Not to be confused with the West End of London, Prince of Wales Westend, is in Esher, Surrey. It is one of our favourite gastropubs to dine in. All year round, it has a cosy vibe and seasonal menu. We even took the kids there for lunch once. They loved it. The sharing starter with white bait was always a must. It has been a few years since our last visit, so we popped in late summer this year. Surprise, surprise, it had been totally refurbished and even had a new menu. Outside was done up as well, but we didn’t do the full tour. We were headed for Kingston. The plan was to have something light to eat, then drive to Kingston to shop for back-to-school supplies for the kids. It was a delightful detour. The Prince of Wales gastropub is the local gem foodies should know.
About The Prince of Wales
‘The Prince of Wales pub was built in 1892 on land that was used for both a coal yard and a brewery. Mr Mann set up his brewery and associated ale house, which was eventually extended several times.’ Over the years, there were mergers and changes in ownership.
Sometime in the 1980’s the pub eventually became part of the Chef & Brewer chain. Then in 2023, the pub underwent a 2 million refurbishment. Ladies, even the loo is pretty and well-kept!
PSA: Now owned by Greene King, they are no longer part of the Tesco rewards partnership.
This gem is in the town of Esher and is roughly 15 miles southwest of Charing Cross.
Lunching at The Prince of Wales Gastropub
The first thing we noticed on entering The Prince of Wales was the modern country vibe and cosy aesthetic. There is a sitting area near the entrance, perfect for a coffee and chat with friends.
Further in, there are ‘breakaway’ areas suited for dining and cosy nooks which locals will find suitable for a quick drink alone with a good book or with a friend and/or a pet.
Dining seats are strewn with soft faux fur throws and cushions. The colour scheme feels organic with tones of green, brown and beige in some sections and soothing blues in others. Lighting is a mix of natural and ambient that’s inviting.
The menu is a gastronomic delight! There’s an option on every occasion, even a no-gluten option. My kids and I ordered fish and chips, and hubby pork schnitzel and salad. The freshness was immediately evident. The presentation of all the dishes was well done. Fish and chips had the balance of crispy and fluffiness. Honestly, it’s the best fish and chips that rivals all we have had on the Isle of Wight and Captains Fish and Chips in Brighton , and I didn’t think anything could top that!
My only criticism was the presentation of the lettuce that accompanied hubby’s schnitzel; it could have been more refined, and the edges of the sauce pot should have been wiped.
Overall rating of Prince of Wales gastropub: 4 out of 5
We will certainly be back for more.
Get Social
Christmas is around the corner, and The Prince of Wales gastropub is a beautiful location for any festive occasion, but if you have nothing planned, check out the upcoming events.
Stay in the loop by following them on Instagram @the_prince_of_wales_westend
If you enjoyed this, be sure to check my other dining out posts. And follow me on Instagram @MsXpat and @Xpatathome
