The Princess Of Wales

AlexWoods

Great pub, good food, great jazz! 8th April 2009

2 found this helpful

I love the Princess of Wales. It's in a most beautiful location, a little bit off the beaten track but surrounded by the "glamour" of Primrose Hill and but a stones through away from Regents Canal and the hustle and bustle of Camden Town.

There is very little hustle and bustle about the Princess of Wales though. It gets pretty busy in the evenings and at weekends but you never lose a sense of tranquility and peacefulness. It feels as though Time has just kicked back a little bit, but his feet on a stool and decided that it's time to just....relax.

The pub itself is beautiful. It is glass fronted with a generous provision of tables outside, though quite often The Dorris and I take to sitting on the kerb to bask in the sunshine.

Inside the pub is slightly reminiscent of Uncle Monty's living room in "Withnail and I", just without the cat - the walls are festooned with pictures, commemorative plates, horse brasses, all manner of delightful tat. Pot plants and flowers are everywhere and there is a snug with the most impressive collection of cookery and travelling books.

I've been visiting the Princess of Wales on occasion for several years, though it's only recently, having moved to the area and patronising this most excellent pub, that I have discovered that there is a Downstairs. A more cosy, intimate little spot I can hardly imagine, it's just charming. It leads out to a sunken beer garden which I've yet to spend much time in though I suspect it gets little sun.

They boast a really good selection of beer - London Pride and Adnam's Best appear to be the norm, and a regularly changing guest - most recently I've been enjoying an excellent Brain's beer, Milkwood.

They also boast a cask cider (not for the light hearted) and a decent selection of lagers. The wine always seems decent as well, though I've never seen a list as such.

The food is pretty standard pub fare, but done very well. I can highly recommend their burgers! I haven't eaten there on a Sunday before though I am assured that they do a very fine roast.
One of the best things about this pub is the music. On Thursday evenings and Sunday afternoons they have a swing band, fronted by a trumpeter who I'm pretty sure is Humph's grandfather, who are thoroughly entertaining and very good. I've paid good money to see worse jazz bands in my time, they really are great and it's a wonderful, wonderful way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

The clientele is pretty eclectic. Being where it is there is a smattering of the well-heeled, a fair number of youngsters and studenty types, a good local crowd but all are very friendly and welcoming.

It's such a comfortable, pleasant pub I fully intend to go far more often. In fact, seeing as I'm on holiday and it's nearly opening time I might just wander over for a pint now.

bakerga1

Great 24th October 2008

0 found this helpful

A lovely place, but does get busy. Fantastic food and live jazz on a Sunday