HMP Prescoed and HMP Usk are actually 1 prison operating on 2 sites about 3 miles apart. These pages deal with Prescoed, which is the open prison, click to go to the pages dealing with HMP Usk.
| General Details | Inspections |
| Regimes | Visits and getting there |
| Work and Education | Local News |
Key Contact Details
| Name of Prison | HMP Prescoed |
| Address: | Coed-y-Paen Pontypool Monmouthshire NP4 0TB |
| Other contact details: | |
| Web Site: | |
| Email: | |
| Main switchboard: | 01291 675000 |
| At Risk hotline: | |
| Fax: | 01291 675158 |
| Visits booking number: | Arranged by Prisoner |
| Visits booking email: | |
| Visits booking web site: | |
| Type of Prison: | Male Cat D |
HMP Prescoed is a Category D open prison in Monmouthshire, built in 1939 by prisoner labour and originally run as an open borstal for young offenders. It later became a youth custody centre and young offenders’ institution before switching to its current role as an adult open prison in 2000, and it has a capacity of around 230. Prescoed was ranked among the top five performing prisons in England and Wales when the Prison Service first published its league tables in 2003, and it is managed together with the neighbouring closed prison, HMP Usk.
HM Inspectorate of Prisons visited both prisons in May 2025 and described an overwhelmingly positive culture at each, with low violence, low self-harm, and low drug use built on strong staff-prisoner relationships. Almost all prisoners at Prescoed were engaged in purposeful activity, including education, vocational training, and external work through day release, and residents hold their own room keys with evening association available until 9pm. The Chief Inspector noted outcomes had improved even further since a strong 2021 inspection, with most prisoners saying their time there was likely to reduce their chances of reoffending.
As an open prison with a strong focus on day release and external work, Prescoed offers more flexible contact than closed establishments — the details above are the best starting point for confirming current visiting arrangements.