Princess of Wales, Primrose Hill

Our rating: FAP Rating 3 - Click for an explanation of our ratings User rating: Community Rating 4 - Click for an explanation of our ratings (3 reviews)
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FancyaPint?'s review...
FAP Rating 3 - Click for an explanation of our ratings
For years the Princess of Wales has been a favourite of ours; having been missed in the trendification of Primrose Hill we spent many a happy afternoon in here. Indeed, it won the coveted overall winner in Fancyapint's 2008 awards. Well sadly, the long standing landlady moved on in 2009, but thus far the changes haven't been too dramatic. It is still the traditional, friendly and relaxed local it always was. There are large windows at the front (which fold back for summer) and cosy nooks and crannies towards the back and in the basement. The most obvious change under the news owners is that the once under-utilised garden has been transformed. The back wall outside is littered with scores of mirrors and the local emulsion supplier can probably retire now. Indeed a recent intruder there has also garnered a fair amount of publicity. For reasons we can't explain, staff now wear uniform black shirts, but actual staff attentiveness was sadly rather lacking. Meanwhile while on the food front, there is an (over) extended Italian themed menu; the Sunday Lunch we last tried here was probably best described as 'acceptable'. The choice of ales wasn't amazing, either, with just Pride and one guest to choose from. Despite this, The Princess of Wales is still a quality pub, with a largely unpretentious, mixed crowd of punters, headed up by a gaggle of older Primrose Hill residents who usually prop up the large circular bar to the Sunday jazz sessions. We will however will keep a close eye on proceedings here; the last thing Primrose Hill needs is another Lansdowne or Engineer.
Review: 4 out of 4 people found this review helpful
Reviewed by 08 Nov 2011    Helpful? yes/no
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01 Nov 2011
Rating 4 - Click for an explanation of our ratings
The 'over-long Italian themed menu' should read an extremely good fresh Italian menu put together by the owner's (Italian) wife which is available througout the day till ten... while also remaining affordably priced. The economics of the place are gravity-defying. Unless you have some kind of weirdly jingoistic policy of only reviewing places for their Sunday roasts, I suggest you go there and order from the 'over-long Italian-themed menu' before delivering a backhanded and unresearched insult like that.
Review: 2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
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08 Mar 2009
Not rated yet! - Click for an explanation of our ratings
The (long-standing) bar-staff here are horribly disorganised. They haven't got a clue who is waiting to be served, let alone the order of customers' arrival. There is never any recognition of customers' presence or hint of "I'll be with you in a moment". Today I waited and was ignored for well over ten minutes before I gave up and sat down again. My girlfriend eventually got their attention by going to the bar and literally shouting "CAVA" at them! Food orders arrive from the kitchen and often stand, uncollected, for ten to fifteen minutes. About once every hour, someone might saunter around to collect empty glasses and dirty plates that have been there for 45 minutes. Staff need to wake up and they should be properly managed. Visiting this pub is a horrible experience and I simply wouldn't bother if it weren't for the Sunday afternoon jazz (not Sunday evening as shown on the pub profile, by the way). Unless you are a jazz freak and prepared to put up with a lot of hassle and frustration, give this place a miss.
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Contact details

22 Chalcot Road, Primrose Hill, London, NW1 8LL

020 7722 0354
theprincessofwales@btinternet.com

Events:

Quiz night - quiz night Tuesday

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How to find the Princess of Wales pub

Right out of the tube, take the 1st turning on the left (Bridge Approach) and straight across the large pedestrian bridge at the end. Go left onto Gloucester Road and the first right onto Fitzroy Road. Its 100 metres on the left. 5 minutes walk.

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History
08 Nov 11 Updated by septic