Not already a member?
Join our community and
- Rate & review pubs
- Upload pictures
- Add events
JOIN for free NOW
Detail Pages
The Cross Keys, Derby
Castle Donington
Postal town: Derby
DE74 2NR
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Quinno _ left this review about The Cross Keys
Determinedly old skool pub, the interior of which hasn't seen much in the way of change since the 70s. Located in a slightly sunken position on the main road, the inside is a nicely-kept throwback to more simple times. The old rooms are now interlinked by archways but retain their distinctiveness with quarry tiled flooring, white painted artex, exposed brick, third length tongue and groove wood panelling and plenty of mounted items of interest. There are also some nice recesses with displays of glass and earthenware. Two modernities were piped music and a small TV showing the football. Amusement value via a waistcoated guy who left his pint, chucked a tenner in the machine, went back for a swig and then kept repeating the manoeuvre, he must have done this five times. Pork pies and pickle for £3.50. Four cask ales on; the Pedi was a day or so past its best (NBSS 2.5) but the Wye Valley HPA was sublime (4.5). Sharps Atlantic and Wainwright Gold were the other two. I quite liked it in here, might well make the effort to pop in again next time I’m on the Skylink.
On 27th October 2026
- rating: 7
[User has posted 6400 recommendations about 6378 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alan Winfield left this review about The Cross Keys
When i first went in the Cross keys in 1980 it was an Everards tied house with a decent drink of Everards Tiger Bitter on the bar.
On a recent visit the pubs seems pretty much unchanged inside.
Once inside the bar faces in an L shaped room which is divided into almost two separate rooms,the right side has comfy bench seating with chairs and small stools,there is a darts board to the rear right,the floor is stone tiled,the left side extends to the rear.
There were four real ales on the bar,i had a drink of Wye Valley HPA which went down very well,the other real ales were Thwaites Lancaster Bomber,Pedigree and Doom Bar.
Background music was playing to an almost empty pub on a Saturday dinner,which is a shame.
I thought this was a very pleasant pub to have a drink in.
Pub first visited 1980
Recent visit 14/1/2017
On 5th March 2017
- rating: 8
[User has posted 6113 recommendations about 6113 pubs]