The Prince of Wales Ale House, Highgate

This place appears to have nose dived. It was until last year a gem of a village pub. It was taken over and then again recently. The latest pair of 'erberts running the place would seem perfectly placed if the pub was on the Isle of Sheppey.
Last night I witnessed two people trying to pay for their drinks with a card. The card machine didn’t accept the first person’s card until the third attempt. The second person’s card was not accepted and he said he would go across the road and withdraw cash, despite him saying that the card was just accepted in the pub next door and checking and showing his healthy online balance. The barman unbelievably and publicly told the group that he was ‘holding back the drinks’ and took them away.
The person told the barman how rude this appeared and the landlady came over. After being rudely rebuked by the landlady, the man told her she can keep the drinks and they will go elsewhere. She started shouting and threw the beer down the sink.
The landlord, an unpleasant looking little Irish man, then approached the man, didn’t announce who he was, and began threatening the man and swearing incessantly. He actually wanted to fight him for arguing with the landlady. The landlady then came from behind the bar and told the man that her son will ‘effing kill him’. Their language and behavior were outrageous and the few remaining customers left. The pair continued their foul mouthed ranting as the man let the pub to the parting view of the landlords middle finger.
This is Highgate. One of the most civilised places in London. How this pair got hold of the tenancy is a mystery. If you like rude staff, threatening and abusive owners then this is the place for you. If not there are lots of other good battle cruisers in the area.

26 Feb 2018 20:24