Prince Of Wales

A bustling Bristolian pub with a mixed clientele and a wealth of nooks and crannies to get cosy in with one of their local ales.

The Venue
Sat on the corner where Cheltenham Road and Gloucester Road join forces, the Prince of Wales is difficult to miss. This is not solely because of the endless stream of punters drifting in and out but also as its roadside walls are decorated with fantastically garish graffiti.

Inside, the wooden interior and snug feel make you feel right at home, while on the far side of the pub lies a heated, sheltered and often rowdy garden with a warm, communal atmosphere and unisex toilets.

The People
Few places in the city offer such a diverse and good-willed bunch of boozers. There’s always banter between tables of smiling strangers, while the long benches in the garden draw the smokers together nicely.

It’s perhaps not the best place to try and have a quiet pint with a good book, but its inclusiveness and general sociability is charming.

The Food
The quality of the food here is high, although it would be misleading to suggest that the Prince of Wales' grub alone pulls in the people. Without a doubt, this is a drinking establishment. This is a bit of a shame considering the delicious South East Asian stir-fry (£7.25 to £8.25), the vast and quite varied ploughmans (£9.95) and the unexpectedly tasty beer-battered fish and chips (from a homemade beer batter) at a reasonably decent £9.25.

They also do an all-day breakfast, with bubble and squeak, and there's a vegetarian option. They also give you a free cup of tea or coffee before noon. Breakfasts cost £6.95.

Oh and impressively, all the meat is free range, all the dairy is organic and apparently the dishes contain as much local produce as possible.

The Drink
All their wines are products of Vintage Roots – the leading mail order supplier of organic wines, beers, ciders and pretty much any other alcoholic drink which comes under that label. What’s more, The Prince of Wales offers 100 per cent organic, vegetarian or vegan wines.

However, the ales are the jewel in the crown here, with season-specific Bristol and Bath beers each going for well under three quid and each being scrumptious. They even produce their own organic ale - Charlie's Pride - which goes on rotation with other organic ales.

If you're not an ale drinker you can get a double spirit which will cost you £3.10 while a single is £1.90.

The Last Word
The pride of Gloucester Road is a welcoming, gracious little place with a well-thought-through menu and, more importantly, a charming bunch of regulars.

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