From the https://www.kentonline.co.uk By Charlie Harman, 2 July 2019.

Old Prince of Wales pub in Ashford closed.

Mystery surrounds the closure of one of Ashford's town centre pubs.

The Old Prince of Wales has been operating in New Street since about the 1850s, but has now been boarded up.

Shoppers have expressed their sadness at the closure of the site, which sits next to the town’s First World War tank.

One former customer, Michael Buller, said: “I used to use it years ago but I haven’t been in ages.

“It’s slightly out of the way, and I think you have to be one of the top pubs in town to survive these days.

“You’ve got to make brilliant food and have cheap beer to compete with the likes of Wetherspoons."

The Old Prince of Wales became the centre for donations following the Nepal earthquake in 2015, with people from across the town taking in items like wind-up torches, sleeping bags and tents.

The Old Prince of Wales has been boarded up.

Another previous visitor, Wynne Daniells, was also sad to hear about the closure.

The Quantock Drive resident said: “They used to have a good rapport in there - it had a great atmosphere.

“But people just drink at home now whereas we used to go out on a Friday or Saturday in a big group and go from place to place.

“There’s so many pubs being turned into flats, and that would be awful, but we don’t need another barbers or anything like that.

“It could make a nice restaurant but it would be nice if it was something different and not a Chinese or Italian."

The Prince of Wales is not the only recent town centre casualty, with the nearby Kelly Andrews hair salon also shutting down.

The stylist had operated from its Castle Street site for four years before it shut last month.

The unit is now being offered to let by Stafford Perkins for £15,000 per year.

From the https://www.kentonline.co.uk By Georgia Woolf, 20 July 2019.

The Old Prince of Wales Pub in Ashford reopened after new management take over.

A prominent town centre pub which closed earlier this month has reopened under new management.

The Old Prince of Wales Pub in New Street, Ashford was boarded up at the start of July but threw open its doors again earlier this week.

Manager Jason Davison, who has 28 years experience in the industry, has taken up a temporary lease to get it back up and running while a new long-term tenant is found.

"I have been in this industry all my life - I was previously a multiple operator managing around 15 to 20 pubs," the 48-year-old said.

"I will be managing it for the time being. I could be here from three months to a year.

"We will be doing karaoke and disco nights and we are also looking to start happy hours next week."

The pub will be open from 10am to 9pm from Sunday to Thursday.

The new landlord, Jason Davison.

On Fridays and Saturdays, it will open from 12pm to 1am.

Mr. Davison added: "We've have cleaned the place up a bit and we are hoping to get the carpets changed within the next month.

"The outside needs waking up a little bit and the damp issue will be resolved."

It is thought that Enterprise Inns - which owns the pub - will be covering the cost of the refurbishments.

But while the Old Princes of Wales is now back up and running, a bar opposite has closed its doors.

From the https://www.kentonline.co.uk By Liane Castle, 19 April 2022.

Afro-Caribbean restaurant Jays Soul Food opens in former Old Prince of Wales pub in Ashford town centre.

An Afro-Caribbean restaurant has opened in a former pub in Ashford town centre, serving jerk chicken, curry goat and jollof rice.

Mum-of-three Janet Odeyale, known as Lady Jay, has turned the Old Prince of Wales pub into Jays Soul Food, offering a variety of Afro-Caribbean and West African cuisine.

Lady Jay has transformed the Old Prince of Wales pub.

The 19th century building had been boarded up since 2019 but today opened to the public with a grand opening and a ribbon cutting ceremony with Ashford mayor Cllr Callum Knowles (Con).

Ms Odeyale said: "It has been a lot of work getting this started but we are here now and it's fantastic.

"Most things have worked to plan but there are still more developments to come.

"In the future we will be getting the barbecue garden done and the outside dining area.

"We have a diverse range of Afro-Caribbean foods and delicacies from the islands and also Nigeria.

It can cater for 80 to 120 people.

The outdoor area will be used for barbecues.

Councillors and Janet Odeyale’s family attended the grand opening of Jays Soul Food.

The former pub has been transformed.

"Ashford is a diverse community and we want to represent that in our food and flavours.

"I'm pleased to bring something different to Ashford, if you look 25 miles away there is nothing like this and there is more to come like entertainment and live bands."

While the grand opening was today, Jays Soul Food has been serving takeaway through Just Eat for the past five weeks.

Ms Odeyale, a Hamstreet resident, has been cooking since she was 14 and has worked in the catering industry for more than 30 years.

She moved to the borough from Greenwich in 2006, and has been working on the historic spot since March 2021.

Lady Jay with children Michaiah, Micah and Malachi.

It serves a variety of Afro-Caribbean and West African cuisine including jerk chicken, curry goat and jollof rice.

It has space for music and live bands.

She was previously part of the Ashford Farmers’ Market and her catering business has a five-star food hygiene rating from Ashford Borough Council.

Ms Odeyale said she considered other sites in the town such as Elwick Place before snapping up the lease on the historic pub as it was ideal for her dream business.

The restaurant has room for around 80 guests but this can rise to 120 with the new outdoor barbecue area.