OLD PRINCE OF ORANGE Pub of Gravesend

DOVER KENT ARCHIVES

Sort file:- Gravesend, April, 2024.

Page Updated:- Monday, 01 April, 2024.

PUB LIST

PUBLIC HOUSES

Paul Skelton

Earliest 1633

(Old) Prince of Orange

Open 2023+

1 Old Dover Road East / Windmill Street

Gravesend

01474 365753

https://whatpub.com/prince-of-orange

Above photo 1900. Kindly supplied by Jason Kemsley. The Old building shown above was demolished in 1928 and replaced in 1933. It stood on the crossroads of Windmill Street/Singlewell Road and Old Road West. The building can be traced back to 1633 and was originally a coaching Inn on the route to Rochester.

Above photo date unknown.

Above postcard, date unknown.

Above postcard, circa 1956, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

Photo 1st September 2012 from http://www.flickr.com by emdjt42.

Above sign, 2019, kindly taken and sent by Tom Duff.

Kentish Mercury 12 December 1835.

WEST KENT. GRAVESEND.

On Monday last, a field belonging to Mr. Cove, at the back of the "Old Prince of Orange," was the scene of one of these disgraceful exhibitions which have been too frequent in this neighbourhood, a pugilistic encounter. The fight took place between a man of the name of Adams, of cricket celebrity, and a man of the name of Foot, one of Mr. Wood's stone masons. This disgusting affray was allowed to continue for upwards of an hour and ten minutes, when Foot was so severely punished that he was obliged to give in. Adams the victor, was also much bruised. The stakes were of a trifling value one pound. There certainly appears to have been a want of vigilance on the part of the police, in allowing the town to be again disgraced by such a revolting proceeding.

From the Kentish Gazette, 24 March 1840.

Gravesend.

On Saturday week a coroner's inquest before C. J. Carttar, esq. coroner, was held at the "Old Prince of Orange," Gravesend, on view of the body of Sarah Hermitage, a child about five years of age, who was burnt to death at one of the Reed Cottages, situate in the Old-road, in this parish. The jury returned a verdict of "Accidental death." The coroner called the mother of the child, and gave her a suitable caution; and in marked terms reprobated the carelessness of parents leaving children of tender years alone with fires.

I believe the pub has dropped the "old" from its name and is now (2019) operating under the simpler name of "Prince of Orange." However, this is not to be confused with the other "Prince of Orange" that was addressed as 1 New Road and closed in 1928 to become a Burtons outlet.

From the https://www.newsshopper.co.uk 24th April 2015.

Gravesend’s Old Prince of Orange has been given a trendy yet traditional makeover.

The pub in Old Road East changed hands in October last year and new owner Mark Randall set about restoring it to its former glory with a more traditional, cosy look - plus a little bit of funk.

As well as fancy lighting from 3,000 colour changing LEDs and comfy seats, the Old Prince of Orange now has a larger function room and restaurant, holding 100 for sit down meals.

It will host £3.49 weekday lunch deals, a Sunday Carvery, cabaret style tribute nights and a weekly club night called POW (Price of Orange Wednesdays).

Behind the bar, the management boast that you’ll find unique beers not available anywhere else in the town including five real ales and Greenwich’s Meantime lager.

Mark said: “The reaction from people is total amazement. They are coming into something that looks like it used to in 1932.

“People are also trying to get their heads around the size of it.

“The pub has been run down for a number of years so we needed to clear it up. It’s bringing back the character of the pub. So many pubs these days are very bland and ultra modern.”

The Old Prince of Orange is celebrating its new look with a beer festival on the bank holiday weekend, from Friday (May 1) to Monday (May 3). There will be 23 beers on sale, including local brews from Rockin Robin in Maidstone, Tonbridge, Swanscombe’s Caveman and Bexley.

Above showing the bar 2015.

Other bar 2015.

Dining area 2015.

Games room and lounge 2015.

Lounge and TV area.

I believe by 2023 the name had removed the "Old."

From the https://www.kentonline.co.uk By Charlotte Phillips, 21 June 2023.

The Prince of Orange pub in Old Road East, Gravesend set to reopen after £20K refurbishment.

A landmark pub which has been closed since March is reopening with a fresh but “traditional” look.

The Prince of Orange in Gravesend will be welcoming customers back this weekend after undergoing a makeover of the garden area and front bar.

The Prince of Orange in Old Road East, Gravesend, will be reopening.

Donna Clement, who is originally from Bexleyheath but now lives in the maritime town, took over the running of the pub, sat on the corner of Old Road East and Windmill Street, just three weeks ago.

The 40-year-old said: “We’ve been renovating for three weeks solid, and we’ve put all our own money into it.

“We have tried to do the garden up a little bit because for me it was soulless, it looked like a car park with benches in it.

“There’s a bit of greenery, and we’ve got some nice lighting coming and some black and white striped cushions to go with the Tudor style, just to make it a little bit more cosy out there.”

The brewery renovated the restaurant part of the pub last year and the new management team, which also includes husband and wife Tracey and Mark London, have chosen to do up the front bar.

The pub garden at the Prince of Orange in Gravesend has had a makeover.

Donna added: “New flooring has been put inside, it’s all been painted and there’s some new pictures coming.

“We’ve tried to keep it as traditional and cosy as possible, we wanted to modernise it a bit but in keeping with the building.”

The refit cost around £20,000, and the pub is also going to host local bands and have a live music night.

The restaurant is going to have a seasonal menu, and will provide food which is locally sourced from farms.

The walls inside the pub have all been repainted.

“We want to do things like friendship Fridays for people that are lonely – I’d like them to come in and have a cup of tea or a coffee and a bite to eat.

“We’re also going to offer an OAP day, so give a percentage off of food for OAP’s.

“I want to make it more of a community pub and I would like to hold community events here – just make it a hub for Gravesend.”

The husband and wife team are also looking into having a farmer’s market once a month at the pub, as well as a flower stall and fruit and vegetable stall outside.

“We’re just trying to add things that are going to enhance what it hasn’t got already,” she said.

“There’s also going to be a seafood stall put in in the next few weeks as there isn’t really one in the area – you have to travel to the garden centre.”

The grand reopening will be taking place on Saturday (June 24) from 1pm, and there will be a free barbecue as well as singers and a DJ in the evening.

Despite the cost of living crisis leading to a number of pub closures in the county in recent months, there has been a string of reopenings bucking the trend.

The "Grapes" pub in the town centre recently flung open its doors to punters once more following a £200,000 revamp and a fresh lick of paint.

And Donna remains optimistic about the Prince of Orange’s own fortunes, adding: “Of course it’s going to be a worry, 100% but we’re just going to try and make it a place that people want to come to, even if it is a choice and a treat.

“We still don’t really know how it’s going to pan out, this year especially because interest rates are still rising.

“But we’re just going to try and do what we can do and hope for the best really.”

LICENSEE LIST

KING William 1832-41+ (age 48 in 1841)