From the https://www.kentonline.co.uk  By Nicola Jordan, 9 December 2021.

The Prince of Wales in Strood High Street on the market for £650,000.

One of the last surviving pubs in a town centre is up for sale.

The Prince of Wales in Strood High Street is on the market for £650,000 and, despite the demise of the licensing trade, there is hope it may still remain a boozer.

Peter Gillard calls time after 33 years.

Peter and Kathleen Gillard, now both 85, and arguably Medway's oldest licensees, have finally called time after 33 years.

Apart from their ages, Covid put paid to the business which closed for a year during lockdown. In its heyday it did a roaring trade beating off stiff competition from what were more than 20 hostelries in the town.

By day it served up lunches to the hundreds of council workers who were based in the old riverside quarters next door. By night it was a popular live music venue featuring rock n' roll bands and 50's music.

Indeed it's still open on Friday and Saturday night for loyal customers to boogey the night away.

Peter, a father-of-four, took redundancy from his job as an artist for the Daily Mirror and bought the pub in the High Street for £200,000.

He said :"We moved from London and had never been to Medway before. We bought it because Kathleen is Irish and it was an Irish pub."

Granddad Peter said it was "rundown and filthy" and the couple refurbished it, building up trade and living in an apartment upstairs.

He said:"We have our regulars, some of them have been coming here since the start. People come as far away as Hastings to our rock 'n' roll nights."

Peter recalls many changes in the town over three decades including the closure of pubs in the town.

A member of the Medway Licensed Victuallers' Association, he said: "The British pub is an institution, so I hope it stays a pub.

Rock 'n roll fan and publican, Peter Gillard.

"There's a lot going for Strood, it's up and coming and has more shops than Rochester."

Now the couple are looking forward to their retirement, hopefully in warmer climes.

The Only Fools and Horses fan , said: "I want to sit in the sun with a Pina Colada watching Delboy."

Adam Miles, from the Acorn Group, said there had been interest from potential buyers since it went on the books six weeks ago.

He said: "It would work as a pub, but perhaps not the traditional wet pub. Perhaps something a bit quirky like a cocktail bar or a food based venue."

Mr Miles added: "It's on the wrong side of Rochester Bridge, but its proximity to Rochester helps. There's also a lot of redevelopment going on in Strood and it has good links to London and the motorway.

Mr Miles said the proposed riverside development on the Esplanade in Strood would also prove an attraction.

The Prince of Wales comes with a two bedroom flat including a kitchen, bathroom and reception room.

At the back there is a five-bedroomed housing for multiple occupancy block with separate entrance, shared kitchen, bathroom and toilet facilities. There is planning permission for two additional apartments.

The property is not listed or within a conservation area adding further flexiblity for redevelopment.

Acorn has recently opened a branch in Strood and Rainham.

From the https://www.kentonline.co.uk By Amy Tregenna, 6 April 2023.

Rock 'n' Roll pub Prince of Wales in Strood High Street closes after building is finally sold.

A pub has closed its doors for the last time, two years after the landlord first revealed plans to sell the site.

The Prince of Wales in Strood High Street held its final rock and roll night after going on the market for £650,000 in late 2021 when publicans Peter and Kathleen Gillard decided to call time after more than three decades at the venue.

The pub is well-known as a live music venue hosting rock 'n' roll bands and 50s music.

The pair had regular visitors to their rock 'n' roll nights, with some who had been attending from the very start.

Peter said people had come from as far away as Hastings to attend the venue's live music nights on Fridays and Saturdays.

It was taken off the market around April last year when it was on the books for £575,000, but has now been sold, with the sale being finalised last week.

Peter first bought the pub for £200,000 when he took redundancy from his job as an artist for the Daily Mirror.

Rock 'n' roll fans gathered to see the Strood Prince of Wales pub out on its final night. Picture: Steve Mullane.

The pair, now in their 80s, moved from London and had never been to Medway before, but bought the pub because Kathleen is Irish, and it was an Irish pub.

On his retirement, avid Only Fools and Horses fan Peter said: "I feel brilliant. We've been there 35 years so we're happy to retire now.

"We're going to sit on the beach with Del Boy sipping piña coladas."

The grandfather says he does not know what the new buyer plans to do with the building.

Five-piece band Rockhouse played the venue out on its final night, saying in a Facebook post: "We were very sad but very proud to be playing at the last night of the Prince of Wales, Strood.

Five-piece band Rockhouse performed on the Prince of Wales pub's final night. Picture: Steve Mullane.

Five-piece band Rockhouse performed on the Prince of Wales pub's final night. Picture: Steve Mullane.

"There was a great turn out of Pete and Kath's friends that had come to give them a fantastic rocking send off for their retirement. So many that they were dancing on the pavement and in the road outside.

"On behalf of all the bands and the crowd that have supported Pete and Kathy over the years, we would like wish them them very long and happy retirement. We hope to see them in the future.

"At the end of the evening they told us they loved the bands on the Rock 'n' Roll nights and would be going out to rocking events in the future.

"They also said that they had booked us for the last night because we were their favourite band. We were extra proud and chuffed to bits."

Loyal customer Kim Tindal said: "This was a sad day for all that have used this pub and made some long-lasting friends. It was a very sad but very rocking evening.

Guests danced as band Rockhouse performed on the Prince of Wales pub's closing night. Picture: Steve Mullane.

"It was a place where I made friends for life, I’m still friends with Linda Powell, and we used to dance the night away!

"It was something when you went past and there were motorbikes parked outside, and a big crowd of people outside, lovely memories. So very sad that it’s closed now."

From the https://www.kentonline.co.uk By Alex Langridge, 7 May 2023.

Rock ‘n’ Roll pub The Prince of Wales, in Strood High Street, could become a restaurant.

Plans have been drawn up to transform a rock ‘n’ roll pub into a restaurant.

The Prince of Wales, in Strood High Street, closed its doors for the last time in April and held its final rock and roll night.

The boozer was put up on the market for £650,000 in late 2021 when publicans Peter and Kathleen Gillard decided to call time after more than three decades.

It was well-known as a live music venue hosting rock 'n' roll bands and 50s music with people coming as far away as Hastings to attend.

Peter first bought the pub for £200,000 when he took redundancy from his job as an artist for the Daily Mirror.

On his retirement, avid Only Fools and Horses fan Peter said: "I feel brilliant. We have been there 35 years so we are happy to retire now. We are going to sit on the beach with Del Boy sipping piña coladas."

The new owners have now submitted an application to Medway Council to convert the ground floor of the public house into a restaurant and install a new shop front.

If approved, the applicants will create a bigger dining area, a new kitchen and move the men and women’s toilets.

It will also see the removal of The Prince of Wales sign out the front of the building.

You can view the plans on the council’s planning portal here or by searching for reference number MC/23/0980.

It is not yet been revealed what type of restaurant will be created if the plans are given the green light.

From the https://www.kentonline.co.uk By Alex Langridge, 10 August 2023.

Work starts of The Prince of Wales pub in Strood High Street.

Work has started to transform a former rock ‘n’ roll pub into a restaurant.

Plans to convert the ground floor of The Prince of Wales, in Strood High Street, were submitted to Medway Council earlier this year.

Work has started on the former pub.

The application has since been approved by council officers who said the change would “allow a vacant business to be brought back into use,” in their report.

It added: “The applicant has provided evidence that the property had been marketed to continue trading as a public house, but this was unsuccessful.

“Therefore, is seeking to convert the property to accommodate a restaurant as this seems a more prudent business opportunity.”

They said the restaurant will also result in job opportunities.

Work has already started to create a bigger dining area and a new kitchen area as scaffolding is put up around the building.

It is not yet known when the restaurant will open or what it will be serving.

The Prince of Wales closed its doors for the last time in April and held its final rock ‘n’ roll night.

It was put up on the market for £650,000 in late 2021 when publicans Peter and Kathleen Gillard decided to call time after more than three decades.

It was well-known as a live music venue hosting rock 'n' roll bands and 50s music with people coming as far away as Hastings to attend.