The Prince of Wales — or POW to anyone who's spent a Friday night in Brixton — is a sprawling art deco pub that doubles as a late-night venue with DJs, themed parties, and a rooftop that's genuinely one of South London's best open-air drinking spots when the weather plays nice. It's a volume operation, not a craft cocktail bar: come with a group, embrace the chaos, grab a spot on the rooftop, and you'll have a great time. Come expecting polish and you'll leave disappointed.
A sprawling art deco Brixton pub with a rooftop that's one of South London's best open-air drinking spots — come for Jerk Fridays, stay for the chaos.
Head straight upstairs to the rooftop when you arrive — it fills up fast on warm evenings and that's the real reason to come here.
Brixton's party pub with a rooftop that saves the day
The Prince of Wales is one of those Brixton institutions that everyone has a story about — usually involving the rooftop and a few too many drinks. It's a big, no-frills art deco pub on Brixton Road that transforms into a late-night venue with DJs, themed parties, and a rooftop that's genuinely great when the British weather cooperates. Jerk Fridays are a solid draw, and the food is your standard pub fare — don't come expecting gastronomy, but the chicken wings and mushroom bites do the job when you're a few pints in.
That said, the 3.5-star Google rating tells a story. The venue has had its ups and downs, and under new management it's trying to reposition itself as a "proper local" rather than just a party barn. Service can be hit or miss, especially on busy nights when the bar is five-deep. The rooftop is the real selling point — if you can grab a spot up there on a warm evening, it's one of the better open-air drinking spots in South London. Just manage your expectations: this is a volume operation, not a craft cocktail bar. Come with a group, embrace the chaos, and you'll have a good time. Come expecting polish and you'll be disappointed.