairly short bar counter on the right hand wall was packed with Welsh rugby fans on our Saturday evening venue, although with a bit of patience and luck, we were able to secure a seat on one of the leather banquettes opposite the bar. Further seating can be found in the front bay window and on a raised platform at the rear of the pub. Music was playing very loudly during our stay, which made conversation very difficult and we decided not to stay beyond the one swift pint.
The current Nicholson’s guest ale range was listed on a large, elaborately framed blackboard opposite the bar with ticks next to those that are currently available. My heart sank a little when I noticed just the one guest ale ticked on the board, but thankfully it had not been properly updated as the bar offered a good selection of Cropton Top of the Hops, Brains SA Gold, Peerless Triple Hop, Project Venus Venus Black and Box Steam Tunnel Vision. I gave the Venus Black a try and thought it was in excellent condition and one of the better Black IPA’s I have tried.
I couldn’t really warm to this pub due to the cramped conditions and inability to make myself heard over the music, but I suspect it could be a decent enough place for a quick pre-train pint if you catch it at the right time.
On 6th March 2012
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Chris 87 left this review about Princess Of Wales
Decent enough Nicholson's pub; Busy on a saturday evening and nice to be able to stand outside supping pints of Everard's Tiger, Morrisey Fox Brunette and Daleside Autumn Ale. Bit small and noisy inside, and didn't stay long as I wanted to show my mates The Harp. Worth a look if you're in the area.
On 4th October 2009
- rating: 6
[User has posted 179 recommendations about 179 pubs]