The Prince, a new dining venue situated across from the West Brompton overground station, has opened; debuting four independent London eateries, two bars, and a “woodland pergola garden.” I went along to check it out, twice, resulting in two very different experiences. Tristan Prawl reports...
Opening Night - November 15th
First and foremost, I notice that the smoking area is above street level. Before even reaching the front door I am greeted at the bottom of the steps by two bouncers who check my ID. I am adorned in a black Nike sweat suit and denim jacket (this will be important later). The bouncers are perfectly pleasant, and in I go.
As soon as I enter, I am greeted for the second time by a woman asking me if I have a reservation - “no” - and she politely tells me a bit about the venue. Second greeting cleared, I walk inside only to be slapped in the face by their branding - lots of neon signs, exposed brick, and indie music playing.
I cannot help but notice that a lot of people in the venue seem to know each other and that just as many of them look like they are or have at some point starred on Made in Chelsea. I’m feeling a bit out of place, despite the millennial targeted decour. I look around for people dressed as casually as I am, and luckily spot a few. Onto the “woodland pergola garden.”
Down a set of stairs, and I am greeted for the third time by another woman asking similar questions as the first, my inner introvert squirming to get out of this interaction and just get into the “garden” already. I put garden in quotes as it does not feel like I am outside. There are plants, sure, but I cannot see the sky and there no sense of a breeze. I can only assume this will change with the weather.
As the venue is packed, so is the bar. Maybe it is the atmosphere, or the sheer commotion of it all, but it is the kind of bar that compels me to think the bartender hates me. Some rando steps to the side of the bar and gets drinks before everyone else, of course.
Finally it is my turn, I chalk up the courage and order my drink from the most intimidating of the bartenders. Part of my intimidation stemming from the fact that I know I am about to show him a free drink voucher surrounded by people who look like they make figures I could only dream of. Embarrassingly, the voucher is not for the drinks my friend and I have just ordered. We are left double fisting two drinks (the free drink making up for the £9.50 cocktail), my friend holding two different mulled beverages. I am very aware that I am in Chelsea.
With nowhere to sit, I am itching to finish our drinks, try some food, and get out of there. After ever so gracefully chugging our drinks, we head back up to the strip of restaurants. Having read up about my options before getting there, I already know I want to try MAM’s Vietnamese fish sauce wings. Other options include: Patty&Bun, Rabbit, and Begging Bowl.
These wings changed my night. Before eating them, I was unsure if I would come back to the venue. The perfectly crunchy coating, decadent chicken, sweet fish sauce, and crispy garlic mingled in my mouth in a way that had me planning my next trip back.
November 24th - Trip Two
Over at a friend’s in Chelsea, we spontaneously decide to stop drinking in private and move to a public setting. Craving those fish sauce wings and hoping to try a bahn mi, we agree to head over to The Prince again - hoping maybe today it will be less crowded too.
I walk up to the bouncers and… that is it. That is… and was as far as I got. As I approach, today adorned in red track pants, black shirt, and denim jacket - I am turned away. Told that: “Sorry. Unfortunately, we can’t accept track pants.”
A few drinks in already, I am not bothered enough to contend and tell him that I had just been the week before, the opening night even, in a matching sweatsuit. Off we go, a little dejected. But, I was surprised more than anything.
The Prince brands itself on their own website as a place that “offer[s] drinking and dining in a relaxed and affordable manner” - not to say that they have no mention of this dress code on their website. I am less upset with the implementation of a dress code, and more so with the confusing message they seem to be broadcasting.
It looks as though they are targeting a millennial market with their decor, atmosphere, and guarantee of good food at an affordable price. But, the dress code seems to me like it may be marginalising this group of possible clientele. Clientele that see athleisure as a perfectly fine way to dress on a night out. I mean seriously, they would not have turned away Bella Hadid in her track pants.
Would I go again? Yes, probably. I cannot say no to great food, especially at the prices they are offering. But, I would ask The Prince to make this dress code more clear to avoid disappointing and embarrassing their customers at the door. Possibly even turning someone away forever who is not as dedicated to the art of the chicken wing as I am.
Words: Tristan Prawl | Subbing: Melina Zachariou | Video: Tristan Prawl
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