Tucked away on Western Road in Southall, the Prince of Wales (or POW as it is commonly referred to) looks like a traditional London corner pub from the outside – but inside it’s one of West London’s best-known “desi pubs”, blending a classic boozer with serious Punjabi cooking and a loyal local following.
A Southall institution
The Prince of Wales sits at 202 Western Road, a short walk from Southall’s main drag and the Grand Union Canal. It’s a family-run business that’s been operating since 2003 and is now very much part of the neighbourhood’s fabric. The owners describe it as a “safe haven” for the community – a place where regulars drop in for a pint, food, and the football on TV rather than a flashy, destination gastropub.
Prince of Wales, Southall
The pub keeps long hours, opening every day from late morning through to midnight, which suits shift workers and match-day crowds alike. Big screens show Premier League games, boxing, and pay-per-view fights, and the bar is well stocked with mainstream lagers on tap plus a selection of whiskies, Scotch and cognac.
Online reviews consistently praise the atmosphere as relaxed, unpretentious and friendly – “a nice pub that also serves Indian food,” as one TripAdvisor reviewer neatly puts it, noting that it can get busy when major sporting events are on. The pub also proudly advertises a 5-star food-hygiene rating.
Punjabi food in a pub setting
What really sets the Prince of Wales apart is the kitchen. The menu is firmly rooted in Punjabi and North Indian cooking: grilled meats from the tandoor, rich curries, street-food-style snacks and a good spread of vegetarian options.
Starters and small plates range from Punjabi fish pakora and chicken pakora to lamb kebabs, lamb chops and paneer dishes. There are familiar curries such as chicken curry, keema curry and chicken tikka masala, along with biryanis, daals, rice, naans and sides like chilli chips that have become favourites with regulars.
Review platforms and food blogs repeatedly single out the pub’s grills – especially the lamb chops – for special praise, describing them as “packed with flavour” and one of the standout reasons to visit.
The famous mixed grill
Ask anyone who knows the Prince of Wales and they’ll usually mention one dish first: the mixed grill. It’s the pub’s signature order, often recommended by regulars to first-timers and frequently highlighted on delivery menus and review sites.
In its classic form, the Prince of Wales mixed grill is a generous sizzling platter built for sharing. A typical serving includes:
Chicken tikka – around six pieces of boneless chicken, marinated in yoghurt and spices, then cooked in the tandoor until lightly charred at the edges.
Chicken wings – another six wings, spiced and grilled so the skin is smoky and crisp while the meat stays juicy.
Lamb kebabs (seekh kebabs) – two minced lamb kebabs shaped on skewers, seasoned with herbs, chilli and garam masala.
Lamb chops – two chops, a house speciality, marinated and grilled so they arrive nicely charred but still tender.
The kitchen also offers variations on the theme. A mini mixed grill pares things down with a smaller selection – for example, three wings, three pieces of chicken tikka, one lamb chop and one lamb kebab – ideal for one hungry person or as a starter to share. At the other end of the scale, there are large sharing platters like the King Mixed Grill and the POW Platter, which can add extras such as king prawns, fish pakora, chicken pakora and chips, turning the dish into a full table-covering feast for a group.
The mixed grill usually arrives on a sizzling iron platter, the meats piled over sliced onions, with green chutney, chilli sauce or lemon wedges on the side – the kind of dish that turns heads as it leaves the kitchen. Online reviewers regularly describe it as “great,” “very generous” and excellent value for money, and it’s one of the most-ordered items on delivery apps as well as in the pub itself.
Why it’s worth a visit
Put simply, the Prince of Wales is the kind of place where you can watch a match, drink a proper pint and eat food that would hold its own in a dedicated Punjabi restaurant. It stays busy for a reason: consistent cooking, hearty portions, reasonable prices and a down-to-earth atmosphere that attracts locals, visitors to Southall and food-lovers from further across London.
If you go, the mixed grill is almost a rite of passage – order it for the table, share it around with naan and chips, and you’ll immediately understand why this West London pub has such a strong reputation.
