Ed Nash and Robbie Ormrod dreamed of creating a pub with community at its heart. Just five months in, the revamped Prince of Wales is proving that their vision works.

It’s hard to believe that The Prince of Wales has been open for only five months. In that short time, this obscure pub has become one of St Leonards’ favourite neighbourhood locals. Given the out-of-way location (a steep downhill at the Old England) and the pub’s previously, er, sketchy reputation, this is some feat. Many locals still shudder if you tell them you’re off to the Prince of Wales for a pint.

Things changed when Robbie Ormrod, 39, and Ed Nash, 35, took over the dilapidated, vacant building on a ten-year lease. They’re in it for the long term, and they have big plans. The building might look small, sitting on the corner of Cross Street and Western Road, but it’s full of unexpected spaces. This summer an extra drinking room and a cute back yard were unveiled; upstairs holds a potential performance space.

With British pubs closing at the rate of two a day, this is a brave venture. Robbie hasn’t yet given up the day job (he brews for Harvey’s in Lewes), but Ed took the leap at the pub’s opening, the same month he became a father. Despite all the odds, their unusual business model seems to be working. On opening day, 5 March 2026, there was a queue down the street. On Jack-in-the-Green day the special Full Bloom flew out, while the Wednesday quiz night is rammed.

There are board games, dog treats, Tayto crisps and eight keg and two cask beers on tap. One window still bears the engraving ‘Jug Department’, from the days when children would arrive with an empty beer jug for their parents, a custom banned in 1902. There is a long history of drinking on this spot – but no venture had been quite like this.

The clue to their difference is painted above the door: “We Brew For Hastings”. Four years ago, Ed and Robbie captured our hearts with The Hastings Project, a venture that brews beer to raise money for local causes. Their dream was always to open a pub and early this year, hundreds of us chipped in to an ingenious crowd-funder that repaid people one-and-a-half times over in beer. How could we refuse? £22,220 was raised in 14 weeks.

It’s a dream that’s been a long time coming. The pair met ten years ago on the performance circuit: Ed was an actor, Robbie a “silly and self-deprecating” stand-up comedian. For years, they knocked about this idea of owning a pub that was more than a pub. A pub where the beer is naturally excellent, but where the community events matter just as much, drawing people through the doors who might not normally come. The Prince of Wales is all about community. Without being evangelical or schmaltzy, Ed and Robbie’s intention is to make our local community (not just their pub) a more connected, happier place.

Ed gives an example. On a recent Pints With Purpose night – the monthly slot where three local charities talk about what they do – three random blokes found themselves captive in the bar. They hadn’t gone in there to listen: they wanted to drink. But on hearing the charities’ stories (a ten-minute pitch from each), one made “a large donation”, one “was moved to tears when he realised that this organisation could help a family member”, and the third signed up on the spot as a volunteer. The charities in question were Little Gate Farm, The Association of Carers, and East Sussex Wildlife Rescue & Ambulance Service. “With a pint in your hand,” says Robbie, “it’s easier to listen.”

These are early days, and their ideas are evolving. They’d like the space to be used by local groups who need a place to gather, such as Transition Town Hastings’ Green Drinks – now renamed the Sustainability Social and hosted at The Prince of Wales. Beach cleans followed by a pint are another successful innovation. Western Road is a very mixed pocket, with potential to develop in a more neighbourly direction. And so, on Mondays and Tuesdays, Ed can be found outside on the pavement, coffee in hand, talking to people. Hearing about their lives. Maybe offering a bar stool and a warm drink; time out from a frequently chaotic environment.

As a result, neighbourhood schemes are already bubbling up. That rubbish-filled lock-up opposite the pub? That could be a community garden. “We’re passionate about having an impact on a very local area,” says Ed. “Our location is hugely important to us. It’s all about building trust.”

The pair are also unusual employees, taking great trouble to recruit the right team and support them. “I expect them to leave,” says Ed of the six staff, “and will promote them to that point. I want to show them that working in hospitality can be great.” All employees happen to be creatives, so watch this space for a home-grown exhibition.

The Prince of Wales shows what’s possible when good beer meets a clear sense of purpose. Whether you’re drawn by the events, the atmosphere or simply an excellent pint of pale, it’s a welcome addition to the neighbourhood.

The Prince of Wales by the
Hastings Project, 15 Western Road, St Leonards-on-Sea, TN37 6DG.
@thehastingsprojectpub

Top five tipples:

The Hastings Project Helles 4.8% – a more aromatic take on the classic Munich style, decoction mashed for depth, with added spelt for softness and body. £5.90/pint.

The Hastings Project West Coast IPA 6.5% – a nod to old-school West Coast IPAs in high bitterness, but with added Rye and Crystal Rye for sticky sweetness, and a jammy new experimental hop. £5.20/ 2/3rds.

The Hastings Project NEIPA 6.7% – big hitting tropical notes, soft body, but with a west coast bitterness. £6.60/ 2/3rds.

Donnie’s Nitro Dark Beer 4.3%, Donzoko – technically a lager, it’s the house nitro line akin to the more well-known Irish equivalents. Smoother, fuller in body, and lower in bitterness. £5.90/pint.

Taras Boulba, Brasserie De La Senne 4.5% – a modern take on Belgian brewing from brewing legend Yvan de Baets. A focus on drinkability and bitterness coupled with familiar Belgian yeast character. £6 for 330ml bottle.

The Prince of Wales paid a whirlwind visit to Hastings on 9 July, spending the day meeting local fishermen, playing crazy golf and being inducted into the Winkle Club as an honorary member . The visit was designed to highlight the vital work of local youth organisations and community-driven groups.

The royal visit began with Prince William descending from the East Hill funicular railway where he was greeted by a crowd of well-wishers. His first official stop was with local fishermen where he climbed aboard the Senlac Jack and chatted with crew members about the struggles of the town’s historic beach-launched boats. He listened attentively as skipper Roland Kelly told him about the problems of overfishing by large EU trawlers, the complexities of fishing quotas, and the impact of warming sea temperatures on the fishing industry. He later toured the iconic wooden net shops.

On a lighter note, the Prince was inducted into the Winkle Club as an honorary member. The local charitable organisation was founded by fishermen in 1900 to support families in need, and past members include his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, the Queen Mother, Sir Winston Churchill, and Field Marshal Lord Montgomery.

Prince William was given a silver winkle as a token of his lifetime membership and was told that members of the club, known as ‘Winklers’ must carry their shell at all times and that failure to present it on demand when challenged to “Winkle Up” would result in a fine. He accepted the responsibility with a smile and promised to “take good care of my winkle”.

The next stop was a visit to Eagle House, where the Prince chatted with young people and volunteers who use the space as a youth club and gathering place. The building is owned by Hastings Commons which aims to transform some of the town’s historic and neglected buildings by turning them into shared homes, workspaces and hubs of social support that are owned and run by the community.

Later in the day, William headed to the Hastings Adventure Miniature Golf, meeting  young people supported by the local youth charity XTrax and enjoyed a round of crazy golf. At almost exactly the same time Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex – William’s estranged brother and his family – were meeting their father, the King, 160 miles away at Highgrove

On a balmy (well, balmy for March) afternoon, a new watering hole for St Leonards opened its doors for the first time.

It’s 5pm and the pub is full (I’m told there was a queue from 4pm at the doors), and customers are supping on Radlers, dark milds, IPAs and lagers all brewed by the team. I confess I haven’t tried many before, but their dark mild is nutty, deliciously dark and moreish.

This pub is the Prince of Wales, a dark green building on the corner of Western Road, and it has been reopened by The Hastings Project after two years of vacancy.

This is the first establishment run by the organisation, though their beers has been available in many local pubs.

The Hastings Project has been running for close to four years, with their first brew generating funds for the Refugee Buddy Project in June 2022. Their beers have helped fundraise for groups such as Hastings Voluntary Action, Little Gate Farm and Hastings WRAS (Wildlife Rescue and Ambulance Service), but the aim has been to have a physical venue to create more opportunities for interaction. The funding for the renovation of the pub has been raised through an ingenious crowdfunding programme, where donated funds entitle the donor to 1.5x the value in Hastings Project beers.

Talking to one of the Project’s founders, Robbie, it is clear that the concept of circular economy is a focus, whether it’s the offering of Cask Marque and Cicerone training for the Prince of Wales’ staff, or the way that the pub will run as a space for charities and community organisations on Mondays and Tuesdays. There will also be ‘Pints for Purpose’ events – charity showcases for organisations to explain the work they do. The next aim for the Hastings Project is to have a dedicated independent brewery.

The Prince of Wales is open from Wednesday to Sunday 12pm-10pm (Fri-Sat 12pm-11pm)

If you have a charity or organisation and would like to enquire about working with The Hastings Project, contact ed@thehastingsproject.com