Prince of Wales

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Kent - Herne Bay

One star - A pub interior of special national historic interest

Listed Status: Not listed

173 Mortimer Street
Herne Bay
CT6 5DS

Tel: (01227) 374205

Website http://www.princeofwaleshernebay.co.uk

Real Ale: Yes

Nearby Station: Herne Bay

Station Distance: 1350m

Public Transport: Near Railway Station (Herne Bay) and Bus Stop

Bus: Yes

View on: Whatpub

This pub gives a a good sense of how pubs were laid out and fitted up around 1900. Plans were drawn up for it in 1893 and the Art Nouveau window glass is typical of the time. The sense of separate rooms is conveyed by the different room names in the door and window glass, and a screen still with its door dividing the main bar into two. On the right is a large room which looks as though it was a billiard room (a name in the old glass mounted on a wall but the outside, now boarded ove , says Lounge and tea room, evidently planned with holidaymakers in mind. There was a substantial refurbishment in 2005 which provided some of the window glass: seems mighty unlikely that a century ago rooms would have had the jokey descriptions of ‘Ladies Gin Room’ or ‘Lying Bar’!
This pub gives an excellent idea of how pubs were laid out and fitted up c.1900. Plans were drawn up for it in 1893 but the Art Nouveau details of some of the internal glasswork suggest work was going on in Edwardian times. The sense of separate rooms is conveyed by the different room names in the door and window glass, and a screen still with its door dividing the main bar into two. On the right is a large ‘Lounge and Tea Room’, evidently planned with holidaymakers in mind.

There are 'Billiards' etched panels on the two doors from the smoke room from which it may have changed. An excellent refurbishment by owners, Shepherd Neame, in 2005 preserved the old work and created a small snug in the left-hand part, using a formerly redundant office space. Modern counter: the bar-back is from 2005 replacing modern work. There was an off-sales shop (in addition to the jug & bottle) which was later turned into a private bar, wording still on inner door. The room behind the bar brought into use after the refurbishment was originally an office and has tall wooden doors hatch for service. Note the penny in the old slot on a toilet door in the gents.Retains the old snob screens in the cellar. Shepherd Neame wanted to remove the screen but the Landlord preserved it. Has a 'Ladies Gin Room' window.
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