please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Decent range of beers and ciders, the Aspel's was very god.
It is very Gastro however drinkers are very welcome. Not bad at all and will visit again when in Battersea.
|
The Prince Albert has now sorted out its management and team issues and is much improved. Very buzzy atmosphere and good service
|
All is not well at the Prince Albert. Since the unforeseen departure of the manager, the service has deteriorated alarmingly. During a recent mid week visit, after waiting over 20 minutes for a drink, I heard one of the bar staff telling a complaining customer that, if he couldn�t wait for his drink, he should leave. Meanwhile, his colleague was instructing a very green trainee in the complex task of using a cork screw. Avoid at all busy times or go to a better, owner managed pub in Battersea, like the �Secret Garden�.
|
It used to be great years ago....
Now the attitude of the young, fashionable men behind the bar is bigger than a Saudi Prince's attitude.
Service is indifferent.
You get served if and only they feel like it and have seen people standing at the empty bar totally ignored.
Plenty of pubs in the area happy to take my money.....
|
The Prince Albert has become over the last year without doubt the best pub in London. Always packed with amusing and watchable people (of course nothing to do with the fact that both Royal Princes have been spotted there) it is run brilliantly by Sile (pronounced Sheila) its exceptional manageress. The staff are all friendly and well trained (no grumpy imports here) and there is even table service. The food is excellent, but it is the sheer buzz of the place that has attracted regulars from all over London. I am trying to replace my card behind the bar with a direct debit
|
An oasis - a food pub afer my walk from Victoria down through Battersea Park. Great food pub - great service. Only complaint is the meal was meant to come with chunky chips and they were decidedly skinny! Liked the location and the signs.
|
Simple "connect 4 philosophy"
- Have the the boardgame (called Connect 4)
- Got 4 good beers (Adnams = key choice)
- sport games on TV
- good food away from the bar so you have the choice of eating + then going to the bar for a pint
|
Gastropub not far from Albert Bridge Road and overlooking Battersea Park. Sharps Own, Adnams Broadside, Sambrook Wandle and Hogsback Tea were all available. Aspalls was the cider. The inside has a modern look with dining a priority and comfortable seating. Bare floorboards try and tiling around the circular bar attempt to create a traditional look, but the overall impression is of a modern pub. In the area where I sat, there was a collection of board games, books and some rather strange jars of pickled chillis, carrots and asparagus. Plenty of staff were on duty, appearing to be waiting for hordes of diners to arrive. They failed to arrive during my visit. Upmarket bar snacks included honey mustard chipolatas and a more downmarket chip butty. The upstairs Bridge Bar appears to be a more formal restaurant option. A nice enough pub. But I found it difficult to relax here.
|
I have had enough of the miserable staff, overpriced food for what it is and the smell of urine in the gents which makes me wonder about the hygiene in the kitchen. Not to mention waiting on average 5 mins to be served and Gordon has now left so no chance of table service.
I am a local and they have no interest in getting to know their regular punters which is very sad. 2 mins extra walk to the Westbridge and the welcome is excellent as is the food.
Very sad to hear so many people complain when you are in the Albert and whilst the refurbishment is great they should have paid a little more attention to the service.
Very sad...
|
It would be nice if the enthusiasm with which this wonderfully located boozer has been transformed was reflected in the bar staff's serving abilities. The more ambitious upmarket vibe is all great stuff but can we have the slovenly aristocrats in front of the bar not behind it? THEY COULD EVEN GO ROUND THE TABLES ASKING YOU IF YOU WOULD LIKE ANOTHER DRINK! Get that bloke who sends out the irritating Geronimo Club emails on the pumps too- smiling preferably- its not common you know!
|
I agree lovely pub always busy (sometimes too busy and impossible to get a table). The waitress is from the Phoenix and she was exactly the same way there.
|
There's a guy there working who doesn't like the black t,
so he wears a stripy shirt just like you or me.
The regulation company uniform is not one for him,
So he flies in the face of the rules him being not too slim.
He looks like the bigger bro of a famous boy band member,
And what's the name of this chap?..........I cant remember.
|
lovely pub, as a local I've had many fantastic meals there (after the refurb obviously!) the staff are both efficient and friendly with only one exception, a sunday lunch where we encountered a slightly older and greying waitress who was rude and impatient with her fellow staff and customers to the point of being shocking.. Shame in an otherwise perfect local.
|
I have been in this pub several times over the last 6 months and the service has generally been mediocre at best. The bar staff are often inattentive/unobservant and give you the impression it's their first day on the job. It is a shame as it is quite a nice pub, normally lively, has a good selection of beers and the food is ok.
Sort out your bar staff and it would be a great boozer.
|
great pub very friendly managers and staff
great addition to albert bridge rd
|
Great pub. Had supper here a few times now and have to say best around! Sunday lunch is next on the list. Smiley, friendly staff, good service and food make this pub my new fave!
|
I think this is a fantastic pub
great charm and character and a lovely little beer garden out the back
had sunday lunch here and it was great
great local pub, will be back to visit it again soon
maryj - 19 Mar 2009 11:07 |
over a year ago I hated this pub and wrote a poor review, but a change of management (and a refurb) has compelled me to write again and re-rate this pub!
Previously my main gripe was the terrible staff/service - the new manager and staff do a pretty great job when I turn up with 25 thirsty cricket players. A good selection of beers, a large area out the back and tables out the front for the smokers, overall a nice clean pub (lacking charm, someone says? Lots of woodwork around makes it look pretty nice to me....) The food seems OK, nothing exeptional - just normal pub-grub really
I notice the latest review by MattC75 mentions one grumpy sod behind the bar - yeah, I think know who you mean.... though some people might argue he gives the pub 'character'!!!
|
This is a fantastic pub with a great Gov'na (although, unfortunately, he doesn't actually own it). I love to go in there on my way home for a quiet pint or, every now and then, a snack. I love it so much that sometimes I go in there just to soak in the atmosphere even though I am too skint to buy a drink. I realise that it is a business and that it exists to make a profit, but the Gov'na doesn't seem to have a problem with me doing that on occasion. He always makes me feel welcome.
Tom Wilkinson, however, is a different kettle of fish. Altogether. I stopped in there on Sunday night simply because I don't have Sky and I was desperate to see the finish of the Ryder Cup (I am a former golf pro, myself). There was only about half an hour to go until the end of play at both Valhalla and the Prince Albert. Tom friggin' Wilkinson, however, had a problem with me ordering a pint of tap water. He told me that I must get a drink that costs something. He told me that he would be embarrassed if he were I. What a nice chap. He hassled me at every single opportunity. I ended up calling him a c**t and making a public vow to never go back into that lovely pub until that man has been fired.
And, I urge all fellow Prince of Wales customers to do the same. Think about it, folks. The gentleman Gov'na gets paid either way (I assume) so it is only the large pub conglomerate that really gets hurt. How 'bout it? Let's get rid of that c**t.
Best wishes (except you Tom)
Matt
ps. Oh, and Gov'na, if you are reading this then I am the guy who wrote the piece that soon to be President Obama is planning on reading out at one of his speeches in the near future. You remember me, don't you? Good luck. I hope to be able to return to the Prince Albert as soon as possible.
Oh, and my rating would be a 9 if it weren't for that Wilkinson character.
|
Yes all very interesting...but what beer do they do???
|
I rarely comment on these things, but I feel compelled to on this one and my friend and I went there for lunch and both thought we would have the soup which was advertised on the menu as "Soup of the Day". Having been told it was tomato we both ordered. Five minutes later two bowls of Heinz Tomato soup arrived on our table! I honestly was in disbelief, I could have gone next door and bought two cans for 99p each and they were charging �3.75 per bowl!!... Even a Covent Garden Soup or Tesco's own brand would have been better and less obvious. The cheek of it was unbelievable and I will never eat here again and tell everyone I know to avoid it. I felt like an idiot and lunch was disgusting!
|
This is not a YOung's pub,, you were thinking of the other one down the road, it's a lot nicer than that but it is expenseive.
|
A small glass of Pepsi for �2?
A BLT with one and half rashers of bacon for �5?
What a load of rubbish.
|
A Young's pub with all the kind of charmless makeover that unfortunately implies these days. Not a bad looking place but really doesn't feel like a pub any more.
|
The Albie has just reopened after a refurb. We had been worried that we were going to lose another pleasant boozer to the grey and chrome gastro un-fun brigade, but the Albert has managed to keep it's local charms. If you've noted the terrible service in the past (and we ALL have) then I recommend you visit again - they have had a total change - We've been back twice since they reopened and had exceptional service both times, they've really tried to turn it around. Stick to the beer though, the spirits (or rather the mixers) are still terrible! A nice regular and unpretentious pub.
|
I went to the Prince Albert with a group of friends for the first time in a couple of years and it was a bit of a shocker. The beer was reasonable but the service was rock bottom. One of us was charged �3.65 (three pounds sixty five) for a pint of Pepsi!!! When he asked why this he was told "we are a pub, we are here to make money". Fair point, they are a business but that's not a reasonable answer to a reasonable question. Nor a reasonable price for a soft drink...? Prior to this we had ordered a couple of bowls of nachos and when they came, one was just a pile of all the smashed, broken bits from the bag with a few whole ones and the topping covering them. It will be another couple of years before we try it again.
|
Used to be a cracking pub but now blighted by poor service from staff who seem to be suprised that you've come into the pub for a beer. Have visited regularly for nearly 10 years and sad to see that its now worth a going that extra 10 minutes to the next watering hole. Hope things change soon.
|
I play regular games of cricket in Battersea park every year, and the Prince albert was always the first choice of pub. This summer, however, myself and 21 other blokes will be heading elsewhere after a few consecutive weeks of really poor service by staff who quite clearly just couldn't care less about customer service. An otherwise good pub, however, decore and location can only take a pub so far. My team and our money will be heading to Battersea Bridge road, to pubs who don't take their customers for granted
|
The Prince Albert is in such a fantastic location and looks so welcoming it should be a great pub. The fact that the staff show a total lack of customer service to the point of lying just so they can have an easy life was unbelievable.It used to be well run and was always busy on a warm summer night, now it's quiet and still takes an age to get served, the food service is chaotic at best, no wonder people are drifting away. It is not a place I shall be going again.
|
great food, lovely pub, i love the fairy lights!! staff were lovely!
anonymous - 24 May 2007 15:21 |
OK chain pub (I guess) catering more for those north of the river but quite pleasant - Broadside decent
|
I have seen this pub change over the years and I think Scott&Newcastle sold it onto someone else recently. The quility of the food is very poor now and general service in the last two months has taken a serious downturn. The friendly regular barstaff have left and the new landlord is very unwelcoming, however his wife is pleasant.
Hard to build up a reputation which it has done but easy to loose it which it is going to.
Dont see this modern pub being very busy for much longer!!!!
|
Not really sure why it's important that a pub has good looking staff (see comment further below) but this is a generally pleasant pub to relax in.
However, has anyone else noticed that it smells odd at times (especially during the colder months)?
Avoid on a hot sunny day as it is the natural overspill for those who are spending the day in Battersea Park and fancy a cold beer.
|
This is a great pub, in a lovely location opposite Battersea Park. The staff are well trained, friendly and helpful. The beer is well kept and the food to a very high standard. However the best thing about it is that the managers discourage those that need a good fuminate (sic).
|
It's always impecable... you can't relax there, it seems that the managers are going to fuminate you if you drop something on the floor... glad they r leaving...
|
Great pub - always a good vibe. Not a sitcky, beer-soaked-carpet type of establishment. Big windows, circular bar, and a courtyard - LOVE getting the couch to chill and have Sunday Roast (ask if they are serving Chicken - it's delicious)! Staff are good looking AND nice!
Donna - 16 Jul 2004 10:28 |
Best pub in Battersea, which might not be much of a recomendation, but this one is really good. Comfortable, excellent and friendly service. good food and well kept beers. Very handy for the park on summer afternoons.
|
Lovely pub, best one in the area with a real good mix of people, beers and food. Handles the balance between drinking and eating really well, lovely patio area out the front so the kids can sit in the prams and you can relax over a pint. But be warned Neil Hamilton the Ex-MP is a often seen here.
David - 9 Jan 2004 08:03 |
It was refurbished again in Aug 2002,and is now one of the best pubs in the area.But be warned it gets seriously busy on food at lunchtimes during the week,so you may have to wait a bit,but it's worth it.Try the Lamb Shoulder,superb,washed down with a pint of Adnams Broadside.Well worth a visit.
Neil Bowden - 27 Sep 2003 20:51 |
this wonderful victorian pub was beautifully restored in the mid 90's when a landlady called Claudia ran it. after she left it went downhill and the last time i was in i noticed they had removed the fabulous central bar gantry with emulsion painted black mdf boxes!!
anonymous - 23 Aug 2003 03:00 |
The landlord is a lovely man. Great sense of humour and a charmer. His name is Alex
Alex - 7 Aug 2003 12:06 |
Great Pub with great staff. Landlords are really friendly so Sebastian I think you may have caught him on a bad day. Good food and I love the beer garden.
Blake Burningham - 24 Jul 2003 16:01 |
You must have caught him on a bad day,he is normally a good laugh!Staff are great,it's my local,and the Pride is always good.
sandy murdoch - 1 Jul 2003 22:50 |
Great pub, and lovely staff, but the Landlord is extremely rude; a real shame as otherwise it has everything going for it. I returned a pint of Pride yesterday as it was off, and was suprised when much later, the landlord interupted my conversation, and shouted at me in front of my friends and everyone else in the pub. He wasn't interested in finding out what was wrong with my pint, because as he said 'I'm much older than you and there's nothing wrong with it.'
I felt intimidated, and very embarassed, and I wouldn't recommend going in there until the publican moves on. A real shame.
Sebastian Brennan - 8 Apr 2003 11:34 |
great food ,served all day , 3 real ales inc london pride, 10 wines all available by glass or bottle, friendly staff- check it out !!
edwin hendy - 20 Dec 2002 18:16 |
