please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
A pub in Islington cancelled our wedding reception 4 days before we were due to hold it! We were devastated but amazingly, The Prince stepped in at the last minute. The staff were incredible and so accomodating to all the plans we'd already made. We had a better evening than we could ever imagined and all of our guests absolutely loved the pub. An excellent choice of beer and we've been back to sample the Sunday roasts and they've been amazing. Just couldnt recommend this pub any higher.
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The Prince is one of the best-looking pubs in N16, hidden-away on a back street... The food is really tip top, and it's the big draw - I don't think it can really compare to the atmosphere of the old Stoke Tup/The Lion or the Shakespeare... but lunch (never cheap) is always of a very high quality. It's certainly in a different league from the Rose and Crown and the like.
This being Stoke Newington, there's always one table of awful parents who think it's fine to take Maisie, Olly and their six toddler friends to the pub for the whole afternoon and run riot, like a pre-school version of Lord of the Flies on speed. Can't they just all stick to the Three Crowns (the biggest creche in north London) and leave us in peace!? The Daniel Defoe is on to such a winner by banning kids. You know chaps, you can't have kids and expect to still have the same life you did before... (although apparently in N16, you can!).
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My friend had her 30th here, I was actually really impressed. The food was great, a constant flow of canapes. There was a friendly atmosphere throughout the evening, a great selection of ales. I will be sure to check out the sunday roast!
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Just another (middle) class concious 'yummy mummy' pub/creche.
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Staff have always been cheerful and friendly when I have visited. Despite it's modern refurbishment it's still an inviting place in a nice quiet residential street in Stoke Newington.
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Rather nice actually. Beer is well kept and the staff seem friendly enough.
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We have visited The Prince a couple of times before but after today's Sunday lunch, I have promised myself not to return. I was never able to put my finger on what was missing, until now.
Happily Stoke Newington has a glut of excellent eateries and a person would therefore assume each establishment would try a little harder to vie for custom. This place seems to rely on its back street cosy location and faux gastro pub status with funky metallic bar (damp - use a cloth!) and thinks it doesn't have to do much else to attract business.
The food wasn't outstanding but palatable, although the portions big. The vegetables seemed microwaved and my friend thought her sausages were bland, but the gravy and the crispy roast potatoes were delicious. All in all average fayre really.
The main problem for me, were the staff. Two of them especially displaying a certain well-honed aloof manner, and bordering on offensive indifference in our being there. This crescendo-ed on my paying the (over-priced) bill. The 'Thank you' was uttered but I was stared right through with a chilling lack of human interaction.
The staff coupled with the sterile atmosphere and bland choice in music (I am from originally from Liverpool and tremendously proud of my heritage, but there is only so much back to back Beatles even I can take) made my mind up never to return.
I say save yourself a few pennies and go somewhere warmer in atmosphere and marginally cheaper like the Londesborough or the Daniel Defoe where the manager cracks a joke as he pours your pint.
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One of those deepy annoying pubs that I occasionally come across, where they won't serve you a pint of Leffe. What do they think is going to happen? Some sort of terrorist incident? The surly-faced barmaid even said she'd give me two half-pints instead. What the f&%* is the point of that?!
The Prince is quite a nice pub, but here's a tip or two: Bar staff - lose the attitude. Smile from time-to-time. Also, give your customers what they want and they'll come back. Or lose them.
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The new management do seem to be focussing on serving(very expensive, but usually delicious) food rather than encouraging people to just come for a drink. I'm glad that they are finally sorting out the Ladies loos which were frankly a disgrace. Also, bring back the music quiz! (but with a less annoying compere in charge of proceedings).
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Just to say a massive THANK YOU to the new owner who has only had The Prince for a few months but has already transformed the ladies toilet. I have waited 5 years for that cupboard door in the ladies to be fixed and basic hygiene facilities such as soap/ towels/ even a toilet door to be added and finally the day has arrived!!
I am a happy customer of The Prince once more. This is a great relief because due to the NO CHIPS policy at The Londesborough, I will be a much more regular customer of The Prince.
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Please not that under environmental health regulations, animals are not allowed to bepresent while food service is in progress, this does not just apply to restaurants but all eateries
The guys at the Prince should not be slagged off for doing the job correctly and conforming with EHO regulations.
Take your dog to the park where he or she can get some excercise or do u crave a pint more than walking your dog
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Used to be a nice pub, hasn't changed much physically but its all gone a bit stiff. Tables all laid up for eating, what happens if you just want a couple of beers? no longer welcome? My main gripe; they don't let dogs in because its a 'food based pub'. Well if anyone requires the company of a kanine whilst drinking/eating out here are a few dog friendly 'food based' alternatives that still keep it real:
the cow, junction tavern, jt. johns, engineer, landsdowne, lord stanley, lord palmerston, the star, the vine, duke of cambridge, the queens, victoria stakes, the cat and mutton, the royal oak, the dove, the fox etc. etc. There are of course loads more as well as all the fantastic non food based pubs, nearly all of whom let dogs in.
Pull your head out of your back side the prince!
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Went here on Tuesday with a couple of mates for the weekly pop quiz. They had no ale on tap. Two of us had Guinness while the third opted for San Miguel. Then the San Miguel ran out. I asked the man who seemed to be 'in charge' what had happened to the beer and he said, in a less than apologetic voice 'it all decided to walk at the same time'. I said 'Excuse me?' and he repeated this 'joke' then said they were getting a delivery the next day, which is of course, completely irrelevant. On nearly every previous visit, at least one of the ales has run out and hasn't been replaced. I come here for the quiz but I would say if you are a real ale drinker, don't waste your time on this place.
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Expensive and overrated. Has the potential to be great but falls short. Depressing back garden and dramatically overpriced food.
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I had a similar experience in this pub to lowroader. After finding a table (once the 'dumb' waiter had made up his mind that we could sit there) we were given menu's and kindly informed that there would be a long wait for food. Were ok with this as we had our drinks and had spent most of new years day trying to find a pub to eat in that wasn't full. Decided what we all wanted to eat, and waited for a waiter to come and take our order. About 10 minutes passed and a female waitress and our male waiter saw that we were eager to put our order in and were told that the long wait was just to order food, not the wait for your food to come! Apparently if the chef gets given too many orders he gets upset! Seems to me that they've got their priorities wrong. Told us that they would try their best to come back to us but couldn't guarantee it as the kitchen was closing in an hour and there was already a backlog of orders. If this was the case, then why couldn't they have told us before we ordered our drinks that the kitchen would be closing soon and might not get served any food? Then we could have spent the wasted time eating in the Defoe instead.
But what really did it for me was the rude attitude of the male waiter who had the cheek to make us pay for our hardly touched drinks. Explained to him that he misinformed us and that we weren't going to pay for the drinks. He wouldn't have any of it and when I argued with him he just made one of those faces at me that kids used to do to imply that you are a thicko. This made up my mind to walk straight out the door and I vow never to return, no matter how good the food is. We're spoilt for choice for decent places to eat and most of them aren't over priced or pretentious.
anonymous - 1 Jan 2007 22:11 |
low quality of eateries? have you actually ever been to N16?
The food is good in this place, a bit pricy, but the roasts on a sunday are great. Friendly staff, quite laid back, gets a bit too family friendly at the weekends but not a problem
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I agree with Katman. The food is patchy but the place is much better than it used to be. But given the general low quality of eateries around N16 this place is good and has a lot of potential to be be a bit of a leader around here.
anonymous - 13 Sep 2006 17:27 |
Its a gastropub. What price quality - there is very little of quality food in stoke newington, this has it - although it is patchy. Its irritating to come here for a beer, but if you're hungry its the best place in the neighbourhood. If you fancy a beer, then go to the rose, defoe, tup or londesborough.
Staff are great, service is OK. This place has huge potential.
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I'd certainly agree with the comments made suggesting that the Prince needs to make up their mind about where they're going. the prince has a back section which i thought was meant to be for diners- however, on nights like quiz night, this is often less than full, while there are tables reserved in the main section for diners. its frustrating to find a pub that offers quiz but doesn't offer the space for quiz-goers to actually sit and drink. the prince has some great members of staff, but local drinkers can't be expected to stay loyal because of that.
anonymous - 14 Feb 2006 16:45 |
The reason people can't get tables here is not because they don't get there early enough (michelle74), it's because they are in the main reserved for diners. You can't reserve a table if you just want to spend the evening drinking. That's the rule
anonymous - 14 Feb 2006 16:18 |
Went to the Prince on Sunday night having read good things about the food. We went early and booked a table - and the place was certainly buzzing, so it was good to book. However my food was over priced and utterly flavourless. The risotto was cooked to the texture of rice pudding and had no flavour at all. My friends food was average at best. We had only one course and a bottle of wine, and the bill was what you would expect in the area for two courses with wine. The staff were lovely, and the service good. But the lights above the bar are way too bright, and as there is no place for the drinkers to go, they stand six deep at the bar... that can't be nice. Oh and finally - all the tables seem to be for four, so everyone who like us booked a table for two was given a table for four. That's got to be irritating if you're stood at the bar waiting for people to finish...
anonymous - 1 Feb 2006 04:12 |
Having read the comments about The Prince, I felt I must add my view. The new owners have been there for 2 years now, and have brought the place back from the pits. Yes, the decor in the main bar is as the previous owner chose in his clearly drunken haze, but it will change we are assured! As for the food, yes it is a touch pricey, but what price quality? The sunday roast is the best I've ever eaten outside of my mum's house. The staff are fantastic, always smiling and very helpful. And the music quiz on Tuesday nights is a riot. Excellent range of stuff and frequented by a great crowd. The reason you can't get a table (BEBE) is because it's popular and you need to get there earlier! In summary, an all round generally nice place to eat/drink/be merry.
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The Prince seems to be experiencing an identity crisis. The current owners have been steering what was a quality local into a dining room, where you have to reserve a table inorder to secure a seat in the bar. if you are just drinking, forget it as you can only reserve if you are dining. This policy has seen loyal drinkers leave the pub in droves which is a shame as a pub withpout regulars quickly loses atmosphere and character. Even on Tuesday quiz nights, diners are given priority over drinkers, therefore unless you want to spend on average �12 for a main course on dinner you won't be able to take part as there are no seats. It makes no sense. Regulars have been voting with their feet and are heading off to the Rose and Crown instead.The management need to decide whether The Prince is a pub or a restaurant. If they need any help deciding, it's safe to say that the local's want a pub. The bar staff are lovely though!
anonymous - 26 Jan 2006 14:31 |
This is an amazing pub with great food, a superb music quiz on Tuesdays and a really friendly atmosphere. One of the best in Stokey! Higly recommended!
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Great pub, always a good atmosphere in there, friendly staff, nice part of adnams, a little pricy would be my only negative...
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Serves some of the best pub food around. Nice selection of beers too, hoegaarden and staropramen. Dj on a friday playing some cooln tunes.
Jaysun - 8 Sep 2004 23:18 |
Went to The Prince for the first time in years last night and had the best pub night out I have had in ages! Didn't eat but food looked amazing. Best pint of Adnams around!! My new local.
Mark - 14 Aug 2004 13:36 |
Used to hate it but new owners and chef are doing amazingly.
Kerry - 19 Jul 2004 16:49 |
We live very close to this pub. Went there for sunday lunch the other day, the yorkshire puddings were amazing! New owners and new chef might take a while to settle in, but I think it'll get better as more people go there. Graet for families!
Simon - 21 May 2004 14:35 |
Recently been taken over by the people who owned The Tup, so the music quiz has been transferred there... not sure if they still own the Tup too.
Pauly - 18 Feb 2004 15:26 |
Very expensive and, to be frank, a bit tiresome in its effort to be something other than that which it so clearly is.
anonymous - 26 Nov 2003 14:37 |
