Prince Of Wales

BIRMINGHAM’S PUBS...A SERIES FEATURING THEIR HISTORY AND THEIR BEERS

No. 3 THE PRINCE OF WALES, 84 Cambridge Street, Birmingham (at the back of the Repertory Theatre by the International Convention Centre)

History

Number 84 Cambridge Street, now known as the “Prince of Wales” was built sometime between 1852 and 1853. The site once formed part of the grounds of Bingley House, the home of the banking family of Lloyds. In 1854 George Littlewood is the first recorded beer retailer at this address in the Birmingham Directory. From 1859 to 1865 a jeweler named Benjamin Gaunt, sold beer from the premises. In addition, the building was also shared by Henry Stokes, a gun maker and Samuel Greek, a pearl button maker.

The next important date in the Prince’s history is 1887 when the Holt Brewery Co Ltd of Gosta Green, took over the premises and after extensive rebuilding opened it as a public house called the “Prince of Wales”, in honour of the Prince of Wales’s (later King Edward VII) marriage to Princess Alexandra of Denmark. The Prince of Wales Theatre in nearby Broad Street had itself been renamed in honour of that event.

The Holt Brewery itself was taken over in 1934 by Ansell’s of Aston, thereby becoming one of the foremost breweries in the country. The Holt’s Squirrel was incorporated into the Ansell’s logo. Many people remember the superb engraved Holt’s engraved glass window in the snug at the back of the Prince.

The Prince of Wales in 1927 showing its original position within Cambridge Street (left) and the 150 year old Prince of Wales (on the right) in 2005, now the oldest building in Cambridge Street.

Licensees came and went and in recent years the Prince has been famously run by Paddy McCarthy (1974-87) then Nancy took over (1987-97).Their philosophy was to treat every one the same and to keep things simple! I first started drinking there in 1978 when Paddy’s legendary Ansell’s Mild was 26p a pint, Bitter was 28p, and have been hooked ever since. Over the years, the Prince has been patronized by the CBSO including Sir Simon Rattle; stars from the England Cricket team such as Bob Willis and Ian Botham; actors and technicians from the Birmingham Repertory Theatre such as Timothy Spall, Toyah Wilcox and Nigel Havers have enjoyed a pint there. It also seemed strange when Letitia Dean who plays Eastenders’ barmaid, Sharon Watts was there having a drink – the other side of the bar!

In the early 1980s, the Prince was under threat of demolition as the whole area was subject to a compulsory purchase order to be developed for the building of the International Convention Centre. However, a concerted campaign by regulars including such varied sources as the Birmingham City Council, the CBSO and Cricket Captain Bob Willis ensured the pub was saved and after a facelift in 1991, it had a new lease of life. Nancy left in 1997 to go to The White Swan in Grosvenor Street West, Ladywood. By this time, it was a “Festival Ale House” and in 1998 it received a major refurbishment that changed the interior dramatically when the bar was resited and all the rooms were knocked into one – a similar fate occurred to its then fellow pub, The White Horse in Harborne.

The current licensees, Mark Pagett (better known as “Padge”) and his wife Diane (who had worked at the Prince as a barmaid ) have been there since 2003 and are still maintaining the high standards of an excellent range of high quality, well-kept real ales. The range includes Ansells Bitter (now back on after a break) and Mild; Brains SA; Wells’ Bombardier; Timothy Taylor’s Landlord; Adnam’s Broadside; Greene King’s Abbot; Marston’s Pedigree and an ever changing guest beer. In 2004 the couple also took over the former Grapevine (later Gio’s; then Bread & Roses) in Paradise Place by Paradise Forum. Live music and good food continues to be available at both venues.

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Last modified: 03/11/07