please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Very good pub tucked away behind the ICC. I often pop in here after work at the Barclay Card Arena.
Traditional boozer and always a warm welcom. Gets quite crowded at weekend evenings.
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It's okay. Nothing special and a bit more variety in the Duchard/Purity/Black Sheep etc choice would have been welcomed but it seemed a friendly enough pub with a few regulars dotted around on a late afternoon. It's certainly better than anywhere else in the vicinity of the hell-hole that is Broad Street.
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It`s a trad looking pub in the shadow of a very large concrete convention centre. Haven`t been in here for years..not since the Flapper and Firkin days across the road. Well it`s a tidy little boozer, nice ambience, nice beer at a reasonable price, special cheapy food menu and friendly service. It`s not a total mission to get to really, 15 mins walk from Snow Hiil Station with a goodly few pubs on the way...worth a punt.
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Called in last week and got a surprise. No longer a traditional style pub the Prince of Wales has been gentrified to look like any other pub in any other city centre. A shame as the charm of the place was always in its traditional pub style, which you don't get much in Birmingham anymore, or pretty much at all now this place has been done up.
Very good selection of beers were on offer though as always which was good. Place was about half full on a week night. We would have stayed longer but the place was freezing, couldn't take our coats off and saw a couple of people with their hats on too, so we headed off for warmer climbs. Have to say I don't think I'd go out of my way to go there again after doing so last week.
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A period remnant, among the mixture of post-modern and brutalist development in the area, and very welcome as such.
Good range of real ales and hearty lunches when I've been there. The friendly, unpretentious local clientele mixes easily with overspill from conferences and events nearby.
I thought the interior was comfortably lived-in.
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Pleasant locals pub with a modern interior, an L-shaped bar and a reasonable selection of ales. On my Saturday lunchtime visit, the beers were Caledonian Deuchars IPA, Enville Ale, Purity Mad Goose, Timothy Taylor Landlord, Hook Norton Old Hooky, Black Sheep Best Bitter, Tetley Dark Mild & St Austell Tribute. The Enville Ale was fine. Service was also friendly and efficient. No sign of any live music, whilst I was there.
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6th, and final, stop on JQ crawl last night. Was only really looking for one on the way back to the station and not expecting much but this is an excellent boozer, and (judging by other accounts) even better if you're looking for live music at other times in the week. Think there were 7 or 8 ales on, of which we tried 4 between us and all met with approval. Next time we're over here for a concert or something I'll certainly try to find it again.
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Just along from the NIA sits the Prince, a small traditional back street Victorian boozer and a rare gem. Visited on a Wednesday night, and it was busy with locals laughing and joking adding to a great atmosphere. Even as an "outsider" I felt at home.
Mad Goose was off, so I went for Tribute, which was good. There was Deuchars and Bombadier as well. One of the locals at the bar turned out to be the guv`nor, who I asume was Steve. He ribbed me about ordering an orange juice, until I explained that I`d already had a pint and was about to face a 70 mile drive, so nodded sagely.
Meals are off, pending a "re-evaluation" and the for sale sign is still on the side of the building so ? . However, the music nights are still going, open mic night on Thursday, and Jazz on Saturday.
I urge you to go when next in Brum. I wish it was my local.
All Hail the Prince.
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Great ale, live music and friendly staff ... what more could a girl ask for!
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Cracking little boozer, it is a shame that more folks do not know about this and instead go to the plastic pubs in Brindley Place. If you like your real ales and fantastic bands, come on over.
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Hi everyone. Looking for great live music with your beer, and very friendly crowd, come to the Prince. We have live bands Sundays 4-7pm rock 'n' roll or rock/blues. All free. Come a couple of times and you'll be part of our family!
For all you musicians and songwriters, we have an Open Mike every Thursday eve from 8.30pm, free entry, everyone welcome, bring your instrument or your voice, we have a PA at the venue. Or come to listen to our very talented regular
perfomers.
If jazz is your bag, come and hear great sax player Steve Ajao and his Club Bebop every Saturday eve, also free.
Our landlord Steve is a very friendly guy and if you're a muso...well, just come and see for yourself!!
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Update of my review posted October 2008. Pleased to report a massive improvement in staff attitude and service, as well as maintaining it's high standard for 8 well kept cask ales. I can now recommend this much more confidently, but Sunday afternoons are still best avoided if you are not a fan of pubs that are rammed almost to the point of being a health and safety risk.
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Worth searching out behind the Symphony Hall. A good victorian pub with excellent beer.
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One could be forgiven for imagining that this might be just another average Victorian boozer in a city where such places are common and often have little to distinguish them from each other, as they are so often run by characterless pub companies. I would say think again, as although this is clearly a pubco-owned establishment, it is well-kept, friendly, and has a decent range of cask ale on for those who prize good beer.
The pub's interior is wood-panelled and fits the cosy atmosphere that exists here on a busier night.
The licensee and staff were chatty and welcoming as all 8 of us sauntered it not quite sure what to expect. We were served promptly with various good ales, including TT Landlord and Ansells Mild - which even the licensee had thought to have been extinct! It was actually rather tasty and a good starter-for-ten as it were. Posters indicated that the pub is part of a scheme which rotates various - seemingly random - beers from around the UK and provides thorough tasting notes according to the Cyclops system, so this should give local drinkers an insight into what lies beyond the boundaries of Brum as well as within.
The clientele were a mixed but seemingly respectable bunch; again all were found to be agreeable in their demeanours. The sad thing was however, that there just weren't enough of them, especially as it was a Saturday evening. One has to wonder how much trade the POW gets now, particularly as it stands as one of the last bastions of Victorian architecture in an otherwise bland and callously-redeveloped area which could be anywhere. The nearby Mailbox development and Gas Street Basin area draws all the younger custom, and I doubt there's enough older folk around the area to keep it going indefinitely. Indeed, we noticed a for sale notice attached to the building's side, so who knows?
I'd say make the best of this while you still can, as despite its good points, its future is far from assured.
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Prompt, friendly service, a good beer at a reasonable price in a clean,tidy, traditional pub. What else could you ask for?
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Decent beer, good music. Nice clientele and staff.
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Good local near the NIA. lots of hand pumps and good company.
Even got talking to me, a stranger in their midst. If the locals read this i had the Uni scarf on, from debenhams.The wing commander asked which Uni i was from.
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Fine traditional pub situated in what is known as The Convention Quarter of Birmingham.Despite being close to the National Indoor Arena and the Repertory Theatre, it occupies a slightly isolated position behind these buildings and away from the main hustle and bustle and "yoof" bars of Broad Street.
It's a Festival Ale House and, on my recent early evening visit, was offering a variety of mainstream real ales - Deuchars IPA, London Pride, Bombardier, Landlord etc, plus Brains and Ansells Mild. The Deuchars IPA - � 2.7Op - was in good nick. The pub is listed in the 2010 GBG.
The pub is traditionally furnished and decorated - wood panelling, frosted glass etc - and seemingly well run. On my recent Thursday evening visit, the pub was quite busy, mainly with locals and regulars, and there was a lively and welcoming atmosphere. It is therefore disappointing - and perhaps surprising - to report that there are still Estate Agents boards outside offering a "Leasehold Business for Sale".
It's not a must visit pub, but I quite liked this one and you could do much worse than seek it out.
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Looked a bit blokey and rough in there last Friday so walked on by. Maybe it was something to do with The Arctic Monkeys being on at the NIA.
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The last time I was in here until yesterday was 2 years ago and I�m pretty sure the same beers were on then as they were yesterday. It�s got a good looking exterior and inside it�s full of decent wood panelling, wood partitions and glass. There are loads of interesting things hanging on the walls and sat on the numerous ledges. The barmaid was very efficient despite having to deal with a load of girlies calling in for Blue WKDs whilst queuing for a concert at the ICC nearby. They have live bands on a Sunday usually jazz and swing. There are eight handpumps Ansell�s Mild, Deuchars, Pride, TT Landlord, Brains SA, St Austell Tribute, Adnam�s Regatta and Bombardier. I had a pint of the mild which was excellent as usual. It�s a good pub which sadly appears to be up for sale.
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Traditional boozer, ideal for good ales near the NIA and ICC without taking out a second mortgage for a pint. Lively mix of punters, reasonable service and good choice of beers. The TT Landlord and Brains were very agreeable.
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This is a very good pub, but it frustrates me a little. I have been in when busy and quiet over the years.
The pub is traditional, with good historic photos and memorabilia. I have always found the staff, busy, or not, just do their job, neither friendly, or miserable.
The beer choice is good, but on the real ale side, half of what they put on are safe bets; Timothy Taylor Landlord, Wells Bombardier, Fuller's London Pride, Deuchars IPA. The others include St Austell Tribute, Brains Bitter and Golden Hare. They also do an excellent Ansells' MILD.
At the end of the day, i would never say no to a visit and it is the best place near to the fake-tan mile that is Broad St.
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With just a little more effort this could be a great pub rather than just a good one. Just a little too often I've encountered indifferent service, or as in a recent case the barstaff chatted away to regulars whilst pouring my drink, taking my money, returning my change without the slightest in the way of civil acknowledgement. On more than one occasion the Prince has played host to loud corporate boorish types who drag the chairs and barstools all over the place, amd clog up any potential space around the bar. Also I once saw the most blatant examples of pricing on the hoof as the barman changed his mind three times about how much our round was going to cost (going up each time). Well there were the gripes, honestly reported and without any sense of satisfaction because it has considerable attractions. The ales - including Bombadiers and Taylors - are consistently well kept; you can nearly always get a seat; it has a mixed clientele, you shoudn't feel out of place; it's Sunday afternoon acoustic sessions are semi-legendary; and it's the nearest and best oasis from living life to the max on Broad Street within walking distance. So always worth a trip, but sometimes just lacking that something extra.
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Ignore my last review - I had the wrong Prince of Wales. Have asked BITE to remove it, but they haven't...
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Hats off to the new owners - they've turned an average pub into a cracking one. Beer range is now much wider and better-quality, and they've now made the most of the large back garden with a big covered drinking area and food of a weekend.
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A nice friendly traditional pub, a good range of real ales, had bombardier,tangle foot and broadside all well kept. Food was good and reasonably priced. Will go again on a next visit to Birmingham. Well done to the landlord.
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If you haven't been to the Prince of Wales, then make sure you make the time to visit it. Lovely pub, lovely beer and brilliant bar staff!
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What I like about this place apart from the beer is that it is a traditional pub with a traditional pub feel about it which is very welcome in such a changing modern city. I often pop in when I'm in Brum. Long may it continue.
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I have to agree with the other reviewers... A very pleasant, quite traditional little pub. It was good an busy when I visited (about 7:00pm on a Tuesday eve), with a friendly busseling crowd of regulars and the obvious after work drinkers. However, there were still seats to be had, and we were quickly served at the bar. They have a nice choice of beers on, and the two I tried were well kept. A very enjoyable place to visit, and if i lived more locally I'm sure I'd make it a regular calling in point.
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The Prince of Wales had been recommended to me previously but it was only on my recent visit to Birmingham that I was able to search it out. It is close to the Broad St area but didn�t seem to have the chav like clientele that abounds there most evenings. The National Indoor Arena is also close by. The pub itself is an uncomplicated traditional boozer that has moved with the times but managed to retain its charm. One of those pubs where its character comes from its regulars not the d�cor. Excellent choice and quality of real ales, I believe it is GBG listed. Great pub and I�ll go there again.
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Great little pub. Good beer, friendly bar staff (I got ID'd and it cheered me up no end, being 29 I haven't been ID's in years, it was great)well priced, the food looked nice but annoying we went to the Black Eagle for food and wasted our time, money and tastbuds. I hadn't been here for years but I'll be going to the Prince of Wales again very soon.
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I have only visited this place a couple of times but i found the beer to be well kept,a cracking pint of ansells mild.
It is a trad back st boozer where none of your pretentios broad st wannabes would dare enter.
The food is exellant value as well.
The only problem being very small it gets rammed easly at weekends.
anonymous - 26 Mar 2007 17:37 |
Went In here b4 a concert over the road @ the NIA. Pub was absolutely wedged as there was some irish band playing, but a pint of Ansells Mild was had. 7/10
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If visint broa street birmingham looking for well kept beer and a genuine pub, dont look any further, have visited here many times, beer always good, a good range, and a CAMRA pub to boot, clean, cosy and nothing like the posy bars and crowded broad street hype. A vist here is worthwhile.
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Carl Chinns recent pub crawl started here. Had an excellent pint of hand pulled Ansells MILD. A really pleasant pub and a very good atmosphere. Commented on Carls choice of beer, a pint of MILD, and was then invited to follow his party to the next pub, the Shakespeare, yuk no MILD.
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This pub has got very nice staff, a good selection of real ale and also a lovely tradition interior. Should impress those who like traditional pubs and ale. It is, like most of the best pubs in Birmingham, hidden away. One of my favourates. Definitly worth a visit for anyone looking for real ale and a nice pub.
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I'm rather fond of this place. It really seems like some sort of haven tucked away behind the horror of Broad Street. A good old fashioned pub with real beer and real people. It doesn't get much more traditional than when the food menu includes faggotts and peas. Forsake Broad Street! Long live the Prince of Wales!
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A real pub with real prices !! hidden away from the mess and rip off broad street . Great real ale selection and good food at lunch
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