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Permalink Reply by Kate Franzmann on March 21, 2013 at 15:10

The Prince is a locally listed Building of Merit.  Does anyone know what this means?  Also does anyone know if they have been granted planning permission for providing so many rooms/flats ?

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Permalink Reply by Lindsey Berthoud on March 28, 2013 at 14:58

Thanks for bringing this to our attention, I just looked this up. Haringey say,

"Additional conservation considerations are given to the alteration of these buildings and the Council will seek to ensure that the special character of such buildings is protected and enhanced."

If you go to p150 of this document

http://www.haringey.gov.uk/udp_2006_-_final_published_written_state...

You'll see that Haringey recognises such buildings "act as a significant focus for encouraging urban vitality"

and will use its planning powers to ensure that "wherever possible the special character of such buildings is protected and enhanced"

No idea how to find out about planning permission retrospectively though. 

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Permalink Reply by Lindsey Berthoud on March 28, 2013 at 14:47

I wrote a piece for Londonist today about the Ivy House in Nunhead which has been bought by the local community and now has a community share offer on to fund refit, staff and stock before opening as London's first co-operative pub. 

http://londonist.com/2013/03/ivy-house-pub-saved-by-nunhead-communi...

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Permalink Reply by Richard McKeever on April 4, 2013 at 20:45

Yay! The Prince is back in business. I popped in tonight for a chat with manager Samir who also has another pub in west London. The. Kitchens open next week and they are planning a sequence of quiz nights, DJ sessions and a return of Saturday night live music. They also boast Londons largest pub TV screen.... Whilst that may not be everyone's taste I am glad to see it hasn't gone for more flats.

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Permalink Reply by Lindsey Berthoud on April 5, 2013 at 8:37

Excellent news, thanks Richard!

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Permalink Reply by Lindsey Berthoud on April 6, 2013 at 22:49

Popped in today and it's the same Samir and team. Glad it's open again and they seem to be half way through a refurb ... But not holding my breath on its revival as a community pub.

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Permalink Reply by Rebecca Stevenson on April 12, 2013 at 14:28

We have lived on Trinity Road for nearly 5 years just a few steps away from The Prince, and I can't tell you how desperate we are for it to be a decent 'local'. Unfortunately our experiences of The Prince have been so dire that we do not even consider it as an option. I really do hope that it can change but I don't hold out much hope as we've seen it 'under management many times'; is it too much to ask to pay using a card or to have more than one choice of wine? It's fundamental things like this that make people avoid going. I also think having a Shisha bar gives out the wrong vibe too and attracts a particular clientele which does its reputation no good. As for local pubs, the Ranelagh on the surface is nice pub but its a bit on the expensive side and doesn't always attract the nicest crowd in the Summer. The Gate is the most convenient being by the station, the food is actually not bad and is very good value, but it does have its downfalls which I have discussed with Emma the manager who was very open to taking on feedback so I think they are trying to improve. 

If the right kind of management were to take over The Prince I would happily get involved (for free) with the online promotion and social media side of things which of course is essential to any local business. There is a pub called North Nineteen in Holloway which we visited once which had been bought by a couple who were desperate to have a nice pub for the community, somewhere with good food. Its location is in the middle of a housing estate which feels a little unnerving on approach but step inside and it has lovely friendly vibe, with an open fire and presents its self as a Steak & Ale House. We have a lovely evening there and a chat with the owner who mentioned he was always looking for similar properties to do the same thing with. 

http://www.northnineteen.co.uk/

http://www.timeout.com/london/bars-and-pubs/north-nineteen

The Prince needs something like this to happen if it has any chance of being a place for the community. There is much potential there but its going to take someone who knows what that they are doing to turn things around.

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Permalink Reply by Edward Swift on April 12, 2013 at 15:37

I think one of the problems with The Prince is the location it just feels on the edge of the community and is a long and none too pleasant walk away from the train and tube stations. Good luck to Samir though who seems determined to make it work but he will have to tackle many old issues. My better half for example would not go there with me in a million year. I'm not a fan of the Ranelagh (personal taste, I actually think the new manager has improved it greatly and Toy Box Thursday is always good), The Springfield was a great pub and I hope it doesn't change too much now it has been sold and on the odd occation I get of the train at Ally Pally I have always enjoyed a pint in The Gate but did I see the waiting staff in dicky bowes the other day?

Of course there was "Henleys's Bap". Newcomers to the area could be forgiven for smirking but a few years ago it was a really great community pub. I know the new owners have tried very hard to make it work but I think they made a big mistake in to making it too much like a cafe.

Thus, the copnclusion to my rather long essay on the matter is that we may be spoiled for choice in terms of quantity but not necessarily quality. But having a choice of five or six places to go for a drink and all very different we cannot grumble too much. At least we don't live in Palmers Green!

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Permalink Reply by Rebecca Stevenson on April 12, 2013 at 16:11

The downfalls at the Gate I found were the toilets, the sticky tables, menu's, the wobbly tables and at times the music and sport/tv combo,  just the general inconsistency! That said, I did feedback all of this and went in with a chat with the manager who took my feedback on board and slowly I have noticed the differences but I haven't been in for a month or so.. would be interested in seeing how its doing. 

In terms of the location of The Prince, I don't think its a problem at all. If we are thinking about the 'local community' then that would include the whole of Trinity & Bounds Green Road, Mydletton Road etc. If it was a really decent pub with the right social strategy it would quickly attract people from the local area curious to check it out. 

I have never tried the Springfield Tavern mainly because from the outside, as a female it feels a bit daunting and those curtains doesn't exactly give it a very inviting feel.. Am I wrong? 

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Permalink Reply by Rebecca Stevenson on April 12, 2013 at 16:13

You only need to visit the North Nineteen to see that as long as you can build a successful formula location really isn't an issue. Its a bus ride and a walk to get to, no local tube or train. 

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Permalink Reply by Lindsey Berthoud on April 12, 2013 at 16:15

I didn't feel unwelcome at the Springfield Tavern but the bar arrangement is weird (or was) meaning getting to the bar was tricky. And the loos were awful (I presume they'll be done up). It felt shabby, but cheap and cheerful.  I don't blame you for feeling daunted as a lone female. I look forward to seeing what the refurb's like. 

The backyard has real potential. 

Speaking of places that look daunting, I took a lot of persuading to go in Monaghan's at Wood Green, yet that was really friendly and spotlessly clean. 

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Permalink Reply by Rebecca Stevenson on April 12, 2013 at 16:29

Interesting re Monaghan's; I have the exactly same preconceptions and I thought it was a venue which leaned towards the local traveller community so I have never felt that it was really open to everyone else but seems I may be wrong again! 

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