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Chat about:
Disappointment of the week with trainman
on the Pub Forum
Image posted by Blackthorn _
Submitted on Tuesday, 24th September 2013
With picture contributions to 5179 other pubs
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Detail Pages
The Cross Keys, Bedford
Cranfield
Postal town: Bedford
MK43 0JB
Served areas
Reviews of The Cross Keys (Average Rating: 5 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about The Cross Keys
With the Swan closed for refurbishment the Cross Keys was the only source of refreshment in Cranfield during my visit to the area on Friday afternoon. I found the woman on duty to be very polite and friendly, but there was only one other customer. He was watching a wildlife documentary about gorillas so the atmosphere was hardly enthralling in the left hand public bar. Whilst waiting for our drinks to be poured I noted the presence of a standard draught range alongside three hand pumps that were drawing Deuchars IPA, Sharp’s Doom Bar and Fullers’ London Pride. To the left of the bar is a dartboard and doors that lead to a large car park.
In the right hand side of the pub is a seating area identified as the ‘Lounge Restaurant’. I didn’t spot any food advertised, but then I didn’t look that hard. The bar had a smaller selection of draught than that of the public bar and three more hand pumps looked more for show than use. In the corner of this U shaped room was a small bookshelf packed with children’s books and colouring pages as well as pens and pencils. There was also a box with toys and a small snooker/pool table that sits on a couple of table tops. A piano by the door hinted at live music and a large plasma screen on the edge of the bar was a sign that live sport may be shown here.
Out the back is a paved area with some picnic tables and beyond is a hedge lined grass covered area that houses some children’s apparatus including a large boot with slide. To the right of the pub is a larger grass covered area that looked perfect for a kick about.
The welcome was very friendly, but I didn’t really rate this pub and wouldn’t go out of my way to return.
On 1st June 2015
- rating: 5
[User has posted 5233 recommendations about 5201 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blackthorn _ left this review about Crosskeys Cranfield
A substantial and traditional pub on the main road through the village, it has some attractive features such as leaded windows and consists of two L-shape bars wrapped around a central serving counter as well as a few tables and chairs on the small patio at the front. It was very quiet on a recent Tuesday evening visit, in fact completely deserted other than one punter outside smoking. I rang the bell on the counter, but still no-one appeared to serve me. With half the pub in darkness I was beginning to wonder if it was actually open. Eventually someone turned up though.
The public bar is to the left and front of the pub, and this consists of a red tiled floor with a couple of old rugs dotted around, cream painted wallpaper with dark wood panelling on the lower part of the walls and red padded bench seating and bar stools. A darts board was on one wall and a plasma on another and although this was not in use when I visited, I understand that Sky Sports is available. The lounge bar to the right and rear of the pub had more of a green colour scheme as far as I could see and was fully carpeted.
The food menu was a basic pub grub affair with options such as Fish & Chips, Ham Egg & Chips, Chilli Con Carne, etc., although a number of these were unavailable. Most of the main courses were around the £8 mark. My Scampi & Chips was decent enough and a generous portion, although not exactly a great test of the chef’s prowess of course.
It was a shame that it was so quiet as it was difficult to get a feel for the atmosphere the pub may have had if it had been busier. Once the smoking punter had left, I was the only one in there for a while and with the lack of any background music it was a slightly surreal experience. The friendly landlady did explain that many of the local old boys turn up at about 10:00pm when their wives have gone to bed! Some planning for a forthcoming pub quiz was in progress, so clearly they do get busier on occasions.
Beers on tap were Greene King IPA and Doom Bar. The solitary cider was Strongbow, unfortunately.
On 25th September 2013
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1947 recommendations about 1860 pubs]
No known official website for this pub.
- Facebook - Crosskeys
- CAMRA WhatPub :: The Cross Keys - whatpub.com
Ridgmont, 3.92 miles, 1 hr 15 min walk (show)
Millbrook (Beds), 4.17 miles, 1 hr 20 min walk (show)
Pub Details
Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 01 June 2015 by Steve C
- Beer Garden : Yes last updated 01 June 2015 by Steve C
- Car Park : Yes last updated 24 September 2013 by Blackthorn _
- Child Friendly : Yes last updated 01 June 2015 by Steve C
- Darts : Yes last updated 24 September 2013 by Blackthorn _
- Hot Food : Yes last updated 24 September 2013 by Blackthorn _
- Live TV Sports : Yes last updated 24 September 2013 by Blackthorn _
- Micropub : No last updated 01 June 2015 by Steve C
- Pinball : No last updated 01 June 2015 by Steve C
- Pool Table : No last updated 01 June 2015 by Steve C
- Quiz Night : Yes last updated 24 September 2013 by Blackthorn _
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 29 July 2013 by Dave McNally
- Real Cider : No last updated 24 September 2013 by Blackthorn _
