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Detail Pages
The Prince, West Brompton, SW6
SW6
SW6 1TT
Pub Type
Taylor Walker (Spirit Pubs)Reviews (Current Rating Average: 5½ of 10) see review guidelines
Steve of N21 left this review about The Prince
The Prince is a large commanding Edwardian pub that replaced a former Victorian boozer built in 1868 on the site. Painted black, it dominates this section of the Lillie Road close to West Brompton tube station
It was closed a few years back and marked for demolition due to the enormous CapCo redevelopment of Earl's Court to the north of the pub. But this redevelopment is years behind schedule and the pub reopened in 2017 after a bit of a restoration.
I didn’t get what was going on here at first as on first viewing the pub also seems to be three small fast-food outlets that front onto Lillie Road but cannot be entered from here as they are actually part of the pub. Basically what this pub is, is more of a party venue / nightclub with street food / fast food franchises attached, in fact there are four of them in total.
From the main pub entrance, you enter into a normal wooden floored bar room with a small L shaped blue tiled modern bar section to the right and limited seating to the edges. But beyond this to the right a large neon glowing sign above a rectangular entrance invites you to enter the “Woodland Garden”, an here you find the enormous gazebo style garden space mentioned by the reviewer below, with its own bar section at the far end and entrance to the pizza, burger, Asian food and waffle pop ups. It wasn’t that busy when we entered early evening and looked like several young groups were wrapping up their Christmas dinners. But even with only a few in it gave a very good impression of a large echoey barn so I hate to think what its like when it is full on a DJ night.
Suffice to say no real ale here, just some chrome taps with the usual faux foreign lagers (yes Madri I’m talking about you) and the usual Camden and Beavertown suspects on the ale front. If you are under 30 you will probably think this is a great place, as I would have done 40 years ago. But fortunately for me today the current GBG listed Lillie Langtry is almost opposite.
On 19th December 2023
- rating: 4
[User has posted 2110 recommendations about 1992 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about The Prince
I came here mid February last year, but for some reason, my review has disappeared.
Revamped and renamed in 2017, the place was largely unmemorable for the pub aficionado, but has an enormous gazebo-style garden, which makes for most of the customer occupancy space, totalling 450 with the whole place having the possibility to accommodate up to 800, making for more of a nightclub feel, customers being young and trendy, music being loud.
There was no real ale and I expect my half of fizz was woefully overpriced and whilst I can't remember it well, I know that I wouldn't want to make a return visit.
On 16th February 2023
- rating: 4
[User has posted 1985 recommendations about 1951 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alan Winfield left this review about The Prince Of Wales
The Prince of Wales is a large looking pub that is almost opposite West Brompton station.
Once inside there is a decent sized L shaped room with the bar on the right side,the room bare boarded,the seating is a few tall tables and chairs to the front right,with normal tables and chairs to the rear right,the rear left is down a few steps,there is comfy bench seating and normal tables and chairs in this area which is carpeted.
I noted three real ales on the bar,i had a drink of Jennings Cumberland which was not on top form,the other beers were Doom Bar and London Pride.
There were a few TVs showing the tennis and background music was playing,it was hard trying to listen to the music when the tennis commentry was also loud.
Pub visited 1/7/2015
On 1st July 2015
- rating: 6
[User has posted 6113 recommendations about 6113 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Prince Of Wales
This is a large, split level Taylor Walker pub just a stones throw from West Brompton station. You enter up steps that take you onto a large front patio area with a range of garden furniture affording you views of the busy road below. The front door takes you into the upper main bar area with the servery located on the right hand wall. There is plenty of seating on this upper level, mostly standard chairs and padded benches, especially in the front left corner and to the rear of the room. A few attractive etched glass panes are on show in sections of wall and partitioning screens, with a mix of old pictures and modern wallpaper rounding out the décor which sounds like a mismatch but actually works pretty well. A few of the partitioning screens also have the Prince of Wales feathers motif inlaid, which looks pretty good. Several TV screens were dotted around, most of which were turned on and showing muted Sky Sports football highlights. The lower left side is ideal for those wanting food, with smart carpet throughout, half panelled walls, floral wallpaper and standard tables and chairs supplemented by one long L-shaped button backed banquette. Music played quietly throughout my late mid-week evening visit and there was a surprising number of customers which helped liven things up a bit.
Five hand pumps were in operation when I arrived, with three ales, Westerham 1730, Thwaites Big Ben and Hogs Back TEA, and two ciders, Old Rosie and Thatcher's Cheddar Valley, to choose from. An extremely gruff barman served up a pint of the Big Ben which I was pleased to find was in fantastic shape, slipping down very nicely for the last pint of the day.
There is a sense that this is a bit of a formulaic pub offering nothing that the rest of the chain doesn't already provide, but I thought the place had a bit of character and the fine pint of beer more than made up for the surly service. I found this a pleasant surprise and would give it another go the next time I'm passing through West Brompton.
On 19th October 2014
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
hondo . left this review about The Prince Of Wales
A Taylor Walker pub close to earls court and west brompton tube station. 6 real ale taps 5 on and food served.
On 15th August 2014
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2883 recommendations about 2820 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
E TA left this review about The Prince Of Wales
A good sized Taylor Walker corner pub near the tube station, convenient for Earl's Court, It's unique selling point is the large subterranean garden at the back, well hidden and providing a quiet oasis where you can have a pint and a snack away from the bustle. Free wifi and decent food are on offer. Three ales on, I had a pint of 6X which was in good condition. Well worth dropping in.
On 18th October 2012
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3284 recommendations about 3249 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Prince Of Wales
It must be over 20 years since I last visited this pub, but I don’t reckon that it’s changed much. It’s now a Taylor Walker branded Punch pubco pub, thus the usual pubco pub grub menu is available. I was in just after 2.00 PM on Wednesday, so I guess the fact that some of the tables were sticky and unwiped was due to the fact that it was soon after the lunchtime rush. London Pride and Doom Bar were available, with the latter at a bit over £3.00 a pint as I recall, which is not bad for London.
Outside at the front of the pub is a raised terrace area from which one can observe the comings and goings of Lillie Rd. Inside the main bar area has a mix of normal tables and chairs and solid looking tall tables and stools. There’s also another seating area down a few stairs on the left, containing more tables and chairs. For me the best feature of this pub is the bay windows/doorway past the bar counter on the right, which leads down a few steps to an enclosed courtyard garden. This will be a real suntrap earlier in the year, when the sun gets over the top of the building. The table tennis table mentioned by a previous reviewer was not present when I visited. Being next to one of the entrances to the Earls Court Exhibition Centre this pub can get busy at times. This is a very typical pubco pub – OK for a pint or two, but not really worth going out of your way to visit.
On 17th September 2011
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about The Prince Of Wales
Doesn't look like a bad pub, but the service seemed a bit erratic (the sign promising that pints with too much head will be topped up is entirely needed). And then the Ringwood 49er was doing a fair impression of Brown Windsor. Might give it another try on the benefit of the doubt, but certainbly won't go specially.
On 18th June 2011
- rating: 5
[User has posted 3339 recommendations about 3276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about The Prince Of Wales
This is a nice pub that was serving up some very nice Doombar on my recent visit. Old Speckled Hen and Pride were also available along with some standard lagers and Staropramen. The barman was very nice and greeted me when I walked in and said goodbye when I left. There is a very nice beer garden out the back that has a table tennis table in the open air and there is also some covered seating out the front on the main road.
The food in here isn't very good, but it is ok for a few pints.
On 5th February 2009
- rating: 6
[User has posted 5249 recommendations about 5217 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Prince Of Wales
Not brilliant, but much better than many of the other pubs nearby. Had a reasonable pint of Bateman's red Scorpions Tale.
On 18th November 2008
- rating: 6
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]