The Princess of Wales pub is definitely one of the better pubs in Blackheath, but only on weekdays. It becomes a seething hell-hole on sunny weekends, as anyone who lives nearby can testify.
They have a good selection of ales, and reasonable pub food, although they do insist on using white pepper, which, as Mrs Bugle pointed out, is a peculiar thing in this country… Everyone else in the world seems to use ground black pepper for seasoning food, and most places in the UK use it too, except for pubs, which almost always offer that nasty sneezy sandy white pepper.
According to the Blackheath Bugle’s new Blackheath Bible, “Blackheath Village and Environs” by Neil Rhind
It was also the location of the first Rugby Union club, according to these plaques, and this handsome fellow.
It has a nice garden at the rear, recently renovated, although they do insist on putting picture frames on the walls outside, which seems a bit strange.
Licensed under a 
7 Comments
May 29, 2008 at 8:45 am
Best time to go to the PoW is the afternoon about 3/4pm. Sit with some wine and relax. Then leave when the heaving masses appear.
Mind you The Railway is starting to overtake PoW in my affections. It’s cosy, has reasonable pub food – especially Sunday lunch and it has those nice comfy chairs at the window which are ideal for people watching.
May 30, 2008 at 7:32 pm
[...] The Princess of Wales Pub, Blackheath Hell hole at weekends, but also the location of the first ever Rugby Union Club apparently. [...]
June 5, 2008 at 11:09 am
do you not think the PoW should take some responsibility for the rubbish left all over the Heath by their customers? They are banking the profits after all. I have never understood why their licence doesn’t depend on them employing a student or two to clean up the mess after a hot weekend day.
June 5, 2008 at 12:15 pm
Absolutely! And I said as much here: http://blackheathbugle.wordpress.com/2008/05/10/the-heath-looks-like-glastonbury/
But I don’t really know how the licenses get approved, and whether the council could stipulate such things during negotiations?
September 28, 2008 at 11:59 pm
i disagree strongly, people would sit there on the heath the pub was there or not plus the staff already clean the rubbish that is created by the pub e.g. plastic glasses and bottles why should they clean up other peoples rubbish just because lazy people can’t be botherd to clean up after themselves, if your so concerned go clean it yourself. Also half of the people who sit are not costomers of the pub
December 30, 2008 at 6:05 pm
[...] Princess of Wales is open until 2am, with no ticketing. I bet it will be heaving, (as will the customers if they [...]
June 7, 2009 at 5:28 pm
[...] The Princess of Wales. Trumps the Crown in terrace stakes, as it potentially has whole heath. Also has shrine to Blackheath Rugby – my troubled mistress. [...]