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From the
https://www.kentonline.co.uk By Secret Drinker, 21 February 2025.
Secret Drinker reviews the Prince of Wales pub in Railway Street, Chatham.
It started out as a branch office for God’s waiting room but swiftly
transformed into something of a celebration with a multitude of
colourful drinks being downed at a rapid rate.
I must have missed the small print at the Prince of Wales because it was
only after I’d ordered a pint of 4.5% Rev James Original and been
charged £2.25 I realised this was a Craft Union pub.
The Prince of Wales on Railway Street is now part of the Craft Union
chain but when it was built in 1872 it was a hotel and, at one point in
its history, was known as Wisdom's.
I knew this because I’d already walked past the Chatham Wetherspoons,
the Thomas Waghorn, on the other side of Railway Street and, let’s face
it, there’s only two pub companies competing at these sort of prices.
As I say, when I walked in I joined a sea of pensioners, the majority
wearing hats and drinking dark coloured ale – I even passed a pipe
smoker on the way in for goodness sake.
The pool table was in constant use with one exponent, who favoured
playing one-handed, dispensing his wisdom of the game to anyone
interested and even a few who weren’t. The TV screens were all switched
on, but were mercilessly set to silent, but no-one paid any heed to the
muted chat about cricket or the horse racing.
There are a number of features which demonstrate the true age of this
building - the high ceilings, the windows to the rear and the large
skirting boards.
There are six absolute monster fruit machines and I did also spy a
dartboard, although the latter didn’t attract any attention while I was
in.
There are a few lovely examples of the history attached to this building
and the back wall of the pub features a series of high arched windows
with new light fittings in front of them.
I know the light shades were new as the barmaid came out from behind the
bar at one point to sweep up a small snowstorm of white polystyrene
beads which had been used to package them. Other than doing this and
serving when required, she spent the rest of her time gazing intently,
and adoringly, into the screen of her mobile phone.
Despite my surprise at the cheapness of my pint, I saw a number stickers
on the windows declaring this to be a ‘student hub’ which offers deals
for local scholarly folk – seriously, how much cheaper can it be?
The TV screens were switched on but turned to silent, some were showing
cricket, others horse racing - no-one was showing the slightest interest
in them.
The mainly hat-wearing old men seemed happy enough staring into their
cheap pints and making occasional conversation, but their quiet world
was soon to be shattered by the entrance of a group of women intent upon
downing light green, blue and pink drinks in a very lively fashion. One
of their number had lost her job that very morning and by 1pm she’d been
joined by her mates who’d decided to rally round.
This support network took the form of rapid consumption of WKDs and in
just 15 minutes they were dancing and singing along to the Weather
Girls’ It’s Raining Men.
I left them to it to visit the facilities, which were cold and smelly,
the latter probably due to the fact someone had decided to urinate in
the third urinal which was covered in a black bin liner and presumably
meant to be out of action.
The pub is open every day from 9am, apart from Sundays when it’s 10am.
I left the gents as swiftly as possible and noticed there was a sign on
the door nearby saying the staircase leads to a first-floor bar - it was
locked so I didn’t get a chance to take a look.
By the time I got back to my seat my noisy neighbours were consoling
themselves with a double round of tequila roses to accompany the WKDs
and bawling out Never Going to Give You Up – thanks Mr Astley.
The barmaid left her phone briefly to search high and low for an extra
supply of WKDs and much to the table’s delight discovered an extra
stash.
Meatloaf reckoned 'Two out of three ain't bad', which might have been
true had someone not decided to use the urinal covered by a black bin
liner, trapping stale urine in the folds of the plastic.
Apart from the out-of-order urinal the rest of the gents were clean and
fairly well-maintained.
Had I not been working I might have moseyed on at this stage but, ever
the professional, I ordered a Cruzcampo and took a wander. This revealed
another, smaller, gents’ toilet at the back of the pub which was, if
anything, even colder and smellier. I also discovered quite a large
plastic-turfed outdoor area with undercover seating booths, each with
its own TV screen. No-one was out there but all screens were switched on
just in case and I presume this is a popular venue with sport lovers
seeking a lively spot to watch their favourite teams.
The memories I will take away from the Prince of Wales are the cheap
price of a decent pint of bitter, a multitude of hats and WKDs, a pipe
smoker in action and the aroma of the gents.
As I did take my leave I saw a stone set into the pavement outside the
pub which informs you the Prince of Wales Hotel was built in 1872 and
was also known as Wisdom’s – I wonder when the wisdom was lost?
The good-sized outdoor space, some of which is covered against the rain,
has been divided into separate benched-seating areas, each with its own
TV.
Décor: There are some nice historic touches in this 150-year-old
building and it is generally fairly well-maintained. I’m sure the
outdoor area is popular when the weather allows but the state of both
gents’ toilets was disappointing. ***
Drink: Available on tap – Landlord, Ghost Ship, Rev James, London Pride
and Hobgoblin Gold as well as all the usual selection of lagers. Not to
mention a seemingly endless supply of WKD. ****
Price: You can’t argue with a decent pint of bitter for £2.25. A pint of
Cruzcampo was almost twice the price at £4.40 but that’s still a fair
bit cheaper than the going rate elsewhere. I have no idea what a WKD
costs? *****
Staff: When she was serving the barmaid was attentive and effective, she
was also good at sweeping up, but other than this spent all her time on
her phone. **
On Fridays, starting at 9pm, there is a live DJ playing the best songs. |
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