DOVER KENT ARCHIVES

Sort file:- Chatham, February, 2025.

Page Updated:- Monday, 24 February, 2025.

PUB LIST PUBLIC HOUSES Paul Skelton

Earliest 1871-

Prince of Wales

Open 2020+

1-3 Railway Street

Chatham

01634 829190

https://www.greatukpubs.co.uk/princeofwaleschatham

https://whatpub.com/prince-of-wales

Prince of Wales 2014

Above photo by Roy Moore, 13 June 2014.

Prince of Wales sign 2013Prince of Wales sign 2014

Above photos by Roy Moore, 13 June 2014. Sign right, 2013.

Above photo, 1945. Kindly sent by Philip MacDougall author of 'Lost Chatham' published in 2024. https://philipmacdougall.tilda.ws/

Above photo, 1945. Kindly sent by Philip MacDougall author of 'Lost Chatham' published in 2024. https://philipmacdougall.tilda.ws/

Prince of Wales bar

Above postcard, date unknown.

Prince of Wales matchbox

Above matchbox, date unknown.

 

The Licensing Records of 1872 stated the premises held a Beer License and was known as the "Prince of Wales Restaurant" and was owned by Jane Grover of new Road, Chatham.

Also listed as number 2.

 

This pub is one in the list of my "Project 2014."

I will be adding the historical information when I find or are sent it, but this project is a very big one, and I do not know when or where the information will come from.

All emails are answered.

 

From the Kent and Sussex Courier, 15 July 1874.

Chatham. Fatal Fire.

Shortly before 1 o'clock on Sunday morning a destructive fire broke out on the premises of the "Prince of Wales Restaurant," kept by Mr. Wisdom, situate in Railway Street, Chatham.

The inmates had not long retired to rest when the alarm was given, and so rapid was the spread of the flames that they escaped with considerable difficulty. The Chatham Fire Brigade was soon upon the spot, their valuable aid being supplemented by a large body of County Police, amongst whom we noticed Superintendent Coppinger, Inspector Baker, Sergeant Pope, and I.C. Wood; members of the Metropolitan Police Force, from Chatham dockyard, and several of the Rochester Fire Brigade, were also present.

The great force of water thrown upon the building soon brought the flaming mass under control, and all danger of its spreading further was considered past at about 4 o'clock, but the hose continue to be played at intervals during the whole of the day.

After fire have been got under control, a young man named Hook, in the employ of Mr. J. Edwards, grocer, High Street, was in the burning building, endeavouring to render some assistance, when part of the brickwork fell in, crushing him to death in the burning debris.

The inquest was held on Monday afternoon, when a verdict of accidental death was recorded.

 

From the https://www.kentonline.co.uk By Keith Hunt, 25 November 2018.

Thug Leonard Ward from Chatham jailed after attack outside Prince of Wales pub.

A thug who launched an unprovoked attack on another man outside a pub and continued the assault while he was unconscious on the ground was branded “a true coward” by a judge.

Stephen Stout was outside the Prince of Wales in Railway Street, Chatham, early on July 19 looking for friends.

Maidstone Crown Court heard he was sitting on a wall when Leonard Ward approached and started being aggressive.

He took his jacket off and Mr Stout, 32, stood up and put his hands up to stop him going closer to him.

Prosecutor Keith Yardy said Ward, 26, punched the victim to the face. As he fell to the ground he hit his head and was unconscious.

But Ward, who had downed about six pints of lager, continued to punch him several more times to the head, before walking away. Mr Stout’s friends and others went to help him.

A pub worker asked who had done it and Ward boasted: “It was me."

Ambulance staff treated the victim at the scene for a one-inch cut to his forehead and bruising to his face and neck. He had a black eye and memory loss.

“It was a sustained or repeated assault and a vulnerable victim was targeted as he was on the ground unconscious,” said Mr Yardy. “He was repeatedly punched and unable to defend himself.”

Mr Stout told in a statement of his embarrassment of having to go to work with facial injuries.

He added he had moved to Medway from London to avoid violence.

Ward, of Magpie Hall Road, Chatham, admitted assault causing actual bodily harm.

He had previous convictions for violence. Keith Middleton, defending, said the ground worker, claimed he was talking to another man and asked Mr Stout not to keep interrupting. The assault happened, he said, because the victim did not stop.

He submitted that a suspended sentence with “swingeing conditions” could be imposed, and the victim could be compensated.

But jailing Ward for 10 months, Recorder John Bate-Wiliams said: “Despite Mr Stout trying to ward you off, you punched him to the ground unconscious.”

An indefinite restraining order was made.

 

From the https://www.kentlive.news By Lauren MacDougall, 21 December 2019.

The 33 pubs in Kent you have to drink at in 2020 according to CAMRA.

In total Kent has heaps of pubs listed in the guide and, while 33 of these are new entries, others have appeared in previous editions of the guide.

A total of 33 pubs from around Kent make up the new entries that feature in the 2020 edition of the Good Beer Guide.

The guide is produced annually by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), the independent guide to the best boozers in the UK that is researched by unpaid and independent volunteers nationwide.

Tom Stainer, CAMRA’s chief executive, said: “For nearly five decades, the Good Beer Guide has been a comprehensive guide to the UK’s breweries, their ales, and the best outlets to find them in across the country.

“What makes the Guide unique is that all the entries are compiled and vetted by a huge volunteer team, based around the country. We work hard to ensure that all areas of the country are covered and, unlike with some competitor titles, inclusion in this book is dependent only on merit, not on payment.

“The Good Beer Guide has always had an important role in acting as a barometer of the beer and pub industry. We believe information gleaned from the Guide is absolutely vital in the drive to save our pubs from closure and campaign for policies that better support pubs, local brewers and their customers.”

This pub is included in the 2020 list.

Prince of Wales, Chatham.

What the guide says: "Walkers and dogs are welcome in the flagstone-floored bar complete with log fire."

 

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.

Prince of Wales 2025

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.

Prince of Wales inside 2025

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?

Prince of Wales inside 2025

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.

Prince of Wales gents 2025

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.

Prince of Wales gents 2025

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?

Prince of Wales outside 2025

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.

 

LICENSEE LIST

BRISTOW Benjamin 1871+ (age 53 in 1871) (could be any of others "Prince of Wales" though)

WISDOM George 1872-82+ (age 48 in 1881Census) Licensing Records 1872

STAFFORD Thomas 1891+

EVANS Edwin 1891+ (age 45 in 1891Census)

BRADFORD Harry 1930+

MEADOWS Sidney 1938+

DAVIS Ronald Thomas 1955+

https://pubwiki.co.uk/PrinceofWales.shtml

 

Licensing Records 1872Licensing Records 1872

CensusCensus

 

If anyone should have any further information, or indeed any pictures or photographs of the above licensed premises, please email:-

Pub-info@Dover-Kent.Com.

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