The Prince to opens on Old Street, reviving London’s cocktail tradition with ska spirit and community focus
A new cocktail bar, The Prince, will be opening its doors in Old Street this January, aiming to revitalise the former Gibson venue and inject fresh energy into the hospitality landscape of Clerkenwell and the Barbican. The new watering hole officially launches on 2nd January 2026, led by Will Hawes and Aaron Wall, who describe the concept as “sharp, strong and social”, seeking to revive a sense of community.
Named after Prince Buster, a key figure in ska music, the new location draws inspiration from the genre’s lively communal spirit, and it has a music selection to match. The bar’s interiors feature gold and dark forest green tones, reminiscent of 1920s-era cocktail bars but designed to offer the warmth and intimacy of a neighbourhood pub.
Drinks are headlined by three signature cocktails: the Black Velvet (a blend of Guinness and Champagne, served in a pewter tankard), Buster’s Stout Punch (poured from a punch bowl at the bar, combining three rums, cognac, lemon sherbet, Guinness and nutmeg) and the House Martini. Flanking the last, there are nine other Martini versions, as well as instructions for guests to customise their own. Beyond its signatures, the menu features reimagined classic cocktails, using original recipes alongside modern syrups, liqueurs and freshly squeezed juices. It is divided into categories including Aperitivo, Daisies, Fixes & Sours and Booze Forwards, and guests can also choose from a selection of draft and bottled beers, ciders, wines and non-alcoholic cocktails.
The food offering brings traditional bar snacks like olives, fennel taralli and saucisson, as well as snacks such as a highlight ham and cheese toastie served with crisps – intended as a nostalgic and unpretentious accompaniment to the bar’s convivial atmosphere.
Founders Hawes and Wall bring combined experience from celebrated London bars such as Milk and Honey, 69 Colebrooke Row, Homeboy and Callooh Callay, where they previously worked together. Their aim now is to establish a new fixture in London’s cocktail scene.
The Prince will operate seven days a week, opening from 3pm to 11pm on Sundays and Mondays, and until 1am on Tuesday to Saturday.
Food Desk
To book a table at The Prince, 44 Old Street, London EC1V 9AQ, visit their website here.
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