Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Lindsey Berthoud on March 4, 2015 at 21:26

The Prince isn't going for middle class gastro, felt pretty community when I went this evening. Done a nice job on smartening up without destroying the integrity of the interior and it looks so much better now you can see through the windows and doors. Yes, there are tellies and football but it's not as overwhelming as the Springfield. New manager Michelle was very nice and welcoming. They're not quite finished, still some furniture and bits and bobs to come but do go and pay it a visit and show your support. £3 a pint for the IPA! 

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Permalink Reply by John Mellor on March 4, 2015 at 21:51

Thank goodness it's not going to be another "middle-class 'gastro' pub".

Like Paul I think these type of soulless identikit pubs are over-represented locally. The reopening of a decent unpretentious local pub is very welcome ... even if "horror of horrors!" it caters for people who like beer and football.

Some of the residents who live in "tower blocks" are actually human you know!  

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Permalink Reply by Richard Matz on March 5, 2015 at 0:20

As one of the humans without a beard or a manbun who's lived in the tower blocks 200 yards away for the last 15 years, I was greatly encouraged to meet Michelle, the Manager, and the new owner on The Prince's re-opening night yesterday.

The refurb tastefully updates the interior without detracting from it's character. Locally, there is a huge niche to be filled between the sports bar atmosphere of The Nelson & Springfield Park Tavern, and the Soho priced pretentiousness of The Ranelagh.

The pub deserves the regular support that will enable it to provide varied live music and make the provision of high maintenance, short shelf-life real ale a viable proposition. Make it so, People! x

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Permalink Reply by Lindsey Berthoud on March 5, 2015 at 10:19

Phone shot of the exterior yesterday evening, so nice to see the lights on again. 

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Permalink Reply by Caroline Simpson on July 10, 2015 at 14:50

Oh dear!

It appears that The Prince has closed again.

I went down for a beer with a pal a couple of weeks ago... and it was closed.  And has been closed since so far as I can see.

Does anyone know what happened?  Or perhaps did not happen?

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Permalink Reply by Richard McKeever on July 10, 2015 at 15:17

Hi Caroline

Sadly the troubled past of this pub continues to blight its potential future.

The former owner and manager had been leasing out the upper floors of the building but without conforming to fire safety regulations - despite warnings. The local press has reported on their convictions and jail sentences recently.

I hope that now that all the historic troubles appear to have been dealt with by the courts that the way is now open for a new owner to run it as a decent local pub.

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Permalink Reply by Caroline Simpson on July 10, 2015 at 16:13

Thanks, Richard.
Let us hope that the new landlord/owner does not give up. When I met him in March he seemed to be very experienced at running pubs, perhaps he had not realised about upstairs and its problems.
There must be a place for a good pub around there.

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Permalink Reply by Paul o'callaghan on July 15, 2015 at 16:01

Wow.I wonder what Peter Berthoud said to get his post deleted so quickly ?

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Permalink Reply by Peter Berthoud on July 15, 2015 at 16:05

Ha, Well spotted Paul! It was deleted by myself, I realised just too late that Richard had already answered. Landlord and leaseholder both in prison.

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Permalink Reply by Paul o'callaghan on July 15, 2015 at 16:18

Oh,okay Peter.I thought it was something juicily libellous ! More seriously,how much more bad publicity can this pub have ?

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Permalink Reply by Fiona Ambrose on July 15, 2015 at 16:43

I suspect this has something to do with it - http://www.london-fire.gov.uk/news/LatestNewsReleases_Twojailedafte... 

The former manager and the leaseholder have just been sentenced to six months in prison each for putting lives at risk by breaking fire safety laws. Disabled smoke alarms, inadequate fire detection and defective fire doors led one senior Brigade officer to describe the pub as a "death trap."

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Permalink Reply by Richard Matz on July 16, 2015 at 9:44

Damn! Recent attempts to provide a sports bar/club night atmosphere/live music venue for cover bands were IMO poorly pitched for the area, although the interior refurb is good. The hard financial reality of the modern pub trade is that you need a mixed economy of drinkers and especially diners to remain viable.

Mitchells & Butlers seem to understand this with their recent expansions in the area (The Ranelagh, Starting Gate & Maid of Muswell) but, unfortunately, the result is insipid uninspiring middle-class gastros. I'd sooner see an outfit like M&Bs make some kind of go of it tho than continue to see what should be my (very) local remain derelict. I plan to report the premises as 'a pub at risk' to CAMRA, and hope for a more imaginative approach to its future. I really regret not having the time or financial resources to get more pro-actively involved.

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