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The Prince Of Wales, Kennington, SE11
SE11
SE11 4EA
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Tris C left this review about The Prince Of Wales
Supposedly dating from around 1792, the current building was constructed in 1901, overlooking lovely Georgian Cleaver Square, where pétanque can be played, the pub supplying the balls.
The interior is traditional, with some bullseye glass, a boarded floor with a few rugs, traditional bar array, conventional furniture with a studded fawn banquette, smoky blue paint up to the picture rail then white paint up to a white ceiling. Décor amounts to a mass of oil portraits of the likes of Churchill and W. G. Grace, then more esoteric prints, illuminated by Victorian-style lighting. Customers were young professional types in good spirits, unperturbed by the lack of TV sport showing England’s defeat to South Africa in the rugby, whilst a Yacht Rock compilation of the Cars (Drive) and Cher (Believe) played over the stereo, later augmented by hits from Queen, establishing an unusual link between soundtrack and cask option.
Sadly, this is a Shep’s house so aside from two unused pumps, a predictable ale lineup amounted to Spitfire then one of their new ‘Cask Club’ Hop Pocket ales then something (probably Shep’s) called Prince of Wales ‘King of Queen’, with Freddie Mercury adorning the pump clip and at £2.70 a half served by a fungible barmaid. It wasn’t very nice, but I drank it, under pressure to do so sharpish due to the limited opening hours, with last orders called at just 9.20pm, moments after my arrival last Saturday.
This is a very nice pub, but the cask selection hardly inspires and the fact that the night comes down an hour-and-a-half before the advertised 11.00pm closing time dents the score.
On 23rd October 2023
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1983 recommendations about 1949 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about The Prince Of Wales
We left this one till last on our mini crawl around Kennington Lane to try and avoid the worst of the Friday lunchtime crush. As others have commented the Prince of Wales is an attractive pub and has an excellent out of the way location on the corner of the wonderful Georgian Cleaver Square. But it is quite a small single bar pub and it doesn’t take too many in to be uncomfortable.
We succeeded in avoiding the crowds as we managed to get one of the few inside tables, the three external tables to the front being all taken. But what we got wrong was timing our visit to when they had a decent beer range to choose from. Of the five pumps on the bar only two were operational and the Spitfire, Kent’s Best and Whitstable Bay were all off, leaving Master Brew and the seasonal Summer Solstice Goldings Ale, which fortunately were in good nick. We couldn’t believe the Friday lunchtime rush could have knocked out three pumps , so we enquired of the young Eastern European bar staff who seemed to have been left in charge why three were down and they were as useful as a chocolate fireguard in that respect.
On normal days this attractive Sheps pub is a solid eight rating for me but have to go lower due to the lack of ale for our visit.
On 16th August 2014
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2110 recommendations about 1992 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 nice looking pub situated in a nice area in a corner of cleaver square.
Once inside there is a small oblong shaped room to the front the bar is on the right side,there is comfy leather bench seating to the front and down the left side,there is a smaller room to the rear which is through an opened out doorway,the room is carpeted and seemed quite nice.
The pub is a Shepherd Neame tied house which is one of my favourite brewers,i had a drink of Master Brew which went down well,the other beers were Whistable Bay Pale Ale and Spitfire.
There was some pretty crap background music playing which sounded Mexican to me,but overall i quite liked this proper pub.
Pub visited 2/8/2014
On 2nd August 2014
- rating: 8
[User has posted 6113 recommendations about 6113 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about The Prince Of Wales
This pub occupies a pleasing location in a quiet and surprisingly elegant Georgian square just off the main A3. An attractive exterior with a blue awning, containers of daffodils and the pub name high up on a raised gable, inside is homely and comfortable and the welcome and service from the Eastern European barmaid friendly. Effectively one room but with the rear area partially divided off by a pair of piers, the room is carpeted with a section of wood flooring in front of the bar which runs along the side wall. Regular seating with leather banquettes, chairs and bar stools; walls are broken up by black and white prints of the area, above the bar on the gantry are a series of pub mirrors bearing the pub name and that of the Shepherd Neame brewery. The lobby to the gents toilets has a couple of cricket related prints from Vanity Fair.
A few regulars were in on Thursday afternoon exchanging banter with the barmaid giving a good atmosphere, the TV was off but some music played unobtrusively.
Five handpumps, Spitfire and Kents Best doubled up plus Early Bird. I'm not the greatest fan of Sheps beers (Late Red excepted) but my half of Early Bird couldn't be faulted. No signs of food or menus apart from a small chalkboard on the bar offering Cottage pie, veg and mash for £8.95.
I liked it in here, a decent comfortable and well looked after backstreet pub. NB, opens at 12.
On 15th March 2013
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1707 recommendations about 1681 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
Homely Shepherd Neame pub, comprising a small 'L'-shaped bar extended at the rear into a partially opened-out back room. Seating supplemented by a few tables out front. Choice of Spitfire, Kents Best and Early Bird (£3.70) from the five handpumps. Overall, this place has a nice relaxed feel and is well worth seeking out. (NB - Review dates from April 2012.)
On 17th June 2012
- rating: 8
[User has posted 8086 recommendations about 8086 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Michael Jessops left this review about The Prince Of Wales
In a way this is a great pub, nice small & cosy - in the summer you can take beer outside to enjoy in the quiet square. But I'd only give it 3 stars as it's so pricey!
On 15th November 2009
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3 recommendations about 3 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Prince Of Wales
This is a Shepherd Neame house, but with only Whitstable and Kent's Best on when I was in at lunchtime during the week. The Kent's Best was pretty good, and at £3.10 a pint the price I am used to paying in London. The pub is tucked away in a corner of the secluded backwater of Cleaver Square, away from the nearby main thoroughfares. In my opinion it's a hidden backstreet gem. It looks good from the outside, with its colourful hanging baskets and wisteria with a few late flowers. It is a fairly imposing and attractive red brick building. Inside it's a small well-maintained pub with a handful of tables and chairs. There's also a couple of tables and chairs outside at the front, primarily for smokers I presume, but very welcome for yours truly sitting outside on a warm September afternoon. In my view this is easily the best pub in the area, and well worth seeking out for a pint or two.
On 13th September 2009
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about The Prince Of Wales
This pub is in a great location tucked away in the corner of a square so avoiding any passing trade. It isn't the biggest place and I'm not the biggest Shepherd Neame fan, but I thought that this was a good place to read a paper over a quiet pint – especially due to the lack of any background music or sport on the TV. The staff were all friendly, but there were too many people dining for my liking and it would be nice to see another table or two added to the one already found out the front overlooking the square.
I wouldn't travel across London to drink here, but it is worth the short walk from Kennington Tube Station for a couple of pints.
On 16th January 2009
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5233 recommendations about 5201 pubs]