Prince Albert retains its charm

This is how to renovate a pub. It's no secret we like original features at Fancyapint?, but what was once a rather down-at-heel back street pub has been smartened up without ruining its charm.

With great exterior tiling, original leaded glass, fireplaces and wood panelling all in place, it looks very nice indeed.

The furniture compliments the interior, there's three well-kept ales and a nice little front garden. Our last visit in 2007 found a distinctly unrelaxed hard-sell on food, but happily things seem to have calmed down since then.

As for the food, that's improved too - upstairs is a proper restaurant, while downstairs is currently introducing a tapas bar menu.

We were lucky enough to visit during a tasting session and it was uniformly good. Shame that they feel the need to add 12.5% service charge - it might make sense upstairs, but the downstairs pub should dispense with such things.

Nevertheless, with a good atmosphere and charming service, a three pint rated pub this certainly is.

FOOD REVIEW: 'Global tapas' food in the bar interesting and tasty - but you'd need a few of them to get your fill, though. Prices in the restaurant around £15 for main courses but we've yet to eat there.

FOOD RATING: 2 FOOD VALUE: 3

CLIENTELE: mainly young, affluent locals
NEAREST STATION: Camden Road station
PHONE NUMBER: 020 7485 1523
FEATURES: real ales, outdoor seating, separate restaurant

Prince Albert
163 Royal College Street, NW1 0SG