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The Prince of Wales, Birmingham
Birmingham
B1 2NP
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Blue Scrumpy left this review about The Prince of Wales
Wednesday evening was my first visit here since 2012. Since then I believe it had been closed for a lengthy period, before being bought, done out and re-opened by Black Country Ales.
Arriving quite late on a Wednesday evening, I wasn't initially certain that I'd get served. However, the barmaid was friendly and welcoming and had no issue with serving us. In fact, we were left to drink our pints without any pressure to leave, which left a good impression.
Interior-wise, it's a typical BCA pub, carpeted, cosy and fairly traditional. The usual BCA beers were on (BFG, Fireside & Pig On The Wall), along with a good range of guest beers - Tollgate California Sun, Teignmouth Sunshine, Nuttycombe Dominicans, Fixed Wheel Peto, Muirhouse Malibrew, Plain Ales Independence & Salamander 52AD. Ciders were from Lilley's - Woo Woo and Apples & Pears. A couple of corned beef cobs, which were still available until last orders, helped move proceedings along a little!
I always used to like this pub. If anything, it's got better than it was. It's very close to the brash nightlife area along Broad Street, but just secluded enough to ensure it doesn't attract the party going type. All customers were fairly civilised pub-goers. Hopefully it won't be so long before my next visit.
On 29th September 2023
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2452 recommendations about 2451 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Delboy 20 left this review about The Prince of Wales
Another really good Black Country Ales pub. Great choice of 10 ales on when I last called in. It's well worth the short stroll from Broad Street. Cobs, Sausage Rolls and Pork Pies on sale. The beer quality was excellent and the service very friendly. What's not to like??
On 27th December 2022
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 1656 recommendations about 1556 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
Nice, traditional pub - close to the city centre but off the beaten track behind the convention centre and not visible from the Canalside area. The place was smartened up somewhat by Black Country Ales (and the basic food offering reinstated) some years ago, but it retains a good, old-fashioned pub atmosphere. Ten real ales, including three of the brewery's own regulars, plus seven guest beers in a range of styles and a couple of ciders from the usual impressive array of handpumps. After the inevitable dithering, I went for the seasonal - in two, very different, respects - Santa Scores from Holden's (£4.10, and oddly listed with two decimal places at 4.33%). Overall, worth seeking out if in this part of the city.
On 18th December 2022
- rating: 8
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Ian Mapp left this review about The Prince of Wales
Came here several years ago and was impressed by a Brummie bar having both TT Landlord and Black Sheep on.
Its subsequently been taken over by the BCA Group and had a complete refit in their corporate style. Nothing wrong with that but they are becoming hard to tell apart. Same seating, carpets, TV Screen list unusual breweries (wont be getting TT Landlord or Black Sheep again).
Glorious weather on a Saturday lunch and their was a single other patron in. Waited at the bar for a good 10 mins before other life appeared to take my order. Gave me plenty of time to review the 12 (yes, 12) cask handpulls. Unless trade picks up at night, they cannot possibly justify such a range.
I went for a Pekin by Hopshed brewery. Told you the beers were sourced form unusual breweries.
On 3rd October 2022
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1338 recommendations about 1324 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about The Prince of Wales
A bit opened out inside but manages to maintain a pubby feel. Twelve pumps in all with ten cask beer and two Ciders making use of them all, unfortunately at this stage of the game (pub eight) I failed to record them apart from my choice of an old favourite, Titanic Chocolate and Vanilla Stout, although this was only in fair condition.
I would be happy to include this on another crawl.
On 4th July 2022
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1872 recommendations about 1845 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Danny O'Revey left this review about The Prince of Wales
March 2022 Ten years on since last review and this pub has had yet another change after the failure of the last business. Now taken over by Black Country Ales and fitted out very much in their style (Craven Arms/Jewellers Arms are good reference). Described by one Birmingham blogger as 'old man style' there is a traditional boozer carpet, tables and chairs, the showcase is the front windows, the bar to the side has many real ale handpulls and their are cobs available. Nice small pub, but feels a little packed in at the top. Extra mark for the beer.
July 2012:Much changed since its refurb. Still one room, but with dark wood floor, dark green walls and some trendy wallpaper in parts.
Seating is a mish mash of benches, various chairs & square/rectangle dark wood (again) tables. There is a games machine and plasma in the middle and a fire place at the far end.
Its different, though the contemporary moody look is not too disimilar from the Bitters and Twisted pubs in the city.
Not sure about the outside which is a fullover deep purple job and the landlord appears to have a mobile permanently stuck to his ear whilst serving.
Live music every Sunday 4-7. Food menu coming soon.
7 permanent real ales and a guest, the choice has changed for the better and includes Tetley Mild and localish Enville Ale.
Its a nice place, a 7 1/2 for me, but the beer makes it an 8 on here
On 4th April 2022
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1456 recommendations about 1434 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Prince of Wales
Now taken over by Black Country Ales. Refurb due in January.
July 2019
Knocked about and molested inside, nonetheless someone has had a go at keeping it viable. A semi L shaped interior which is a hodge-podge of cheap refurbs. The paintbrush had covered up the worst of it in turquoise even if it is starting to peel in places. Six pumps at the bar with four on and an eclectic selection from Enville, Mad Goose and Oakham. My Citra wasn't the best (a bit muted NBSS 2) but the enthusiastic Brummie barman who happily served me at 2 minutes before time made it more palatable. Pointlessly loud music drowned out the witterings of the soaks in attendance. If I was hard-hearted I'd say don't bother but there was enough life for me to be kind with a 6.
On 20th December 2021
- rating: 6
[User has posted 5081 recommendations about 5064 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Al Bundy left this review about The Prince of Wales
A decent little pub. An L-shaped interior has been modernised but it still holds on to a traditional feel. Five real ales (I think) available. Better than those modern expensive bars on the canal.
On 26th July 2019
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3487 recommendations about 3390 pubs]
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Pub SignMan left this review about The Prince of Wales
Located in the heart of Birmingham's late 80's, early 90's regeneration area, between the ICC, National Indoor Arena and Sea Life Centre, the Prince of Wales is a real survivor and a rare Victorian pub amidst a sea of chain bars and restaurants. The pub has a single L-shaped room with exposed floorboards and a smart servery to the right with a padded counter front and green bar back topped with some impressive paintings of an unidentified battle scene. Banquettes run beneath the leaded and etched glass front windows and as the room runs to the rear, these give way to a row of high tables and stools down the left hand wall. The room has some pretty good wood panelling with quite pleasing geometric patterned wallpaper above and as you might expect, there are plenty of pictures of the eponymous prince on display. As you approach the rear of the room, the flooring turns to tiling, but it was tricky to get an accurate picture of what this part of the pub is normally like, as it had given way to a covers band who were bashing out some crowd pleasing hits from the 70's to a very appreciative and sizeable middle aged crowd. It looks like quite a nice spot with more smart wood panelling, lots of pictures hung from the walls and some admittedly garish wallpaper around a compact fireplace on the end wall. I'd been in a number of very quiet pubs on this Sunday afternoon crawl, so it was a real surprise to stumble across somewhere that was really rocking and I enjoyed soaking up the atmosphere from the crowded bar area.
The pub seems to be able to maintain a wide selection of beers, albeit mostly from nationally available brewers, and there was almost a full compliment on the eight handpulls, with Wye Valley HPA, Black Sheep Bitter, St Austell Tribute, Tetleys Mild, Sharps Doom Bar, Purity Mad Goose and Taylor Landlord available and just the one pump out of action. My pint of the HPA was £3.40 and in pretty good shape and there was a fair bit of turnover thanks to the burgeoning crowd.
This is a solid little pub in an area that is a bit out of the way from the city's top pubs circuit, manfully doing its bit for the traditional pub amongst all the All Bar One/Reflex/Slug & Lettuce/Cafe Rouge bars that plague the area. I thought the pub had a lot going for it and whilst the ale range was a little pedestrian, the quality was very good and this alone would be enough to tempt me back.
On 10th April 2017
- 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
8 real ale taps 7 on food served and live music advertised.
On 2nd August 2015
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2883 recommendations about 2820 pubs]