The Prince, Stoke Newington  

After condemning the Prince in our last review, we're pleased that a recent refurb has generally improved things. It still feels like a cozy old boozer with its heart ripped out, but a new colour scheme has calmed things down somewhat. The tasteless zinc covered bar remains, but is looking less awful than it used to and the outside space, although fine, is claustrophobic and soulless, with overhead flower boxes filled with wilting ivy, weeds and dead plants. As usual, distressed floorboards and tatty furniture are here to help give trendy locals the impression they're slumming it in a tatty back-street boozer, when in reality they're in a gastropub which charges over £11 for Sausage and Mash. On tap, there's the omnipresent Greene King and London Pride, but making up for this unimaginative selection is a superb range of ciders, indicating the old drink's continuing revival. How much you like the Prince is probably dictated by your opinions on gastropubdom, but suffice to say Stokey isn't short of excellent - and cheaper - pubs and restaurants.

reviewed:
11/6/2006

pub features:(click on an icon to see an explanation)

real ales

TV

function room for hire

beer garden

live music (jazz)

quiz night Tuesday

separate restaurant

disabled facilities

ATM on premises

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