The Cross Keys Hotel, Saffron Walden

A very attractive old timbered pub on a corner plot, it’s very difficult to resist going in just to see what it’s like inside, although having done so I concluded that it was perhaps the case that they rely on this visual appeal to attract custom, without having to try too hard in other areas. Clearly food is quite a focus here with a “Please wait here to be seated” sign just inside the door and we were pounced on as soon as we entered. There is a regular bar counter and I really think you’d been fine just popping in for a drink if that was what you wanted, but as we were planning on eating anyway we were happy to be shown to a table. Internally it’s not quite as olde worlde as you might expect, and whilst there were a few very old timbers in evidence and the ceiling was probably fairly old, it was in many ways a lot more contemporary, with the spotlights on a track screwed to the old ceiling being particularly grating. The flooring was a mixture of old wooden boards and some quarry tiles with much of the walling being khaki green paintwork. A large brick fireplace was a bit of a feature, but this had been converted in to a recessed seating area. The only part of the pub that appeared more original was a snug at the front which did have a lovely beamed ceiling, leaded windows and a parquet style floor, although even here the modern light fittings had intruded. Adjacent to this was a wood panelled room, a little reminiscent of an old hotel drawing room perhaps. The menu offered a decent enough selection of dishes, and we opted for a chicken Caesar salad and a flat iron chicken with mashed potato. These were both quite tasty, but the latter especially was a little light on the chicken and at £13.95 apiece they were well over priced. Beers on tap were Doom Bar, Directors and Young’s Bitter whilst the solitary cider was supposed to be Symonds Founders Reserve, but this had unfortunately run out. Overall, worth popping in for a pint, but probably not worth making a special journey or eating.